How can Priests/Pastors forgive sins?

[Not David]

They can't. Next question?

Why? People here have shown Biblical and theological evidence of that.

 

[Loren T.]

Why? People here have shown Biblical and theological evidence of that.

Really? Never found any in my Bible.

 

[Not David]

Really? Never found any in my Bible.

Jhn 20:23

“If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”

 

[nonaeroterraqueous]

Seems like you are willing to deny that Jesus called 12 Apostles for a mission exclusive to them.

Seems like you're playing word games.

Jesus gave the right of forgiving sins to a whole room full of disciples, not Apostles, and you say that they are Apostles by virtue of the fact that they are sent out. They and seventy previous other disciples were also sent out, and that makes them de facto Apostles by your definition, despite not actually being referred to as Apostles, directly. Later, after both events, the Bible clearly spells out that there were still only eleven Apostles left, and Matthias was appointed to be the twelfth. It says nothing about them being a special kind of Apostle. It makes no mention, ever, of there being other Apostles until Paul's conversion. Now you can play word games with the definition of an Apostle, but absolutely all evidence points to the fact that Christ gave that anointing to a room full of disciples, not just Apostles, and if a priest tells you differently, then it only reinforces my earlier statement that priests love to take what was given to the many and restrict it to the few (themselves). Every pagan religion has its priests that revel in their own esoteric knowledge and power, but Christ came to give his grace, power and forgiveness to the common man.

 

[JIMINZ]

Wow, you really didn't read a single word of the catechism that TuxAme posted for you, did you?

.
WOW, Did he really, where is it?

Sure you haven't confused him not posting something, with someone who did?

 

[Loren T.]

Jhn 20:23

“If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”

Told to a specific group of people who physically walked with Jesus.

 

[Childofgodharrison]

It's a little confusing to me to understand the process. Can someone explain this?

Priest or Pastors are not able to forgive sins. No man can for give sins except Jesus.

 

[JIMINZ]

No man can forgive another mans sins, all sin are forgiven by the blood of Jesus. The bible tells us "if we confess our sins He (Jesus) is faithful and just to forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness". All that is required is an inner acknowledgement that we have done wrong, and a resolve to move away from sin. No man, priest or other can retain a sin we may commit, Jesus paid for all sins. Verses like “If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.” is referring to a person who sins against us, if we forgive a person so too will God, if we don't forgive a person, then God's correction will fall upon the person who sinned against us. But that "unforgiven" person when repentant can have forgiveness.

No man, priest or other can retain a sin we may commit,

.
This is just a clarification post.

Mat 6:14,15
14) For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:
15) But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Is this not the Retaining of someones sins, done by the General Populous?

 

[thecolorsblend]

.
WOW, Did he really, where is it?

Sure you haven't confused him not posting something, with someone who did?

Yeah, that's probably what happened.

Oh wait!

It's not as simple as you make it out to be. The teaching is that one can be saved if they were ignorant of Christ during their life, so long as they followed the Law that is written on our hearts to the best of their ability and sought out God with a sincere heart.

.
Rom 3:9-12
9) What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin;
10) As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
11) There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.
12) They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

What Law is it that has been Written on (Whose) heart, and who wrote it there when?

Where does it say "With a Sincere Heart"?

You replied to that post so I guess I assumed you actually read it.

 

[thecolorsblend]

Told to a specific group of people who physically walked with Jesus.

"And lo, I will be with you always, even unto the end of the age."

You know, speaking of things He said to people who physically walked with Him and stuff.

 

[salt-n-light]

It's a little confusing to me to understand the process. Can someone explain this?

They can't.

 

[JIMINZ]

Yeah, that's probably what happened.

Oh wait!

You replied to that post so I guess I assumed you actually read it.

.
Guess so.

So are we clear now, was my post sufficient to his?

 

[thecolorsblend]

.
Guess so.

So are we clear now, was my post sufficient to his?

Not really. So far you have not demonstrated any real understanding of what the Church teaches on this.

Which is cool, it's not like I expect you to be a scholar of theology you don't believe in. I'm just saying that your rejection of this doctrine (if you actually are rejecting it) is happening under what appears to be a misunderstanding, that's all.

 

[JIMINZ]

Not really. So far you have not demonstrated any real understanding of what the Church teaches on this.

Which is cool, it's not like I expect you to be a scholar of theology you don't believe in. I'm just saying that your rejection of this doctrine (if you actually are rejecting it) is happening under what appears to be a misunderstanding, that's all.

Then don't keep it a secret, explain what it is I am apparently missing?

Let me ask you, what is this teaching he has expressed from the Catholic Catechism based upon, is there some magical Scripture somewhere, or is it merely a Dogma of the Church?

 

[GoldenKingGaze]

It's a little confusing to me to understand the process. Can someone explain this?

It should happen when you forgive, forgive yourself and forgive God, that after confessing, you have a clear conscience as if you were a month old.

 

[Lost4words]

We never saw the apostles setting up booths, to let their flock know if their sins were forgiven or not. From reading their letters it is clear any sin is forgiven that a man confesses and forsakes. God does not need mans approval to forgive sins.

John 20:23
23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”

Very clear instruction from Jesus. Why are you twisting it to suit what you want to believe?

 

[Lost4words]

Told to a specific group of people who physically walked with Jesus.

Lol. Really?!

John 20:23
23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”

It's in black and white. Clear instructions from Jesus yet you choose not to believe the words of Our Lord!

 

[Hazelelponi]

It doesn't say faith alone.
James 2:24 New International Version (NIV)
24 You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone.

I'm reading some of what I missed, but this is as an aside here.

These verses are some of my favorite...

Here's the deal. Grace is free. It has no cost and there is not one thing we do to earn it. Even our faith and belief is a gift from God, there is no - "I did this so God saved me" No. Absolutely not. It's free.

That said, the response to this undeserved love and gift, wow; the response should be utter and complete devotion. Nay, it WILL be.

This is what the verses is talking about. Not that Grace isn't free, but that the recipient of that Grace will necessarily have a response in love and devotion which then shows itself in works.

Any other response, isn't true salvation because it isn't the response of someone who just gained their salvation from the Author of Salvation. That's what he was talking about. The two, faith and works, go hand in hand; one never exists without the other when born in our salvation.

 

[1213]

It's a little confusing to me to understand the process. Can someone explain this?

Jesus gave to his disciples right to forgive sins. If priests or even you are disciples of Jesus, I think they also have the same right.

Whoever's sins you forgive, they are forgiven them. Whoever's sins you retain, they have been retained.
John 20:23

 

[Hazelelponi]

Then don't keep it a secret, explain what it is I am apparently missing?

Let me ask you, what is this teaching he has expressed from the Catholic Catechism based upon, is there some magical Scripture somewhere, or is it merely a Dogma of the Church?

It's in the Bible that God's law is written on the hearts of everyone, and this is what those who never heard of Christ will be judged by. Romans 2:12-16

And you are correct, the law never saved anyone, it can't save anyone.. Galatians 3:24 states that the law served as a school master to bring us to Christ that we may be saved by faith.

All the law does is show us our need of a savior.

And I can attest to this, anyone (or maybe just me, I don't know) under law knows they can't do it, knows they aren't good enough to get into heaven.

This is why we share the Gospel with the lost.. they won't make it into heaven otherwise because they will be judged based on their actions.

I don't know what Catholics teach on the topic. But this is what the Bible teaches.