Why do protestants not believe in the sacrament of confession? Consider the points below my dear christian si

Question

I. Jesus Christ Granted the Apostles His Authority to Forgive Sins
John 20:21 - before He grants them the authority to forgive sins, Jesus says to the apostles, "as the Father sent me, so I send you." As Christ was sent by the Father to forgive sins, so Christ sends the apostles and their successors forgive sins.

John 20:22 - the Lord "breathes" on the apostles, and then gives them the power to forgive and retain sins. The only other moment in Scripture where God breathes on man is in Gen. 2:7, when the Lord "breathes" divine life into man. When this happens, a significant transformation takes place.

John 20:23 - Jesus says, "If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven. If you retain the sins of any, they are retained." In order for the apostles to exercise this gift of forgiving sins, the penitents must orally confess their sins to them because the apostles are not mind readers. The text makes this very clear.

Matt. 9:8 - this verse shows that God has given the authority to forgive sins to "men." Hence, those Protestants who acknowledge that the apostles had the authority to forgive sins (which this verse demonstrates) must prove that this gift ended with the apostles. Otherwise, the apostles' successors still possess this gift. Where in Scripture is the gift of authority to forgive sins taken away from the apostles or their successors?

Matt. 9:6; Mark 2:10 - Christ forgave sins as a man (not God) to convince us that the "Son of man" has authority to forgive sins on earth.

Luke 5:24 - Luke also points out that Jesus' authority to forgive sins is as a man, not God. The Gospel writers record this to convince us that God has given this authority to men. This authority has been transferred from Christ to the apostles and their successors.

Matt. 18:18 - the apostles are given authority to bind and loose. The authority to bind and loose includes administering and removing the temporal

John 20:22-23; Matt. 18:18 - the power to remit/retain sin is also the power to remit/retain punishment due to sin. If Christ's ministers can forgive the eternal penalty of sin, they can certainly remit the temporal penalty of sin (which is called an "indulgence").

2 Cor. 2:10 - Paul forgives in the presence of Christ (some translations refer to the presences of Christ as "in persona Christi"). Some say that this may also be a reference to sins.

2 Cor. 5:18 - the ministry of reconciliation was given to the ambassadors of the Church. This ministry of reconciliation refers to the sacrament of reconciliation, also called the sacrament of confession or penance.

James 5:15-16 - in verse 15 we see that sins are forgiven by the priests in the sacrament of the sick. This is another example of man's authority to forgive sins on earth. Then in verse 16, James says “Therefore, confess our sins to one another,” in reference to the men referred to in verse 15, the priests of the Church.

1 Tim. 2:5 - Christ is the only mediator, but He was free to decide how His mediation would be applied to us. The Lord chose to use priests of God to carry out His work of forgiveness.

Lev. 5:4-6; 19:21-22 - even under the Old Covenant, God used priests to forgive and atone for the sins of others.

James 5:16 - James clearly teaches us that we must “confess our sins to one another,” not just privately to God. James 5:16 must be read in the context of James 5:14-15, which is referring to the healing power (both physical and spiritual) of the priests of the Church. Hence, when James says “therefore” in verse 16, he must be referring to the men he was writing about in verses 14 and 15 – these men are the ordained priests of the Church, to whom we must confess our sins.

Acts 19:18 - many came to orally confess sins and divulge their sinful practices. Oral confession was the practice of the early Church just as it is today.

Matt. 3:6; Mark 1:5 - again, this shows people confessing their sins before others as an historical practice (here to John the Baptist).

1 Tim. 6:12 - this verse also refers to the historical practice of confessing both faith and sins in the presence of many witnesses.

1 John 1:9 - if we confess are sins, God is faithful to us and forgives us and cleanse us. But we must confess our sins to one another.

Num. 5:7 - this shows the historical practice of publicly confessing sins, and making public restitution.

2 Sam. 12:14 - even though the sin is forgiven, there is punishment due for the forgiven sin. David is forgiven but his child was still taken (the consequence of his sin).

Neh. 9:2-3 - the Israelites stood before the assembly and confessed sins publicly and interceded for each other.

Sir. 4:26 - God tells us not to be ashamed to confess our sins, and not to try to stop the current of a river. Anyone who has experienced the sacrament of reconciliation understands the import of this verse.

Baruch 1:14 - again, this shows that the people made confession in the house of the Lord, before the assembly.

Catholics and our Orthodox brothers and sisters are not protestants and believe in the sacraments of the Church.

1 John 5:16-17; Luke 12:47-48 - there is a distinction between mortal and venial sins. This has been the teaching of the Catholic Church for 2,000 years, but, today, most Protestants no longer agree that there is such a distinction. Mortal sins lead to death and must be absolved in the sacrament of reconciliation. Venial sins do not have to be confessed to a priest, but the pious Catholic practice is to do so in order to advance in our journey to holiness.

