Confession ...

[Steeno7]

I can't help but think that confession's reconciling and healing graces are not fully appreciated in the comments that some of our brethren bearing the various Protestant faith icons posted. We, as Catholic Christians, believe and teach that confession is an essential element of the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation, which consists in telling one’s sins to the priestly minister. And that confession of sins, even from a simply human point of view, frees us and facilitates our reconciliation with others. Through honest disclosure of one's wrong doing and faults a person looks squarely at the sins they are guilty of, takes responsibility for them, and thereby opens themselves again to God and to the communion of the Church in order to make a new future possible. The council of Trent observed that

When Christ’s faithful strive to confess all the sins that they can remember, they undoubtedly place all of them before the divine mercy for pardon. But those who fail to do so and knowingly withhold some, place nothing before the divine goodness for remission through the mediation of the priest, “for if the sick person is too ashamed to show his wound to the doctor, the medicine cannot heal what it does not know.”​

and saint Augustine wrote

Whoever confesses his sins... is already working with God. God indicts your sins; if you also indict them, you are joined with God. Man and sinner are, so to speak, two realities: when you hear “man” — this is what God has made; when you hear “sinner” — this is what man himself has made. Destroy what you have made, so that God may save what he has made.... When you begin to abhor what you have made, it is then that your good works are beginning, since you are accusing yourself of your evil works. The beginning of good works is the confession of evil works. You do the truth and come to the light.​

So in confession a Christian recognises the sin that is destroying themselves and those around them and begs God for mercy and forgiveness and in doing this the first step away from sin and towards God is made. This is the healing grace of confession at work. And when we sincerely repent of sins we seek to set to rights the harm we have done to others and this too is a work of grace as the council of Trent observed

The satisfaction that we make for our sins, however, is not so much ours as though it were not done through Jesus Christ. We who can do nothing ourselves, as if just by ourselves, can do all things with the cooperation of “him who strengthens” us. Thus man has nothing of which to boast, but all our boasting is in Christ... in whom we make satisfaction by bringing forth “fruits that befit repentance.” These fruits have their efficacy from him, by him they are offered to the Father, and through him they are accepted by the Father.​

So even though many Christians do not recognise the sacrament of confession they nevertheless seek to avail themselves of God's graces associated with it by having "accountability partners" to whom they confess faults and sins in order to both be held accountable by another and to receive help and advice from another because others can see things in us and in our conduct that we cannot see for ourselves unaided.

God bless.

Why would we beg God for what we already have?

 

[MoreCoffee]

Why would we beg God for what we already have?

For the same reason that the publican in Jesus' story cried out "Lord have mercy on me a sinner" and went away justified while the Pharisee who was too proud to cry for mercy but compared himself with the publican and told God of his good works went away unjustified.

Christians rely on God's mercy in Christ for forgiveness and salvation, do we not?

 

[Steeno7]

For the same reason that the publican in Jesus' story cried out "Lord have mercy on me a sinner" and went away justified while the Pharisee who was too proud to cry for mercy but compared himself with the publican and told God of his good works went away unjustified.

Christians rely on God's mercy in Christ for forgiveness and salvation, do we not?

I have forgiveness and eternal life in Christ, and I rest in that truth.

 

[MoreCoffee]

I have forgiveness and eternal life in Christ, and I rest in that truth.

You have the hope of salvation (Romans 8:24-25) based on God's promises in Christ and those who are in Christ are sure to be saved in the final judgement at the resurrection. Yet Christians are constantly urged to run the race, remain in Christ, keep themselves spotless and blameless, and to resist sin. These things which Christians are urged to do are not possible to do faultlessly yet with God's mercy and grace those who do sin are forgiven for their sins when they confess them:

If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just, and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
1 John 1:8-10
​

 

[Steeno7]

You have the hope of salvation (Romans 8:24-25) based on God's promises in Christ and those who are in Christ are sure to be saved in the final judgement at the resurrection. Yet Christians are constantly urged to run the race, remain in Christ, keep themselves spotless and blameless, and to resist sin. These things which Christians are urged to do are not possible to do faultlessly yet with God's mercy and grace those who do sin are forgiven for their sins when they confess them:

If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just, and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
1 John 1:8-10
​

I know the argument well. Pluck, pluck. Keep reading.

 

[MoreCoffee]

I know the argument well. Pluck, pluck. Keep reading.

What do you think I ought to read?

 

[stan1953]

That does not address my question.
I never belonged to Kylissa's community to be kicked out of...

Well I addressed it and as the OP, Kylissa has the right to approve a change in direction. I sense you have NO desire to actually receive proper instruction.

 

[GoingByzantine]

You have the hope of salvation (Romans 8:24-25) based on God's promises in Christ and those who are in Christ are sure to be saved in the final judgement at the resurrection. Yet Christians are constantly urged to run the race, remain in Christ, keep themselves spotless and blameless, and to resist sin. These things which Christians are urged to do are not possible to do faultlessly yet with God's mercy and grace those who do sin are forgiven for their sins when they confess them:

If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just, and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
1 John 1:8-10
​

Amen! Makes me want to hop in my car and go to Confession right now! Maybe later this week...just got back from church

 

[stan1953]

I have forgiveness and eternal life in Christ, and I rest in that truth.

