If people agree that the Church is the Body of Christ -why is it they don't think they are authorized ?

Question

to do Christ"s work? Didn't he say "You will work more wonders than these?--If you say to that Mountain move, it will move?" So why cannot a priest who is most definately a member of the Body of Christ forgive sins, or could Christ not forgive sins?

Answer 1

Yes, Jesus said, "You will do even greater things than these..."

And you too are a priest...For Jesus has said, "you are all brothers and you have one Master." It is also written, “…you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ…you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood..."

Answer 2

That is like saying why can't a priest be all powerful, all knowing, everywhere at once. These are attributes of God and God alone. This is why when Jesus was a man on earth the Jews wanted to stone Him for saying "thy sins be forgiven". It is blasphemy to claim the attributes of God. Once the real High Priest has come there is no need to go through a sinful, human priest. To continue to do so is a denial of Christ. As you know, John calls this the spirit of antiChrist. Christ is the head of the body (church). The arm does not claim to be the head and it does not claim attributes that are the sole possession of the head. The church and its leaders should not claim attributes that belong to Christ and Christ alone. Forgiveness of sins is purely God's domain. A human can not know the heart, therefore can not forgive sins. Humans readily lie to human priests. No one lies to God.

Answer 3

I don't see anything wrong with the Churches of Christ. I go to a non-denominational church and we do singing and full body baptisms. I've heard that Church of Christ people believe that you MUST be baptized to go to Heaven. I don't know if this is true or not, but I know that that isn't the case. Baptism is great and I think every Christian should get baptized. But I don't think you'll go to hell if you don't, because the man being crucified next to Jesus that got saved was told by Jesus Himself that he would see him in Paradise...and he didn't get baptized. Other than that, I don't know of anything.

Answer 4

Only Christ has the power to forgive sins. Yes, we may do Christ's work (preaching, healing, helping the poor), but God gave all authority for judging humanity to his Son. No human may do that.
Also, why do you need to go to a priest to forgive sins, when you can simply pray to Jesus anytime you want, anywhere, and He will forgive you?

Answer 5

the church is the followers of Christ not any denomination. I do not think priests have any right to forgive sins only God can do that we can be washed clean by the blood of Christ but that is not by any priest

Answer 6

I don't think the Church is the Body of Christ. IT is the Church that wants people to believe that so they can have power and get multitudes of people to come to church and fill their baskets with money.

The churches use Jesus as their poster child, it's a marketing tool for them. Have you ever wondered why they always need to hand out the baskets and ask for money. If the church truly was the Body of Christ, then the church would sustain itself by the holy powers of God, but they are no different than any other corporation begging for money this way and that convincing people they need their product or service.

Answer 7

the temple of Christ is our own body, the church is a religion thing its so people can say look at me i go to church am i not good, Christ forgives sins not the church,

Answer 8

Yes, why would the risen Christ, as one of the very first things he did after his glorious resurrection, come to his apostles, announce his authority, and then, authorize them to forgive sins, if he didn't intend for them to use that power?

How else can the scripture be interpreted, and why would anyone want to interpret it differently?

How can those who rely on scripture alone deny the literal text?

Perhaps an in-bred bias against priests?

Perhaps they, like Thomas, lack faith!

Joh 20:19 Now when it was late the same day, the first of the week, and the doors were shut, where the disciples were gathered together, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst and said to them: Peace be to you.
Joh 20:20 And when he had said this, he shewed them his hands and his side. The disciples therefore were glad, when they saw the Lord.
Joh 20:21 He said therefore to them again: Peace be to you. As the Father hath sent me, I also send you.
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Joh 20:22 When he had said this, he breathed on them; and he said to them: Receive ye the Holy Ghost.
Joh 20:23 Whose sins you shall forgive, they are forgiven them: and whose sins you shall retain, they are retained.
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Joh 20:24 Now Thomas, one of the twelve, who is called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came.
Joh 20:25 The other disciples therefore said to him: We have seen the Lord. But he said to them: Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails and put my finger into the place of the nails and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.
Joh 20:26 And after eight days, again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them. Jesus cometh, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst and said: Peace be to you.
Joh 20:27 Then he said to Thomas: Put in thy finger hither and see my hands. And bring hither the hand and put it into my side. And be not faithless, but believing.
Joh 20:28 Thomas answered and said to him: My Lord and my God.

Answer 9

We can forgive sins in Jesus name. And we that are all saved are priests of the new covenent.

Answer 10

MAN canNOT forgive sins, only God can. A priest can asist in the prayer to God WITH them to ask for forgiveness, but not do it for them.