That's exactly why we need to confess. If the sin is already forgiven, then you have no need to confess of it. But if we must continue to confess, then it is logical to assume that the confession accomplishes something that is important to our sanctification.
This is why a Greek concordance is useful. The word Iaomai means heal, but it has the fuller meaning of "to make whole" and "to free from errors and sins, to bring about (one's) salvation"
It is only true that we are saved at conversion if the only thing salvation does is forgive. But if that is all salvation does, then James is deceptive in asking if a person can be saved by faith alone.
Salvation is not just forgiveness. Forgiveness is the BEGINNING of salvation, not the whole. There is also justification and glorification. Unless you have been completely sanctified and are currently living in your glorified body, your salvation is not yet complete. And again, you act as if the priest gives the forgiveness, so I will embolden something you are ignoring in the question in this section, just so you don't ask the question again because it isn't even a logical question: the Elder does not give forgiveness. He stands witness to the forgiveness which Christ gives. Is it clear enough now? If he doesn't give the forgiveness, then how is it logical that I can't receive the forgiveness without him. Confession, as I said before is not purely about forgiveness. It is about sanctification.
It isn't twisting your words. It's a logical result of your words. If you do not need the intercession of others, there are two logical results:
1. Scripture will never command you to intercede for others, because as it stands, Scripture does.
2. We do not need to confess our sins to each other. But since Scripture commands us to confess our sins one to another, it is obviously NECESSARY for us to do so.
Since scripture commands both of the things which are shown in Confession, the intercession of a person for another, and the Confession of sin to human beings, it is necessary for us to do this. Now, it used to be that you stood on the Ambon and confessed before the entire parish. Would you prefer to do that, instead?
Except that you're saying we do have to continue making payments on the car even though it's paid in full. It's not the shape of the car, it is the car itself. If every sin is forgiven, then you NEVER need to confess. It's forgiven, everything is taken care of. It's not going to change. See, salvation is not just forgiveness, and it isn't a one size fits all thing, either. Salvation isn't a moment. It is a life. This is why James very specifically begins his discussion on works and faith by saying he is speaking of salvation. He begins it by asking "can faith save him?" The "him" in the text is referring to the man who has no works. Can faith, with absolutely no works at all, ever save a person? It is implied that such a thing can actually exist according to the people to whom he was responding. But faith, without works, is dead, and will NEVER save. Dead faith will save exactly nobody.
So even though Stephen was a righteous man, praying fervently, his prayer availed exactly NOTHING? There's no Scripture that says you can't pray for the forgiveness of other people. It doesn't say that the answer will always be no.
Funny, I've never started with that. It's a bit of a popular meme, but it's not universally part of Confession in all rites. It's not even universal among Roman Catholics, as Eastern Rite Catholics don't use that beginning phrase. And you should also remember, however, that in Confession, there is an Icon of Christ, as well as sometimes an Icon of the Trinity. If you assume that the Elder is only there as a witness, and you are confessing to God in the presence of the elder, it would be assumed that by Father, you are addressing the Father in the Trinity, and not the spiritual father. It is only necessary to request his forgiveness for sins which you specifically committed against him as a person. In the rest, you are confessing to God in the presence of the Elder. You must realize that these are things that are actually taught in our catechetical process. Just because you have a cursory knowledge of common Confessional phrases does not mean you understand why those phrases exist.
As to heal and save being connected in Scripture, the word σῴζω is the primary word in question, though iaimao also has shared definitions between save and heal.
