Catholics: Please tell me why you confess your sins to a man who is just as sinful as you are?

Question

What sins did Jesus die for? All sins. Past, Present, Future. Your sins don't suprise God. Thank Him that he has already forgiven you.

Answer 1

Pastor Billy says: simply because God the son, Jesus, instituted it! John 20:20-22.
Did you baptise yourself? Did you marry yourself? Are you asexual and give birth to yourself? In all cases and others no you didn't receive God's gift of grace of yourself and by yourself and why not? because as I've already explained God doesn't work it that way. Did he not use the prophets to bring his words, the truth to ..........the people? yes and so with confession once again God is allowing man to be an instrument in his giving of grace. Read John 20 it will help you greatly understand how this sacrament is both tradition and scriptural. The assurance of forgiveness is only given when received by the elders (priests) who act as God's instrument. They do not forgive in their name that is why the words spoken the actual rite is "I absolve you" it is God who forgives all sins including the ones repented of in the act of confession. Luther even after separation from the One Church still taught and instructed the value of confession as Catholics do today. The Eastern Orthodox, Coptics, Armenians all teach this sacrament. Basically 4/5 of Christianity accepts this doctrine as truth why not you?

Let me ask you something else can you know of your future sins in the past or present so as to repent of them now? No you cannot hence it is inaccurate to claim all sins are already forgiven as Jesus also instructed the need to repent of your future sins. This teaching of once saved always saved is the biggest lie ever told.

I'll come back later and add more.

Well thank ya kindly Taylor you look purdy BTW :)


edit: In Christ Alone wrote "the temple curtain was torn no we don't have to go thru priests" interesting temple curtain=no priests. hmmm where does it say no confession ? where does it actually say no more priests? In_Christ_Alone you've bought into a biblical interpretative tradition that isn't as old as the bible. Yes you have traditions IC_alone, so you're not alone :D

Answer 2

You suffer from the sin of presumption.

Jesus died so sins could be forgiven, not so they would all be forgiven automatically.

Catholic priests are sinful, just like everyone else, but they are experts in dealing with sin, just as all Catholic priests have been, all the way back to the apostles.

Your question and your attitude provides the proof that, left to our own, we all tend to either overestimate the severity of our sins, or assume that they're not so bad, and God will simply overlook them.

Have you actually confessed all your sins to God, properly apologized to him for all your offenses, and truly repented of all of them?

If you missed even one, you're still liable for it.

Thanks to the power of the church, the priest, and the way the sacrament of reconciliation actually works, Catholics typically don't have to worry about such things.

Think about that!

Answer 3

The Bible says that we should verbally confess our sins:

James 5:16 - Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The fervent prayer of a righteous person is very powerful.

Acts 19:18 - Many of those who had become believers came forward and openly acknowledged their former practices.

Matthew 3:5-6 - At that time Jerusalem, all Judea, and the whole region around the Jordan were going out to him (John the Baptist) and were being baptized by him in the Jordan River as they acknowledged their sins.

Mark 1:5 - People of the whole Judean countryside and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem were going out to him (John the Baptist) and were being baptized by him in the Jordan River as they acknowledged their sins.

1 Timothy 6:12 - Compete well for the faith. Lay hold of eternal life, to which you were called when you made the noble confession in the presence of many witnesses.

1 John 1:9 - If we acknowledge our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from every wrongdoing.

Numbers 5:6-7 - "Tell the Israelites: If a man (or a woman) commits a fault against his fellow man and wrongs him, thus breaking faith with the LORD, he shall confess the wrong he has done, restore his ill-gotten goods in full, and in addition give one fifth of their value to the one he has wronged."

Nehemiah 9:2 - Those of Israelite descent separated themselves from all who were of foreign extraction, then stood forward and confessed their sins and the guilty deeds of their fathers.

Sirach 4:26 - Be not ashamed to acknowledge your guilt, but of your ignorance rather be ashamed.

The Catholic Church believes that "Only God forgives sin."

When a penitent person asks God for forgiveness, his (or her) sins are immediately forgiven.

Catholics also believe that when someone sins they not only hurt their relationship with God, they also injure the entire church, the body of Christ.

The Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation with a priest ordained in the name Jesus Christ not only reconciles the sinner to God but with the entire church, including you and me.

With love in Christ.

Answer 4

Catholics do no longer confess their sins to the Pope. Confession takes position with a clergyman, who's a representative of God. All Popes start up out as a monks and would migrate up the ladder of authority by using bishop, archbishop, and ultimately to a Cardinal. this is the faculty of Cardinals that votes on applicants for Pope chosen from their fellow cardinals.

Answer 5

Because Jesus is God, and Jesus gave His authority to the apostles (first Bishops) to forgive the sins of everyone that comes to them.

Whether or not the priest is in a state of serious sin does not change the fact that the Sacrament is divine and binding.

Here is more about it at these Catholic websites:

Biblical Support for Confession to a Priest
http://www.scripturecatholic.com/confession.html

Confession (quotes of the early Fathers of the Church)
http://www.catholic.com/library/Confession.asp

Forgiveness of Sins
http://www.catholic.com/library/Forgiveness_of_Sins.asp
.

Answer 6

Ya when Jesus died the curtain in the temple was torn, we no longer have to go through a priest to get forgiven for our sins.

Answer 7

remember when the jews asked Jesus, "who is this man who forgives sin" etc. etcc
Jesus came with god the fathers authority to forgive sin then jesus gave his disciples (priests") the same power when he breathe the holy spirit unto them>

Answer 8

I always have hated going to confession. Why? Because the priest is just as human as the guy next to me and it makes me feel uncomfortable sitting down and telling this man all the sh1t I have done to screw up life. I personally find asking God himself for forgiveness much more meaningful.

Answer 9

theirs only one Father and he's in heaven . but it is fun to pull the wool over them .

Answer 10

they confess then they commit the same sin again and go confess again.