How can Priests/Pastors forgive sins?

[Loren T.]

It's not about telling someone "how to receive forgiveness", it is telling someone their sins are forgiven. It is not some "new" forgiveness that originates from the person or power of the pastor; it is the word and power of Christ; that we are forgiven because God Himself has forgiven us, that is what happened on the cross. This we do, in fact, receive through Absolution as real, actual, material Word--God's own word, the holy and precious Gospel. And so our sins really are forgiven, because of what Christ has done, and what Christ has done is declared, spoken, and given really, actually here through Absolution. Even as it is given through the preaching of the Gospel, even as it is given through the waters of Holy Baptism, even as it is given through the bread and wine of the Holy Eucharist. This is the grace of God for us, the work of Christ for us, the crucified and risen Jesus for us.

-CryptoLutheran

Then it should be: " God forgives you." Not, " I, a mere servant of God forgives you."

 

[Citizen of the Kingdom]

It's not about telling someone "how to receive forgiveness", it is telling someone their sins are forgiven. It is not some "new" forgiveness that originates from the person or power of the pastor; it is the word and power of Christ; that we are forgiven because God Himself has forgiven us, that is what happened on the cross. This we do, in fact, receive through Absolution as real, actual, material Word--God's own word, the holy and precious Gospel. And so our sins really are forgiven, because of what Christ has done, and what Christ has done is declared, spoken, and given really, actually here through Absolution. Even as it is given through the preaching of the Gospel, even as it is given through the waters of Holy Baptism, even as it is given through the bread and wine of the Holy Eucharist. This is the grace of God for us, the work of Christ for us, the crucified and risen Jesus for us.

-CryptoLutheran

So that's just basic justification?

 

[Not David]

Then it should be: " God forgives you." Not, " I, a mere servant of God forgives you."

I don't think anyone here has claimed that.

 

[Loren T.]

I don't think anyone here has claimed that.

But what does a Catholic priest say? " I forgive you."
From a Catholic site;
"During his life-time Christ forgave sins. Since he would not always be with the Church physically and visibly, Christ delegated this power to other men so that the Church would be able to offer forgiveness to future generations. He gave this as a communicable power to the apostles so it could be passed on to their successors, the bishops. In this passage (Jn 20:21-22) Jesus is telling the apostles to follow his own example, in delegating the power to the apostles to forgive sins. "

When the Pharisees said that only God has the power to forgive sins Jesus did not correct them.

 

[Not David]

But what does a Catholic priest say? " I forgive you."
From a Catholic site;
"During his life-time Christ forgave sins. Since he would not always be with the Church physically and visibly, Christ delegated this power to other men so that the Church would be able to offer forgiveness to future generations. He gave this as a communicable power to the apostles so it could be passed on to their successors, the bishops. In this passage (Jn 20:21-22) Jesus is telling the apostles to follow his own example, in delegating the power to the apostles to forgive sins. "

When the Pharisees said that only God has the power to forgive sins Jesus did not correct them.

"Christ delegated this power to other men" On other words, they get the power from God not from themselves.

 

[Eloy Craft]

Mere humans forgiving sins is such an illogical option

hmmm, an option? We don't make these things up.

 

[Loren T.]

"Christ delegated this power to other men" On other words, they get the power from God not from themselves.

How does a priest know who God has decided to forgive? He can't look into that person's heart and know if he is truly repentant or not. Only God can do that.
And no one has yet shown an example of the apostles telling someone their sins were forgiven. Instead, they told people to believe on Jesus for forgiveness.

 

[Hazelelponi]

This thread has gotten confusing..

 

[Hazelelponi]

It's not about telling someone "how to receive forgiveness", it is telling someone their sins are forgiven. It is not some "new" forgiveness that originates from the person or power of the pastor; it is the word and power of Christ; that we are forgiven because God Himself has forgiven us, that is what happened on the cross. This we do, in fact, receive through Absolution as real, actual, material Word--God's own word, the holy and precious Gospel. And so our sins really are forgiven, because of what Christ has done, and what Christ has done is declared, spoken, and given really, actually here through Absolution. Even as it is given through the preaching of the Gospel, even as it is given through the waters of Holy Baptism, even as it is given through the bread and wine of the Holy Eucharist. This is the grace of God for us, the work of Christ for us, the crucified and risen Jesus for us.

-CryptoLutheran

I agree there is a certain comfort in hearing we have been forgiven from another human being with Biblical knowledge, and agree this is part of what we are to do as Christians as told by the Bible.

But as we are all priests, all under His authority and sent into the world with His authority, I am confused as to why the Catholics teach it is only a select few with the ability to forgive sins..