You may indeed have forgiveness, but NOT Eternal Life. That will ONLY happen when Jesus returns and IF you are still in Him.

 

[MoreCoffee]

Amen! Makes me want to hop in my car and go to Confession right now! Maybe later this week...just got back from church

I am preaching to myself in what I write because I too ought to confess soon if for not better reason than to receive the grace of God to help in the struggle against sins and to have another person examine my confession so that what I do not see may be seen by him and thus help me to be more conformed to the image of Christ Jesus my Lord.

Pray for me brother and I shall pray for you too.

 

[Steeno7]

You may indeed have forgiveness, but NOT Eternal Life. That will ONLY happen when Jesus returns and IF you are still in Him.

Ummmm, no. John 3:36, John 5:24, John 6:47 ......just to name a few.

 

[GoingByzantine]

I am preaching to myself in what I write because I too ought to confess soon if for not better reason than to receive the grace of God to help in the struggle against sins and to have another person examine my confession so that what I do not see may be seen by him and thus help me to be more conformed to the image of Christ Jesus my Lord.

Pray for me brother and I shall pray for you too.

Holy Immortal, have mercy on us!

 

[Steeno7]

What do you think I ought to read?

Keep reading right there in first John, and when you get the part where it says he is writing "because your sins have been forgiven you for His name’s sake", stop and consider it well. And when you get to the part where John tells them, "these things I have written to you concerning those who are trying to deceive you", stop and consider that carefully.

 

[MoreCoffee]

When I was at mass this evening I sang and heard sung these words and they are the prayer of my heart.

Answer: Agnus Dei, qui tolis peccata mundi,

Lamb of God, who take away sins of world,

miserere nobis.

have mercy on us.

Agnus Dei, qui tolis peccata mundi,

Lamb of God, who take away sins of world,

dona nobis pacem.

grant us peace.​

 

[MoreCoffee]

Keep reading right there in first John

I did before I posted my reply to you that included verses from that chapter. I try always to read the scriptures in their context before using them in any reply that I wrote because it is a weighty thing to quote from God's sacred scriptures.

But may I ask that you tell me exactly what part or parts of the first letter of saint John the theologian you want me to read and why. I feel sure that there is a purpose in your request but my mind and heart is too feeble to discern it without your help.

Lord have mercy on me, a sinner.

 

[MoreCoffee]

Holy Immortal, have mercy on us!

Sanctus Deus, Sanctus Fortis, Sanctus Immortális, miserére nobis.

 

[stan1953]

Ummmm, no. John 3:36, John 5:24, John 6:47 ......just to name a few.

Those connote EFFECTUALLY, not actually.

Heb 9:27 shows we ALL die once.

 

[Steeno7]

Those connote EFFECTUALLY, not actually.

Heb 9:27 shows we ALL die once.

LOL. Effectually? I love it.

 

[Steeno7]

I did before I posted my reply to you that included verses from that chapter. I try always to read the scriptures in their context before using them in any reply that I wrote because it is a weighty thing to quote from God's sacred scriptures.

But may I ask that you tell me exactly what part or parts of the first letter of saint John the theologian you want me to read and why. I feel sure that there is a purpose in your request but my mind and heart is too feeble to discern it without your help.

Lord have mercy on me, a sinner.

Already did. Apparently you glossed over those areas. Not surprised.

 

[contango]

BTW, thanks to all who reply.

I will probably not address each post unless I have a direct question or comment - but I appreciate the replies anyway.

It seems if one DOES speak for confession to others - there is the additional question of who should hear it.

I am already hearing priests (and only particular ones) ranging to every believer.

Again, no wish to stir controversy, but I realize there are disagreements on this. I suppose hearing reasons for this, as well as reasons for interpreting the Scripture in the OP as you do, would be most helpful.

Thank you for the answers on this so far.

My view is that forgiveness is granted when we confess our sins to God, and the purpose of confession to others is primarily for accountability and support.

Sometimes the devil can convince us that we're unworthy of God's calling because we're sinners and if we just look around us in church on a Sunday morning we see all the other people who are better than us. They don't struggle, they don't show any signs of trouble or doubt or anything, so if we can't even get that right why do we even bother with the walk. When we discuss our weaknesses with others we realise we aren't alone, and the devil loses a chance to isolate us.

Realising that other people struggle with the same things as us doesn't make the sin any less serious, but if a group meets and holds each other accountable they can also encourage each other. Even when sins are different we can support each other - to take an example if your sin is pride and mine is anger there's no reason we can't support each other, as long as we're willing to be open with each other. If your sin is pride and mine is anger but we both put on a brave face and pretend everything is just fine, we both go through life thinking we're the only one with struggles.


ETA: Just realised I wandered into yet another thread that's been running for 350 replies. Ignore me if it's not relevant any more.