Is not Jeremiah 3:14 speaking of us spreading the Gospel under His authority? Yes! In conjunction with Him giving them ears to hear..

So why would we not all have the same authority as apostles to forgive sins when His children need it? I'm not seeing succession taught in the Bible.

 

[Eloy Craft]

How does a priest know who God has decided to forgive? He can't look into that person's heart and know if he is truly repentant or not. Only God can do that.
And no one has yet shown an example of the apostles telling someone their sins were forgiven. Instead, they told people to believe on Jesus for forgiveness.

The priest decides if the penitent is sorry and doesnt want to sin again. Then he grants absolution. If the sorrow and resolve are true the person can receive God's forgiveness .

 

[Citizen of the Kingdom]

Peter was given the keys 'of the Kingdom of heaven' in Matthew 16:19 that was part of the discourse of binding and loosing, which is what is being discussed here, is it not? The keys Peter recieved was for the purpose of both Jews and Gentiles entrance into the church, the Kingdom of heaven. Acts 2 and Acts 10. There's a strong indication that the 'kingdom od heaven' is also the 'kingdom of God' when Paul speaks of the conduct of the church in Romans 14:17 So that places the authority above.

Matthew 16:18 includes the church the Body consists of
Matthew 18:17 includes the autonomical church of each group

The invisable and visable

Christ exemplified that He could only do what He saw the Father doing so what is bound or loosed can only be what has already taken place in heaven.

Logically speaking.

 

[Not David]

I agree there is a certain comfort in hearing we have been forgiven from another human being with Biblical knowledge, and agree this is part of what we are to do as Christians as told by the Bible.

But as we are all priests, all under His authority and sent into the world with His authority, I am confused as to why the Catholics teach it is only a select few with the ability to forgive sins..

Is not Jeremiah 3:14 speaking of us spreading the Gospel under His authority? Yes! In conjunction with Him giving them ears to hear..

So why would we not all have the same authority as apostles to forgive sins when His children need it? I'm not seeing succession taught in the Bible.

Because God is not a God of chaos and he puts an order to the Church. Plus he works with sinful men, didn't men put joint the Bible together?

 

[Loren T.]

The priest decides if the penitent is sorry and doesnt want to sin again. Then he grants absolution. If the sorrow and resolve are true the person can receive God's forgiveness .

The priest decides...sorry. The priest can not know who merits forgiveness. What I see is the throwing together of about three verses out of their original context to create a man based system of forgiveness, that, frankly, tends to push people away from God instead of bringing them to him. If I can merely go to a priest every few weeks, confess the sins I can remember and be absolved, what need do I have for a daily walk with God?

 

[Hazelelponi]

Because God is not a God of chaos and he puts an order to the Church.

Are all called to share the Gospel? (Yes)

Why would forgiveness be any different?

 

[thecolorsblend]

But as we are all priests, all under His authority and sent into the world with His authority, I am confused as to why the Catholics teach it is only a select few with the ability to forgive sins..

To be clear, you're not disputing that Confession is a real thing then. Am I correct? When parsed out, your intent here seems to be that all Christians have the ability to say "Your sins are forgiven" with more or less the same sacramental authority as Catholic priests. Am I interpreting you correctly there?

I'm not seeing succession taught in the Bible.

Catholics don't require something to be found in scripture in order to be worthy of belief.

 

[Hazelelponi]

To be clear, you're not disputing that Confession is a real thing then. Am I correct? When parsed out, your intent here seems to be that all Christians have the ability to say "Your sins are forgiven" with more or less the same sacramental authority as Catholic priests. Am I interpreting you correctly there?

Catholics don't require something to be found in scripture in order to be worthy of belief.

As to the first portion of your post, yes..your correct.

As to the second portion of your post, yeah I have now gathered that. But since scripture is an authority set over me, I need scriptural evidence..

 

[Not David]

Are all called to share the Gospel? (Yes)

Why would forgiveness be any different?

The Traditional Churches have Sacraments and only the clergy can perform them because they were specially called by God to do that. The Scripture shows that some people have specific roles (Presbuteros, Episkopos, Diakonos).

 

[Willie T]

This thread has gotten confusing..

Not if you go back and read EXACTLY what was said. (Not trying to read something into it.) God never said, "Whoever you guys forgive here on Earth, I will forgive in Heaven."

 

[Hazelelponi]

The Traditional Churches have Sacraments and only the clergy can perform them because they were specially called by God to do that. The Scripture shows that some people have specific roles (Presbuteros, Episkopos, Diakonos).

So you believe spreading the Gospel has a specific office?

 

[Not David]

So you believe spreading the Gospel has a specific office?

What does it have to do with what I explained?