Matt. 5:19 - Jesus teaches that breaking the least of commandments is venial sin (the person is still saved but is least in the kingdom), versus mortal sin (the person is not saved).

I. The Early Church’s Practice of Oral Confession
Do not come to prayer with a guilty conscience." Epistle of Barnabas, 19:12 (A.D. 74).

“In church confess your sins, and do not come to your prayer with a guilt conscience. Such is the Way of Life...On the Lord's own day, assemble in common to break bread and offer thanks; but first confess your sins, so that your sacrifice may be pure." Didache, 4:14,14:1 (c. A.D. 90).

"Moreover, it is in accordance with reason that we should return to soberness[of conduct], and, while yet we have opportunity, exercise repentance towards God. It is well to reverence both God and the bishop." Ignatius, Epistle to the Smyraeans, 9 (c. A.D. 110).

Answer 1

very well compiled,the bible christians may have skipped over these truths as they sadly tend to do(no offence to them). it is easier to pick and choose than to put all the pieces together it would seem. the thing that i still don't get is how they are so caught up on man made laws,traditions etc..... and yet when they have a problem or don't know something they usually end up going to their pastor and what his interpretation or teaching from the bible is for the resolution,that is man made authority it would seem as most pastors differ of their teachings from parish to parish,even amongst the pastors within the same denominations.

Answer 2

Before the reformation, the quickest way to get rich was to be a soldier and kill lots of people. However, that was also considered sinful and for a soldier to get to heaven required a great deal of confession, pilgrimages, indulgencies and masses for the repose of your soul. The church, never quick to miss a trick provided all of these and made a great deal of money out of it.

The protestant reformers felt that cashing in on other people's sins was not a very Christian Act, but they decided to chuck out Jesus's instruction in John 20 along with the abuses. Luther was not against confession, but more as a public acknowledgement of sin than a private matter between you, God and the priest. Calvin felt that since all sin had been forgiven you could kill as many people as you wished without having to confess it - just as well because he killed a good few thousand himself.

Private confession is practiced in the Catholic, Orthodox and Armenian churches. It's also an occasional feature of Anglican churches (the ones with Mass and Lady Chapels). Since that's about 90% of the world's Christians confessing their sins, I wouldn't worry too much about the others. (We know what they get up to anyway)

Answer 3

What interests me is the following facts: Baptism and Marriage, by and large, are the only valid Sacraments outside the Church. Baptism and Marriage are also the only Sacraments that can be received without the assistance of an ordained priest. Holy Communion, Confirmation, Reconciliation, Holy Orders, and Annoiting of the Sick - all require a valid priesthood to administer. Most non-Catholic denominations do not have a valid priesthood. They also lack the five Sacraments that require a valid priesthood. This is neither an accident nor it is a coincidence.

Answer 4

Hardly does your priest come to confess what they are doing in promoting homosexuality and stuff, confess one to another yes, and then God forgives us. Why go to the priest when you have wronged me, forgiveness by the priest without being forgiven by the wronged party is part of your error, all the verses you listed will not have a meaning if you interpret them with a veiled understanding. All interpretation of scripture belongs to the Father and you better pray and ask Him for their meaning if you cannot get a suitable or close answer to you question. God bless you and enlighten the eyes of your understanding. There is bondage religion has put men in, just be in Christ Jesus there is better life for real.

Answer 5

Protestants believe the doctrines they are taught. It's the same for Catholics.

Differences of doctrine have been around since Christianity began.

Peter, Paul and James differed over whether non-Jews could even BECOME believers.

They disagreed about making Gentiles follow Jewish food restrictions.

In the end, they compromised. James remained; Peter was sent to preach among the Jews; Paul was sent out to the Gentiles.

If even these good and godly men could find common ground then I hope you will try to forgive us our differing traditions.

Perhaps, sometimes, it's better to be forgiving than to be correct.

Answer 6

Which protestants are you referring to?
Roman Catholics and the Orthodox Churches have always availed themselves of the Sacrament.
The Church of England has a penitental rite at every communion service which is followed by the priest giving absolution. In addition to this all Church of England members may ask their priest for individual and private confession.
Even in the RC Church, the sacrament has variant forms. At Christmas time and Easter time we have Penitential Services which involve the parish collectively saying sorry for their wrongdoings followed by a brief confession and absolution.

Answer 7

One of the reason's Martin Luther changed and refered to the change as the Reformation, is because he did not believe in any other human forgiving us for our sins. He and all of us believe that only God can do that. So we silently take our sins to God in Prayer. We privately, silently ask God to Forgive us for our sins. We pray that many times a day in our communications to God. We feel we do not need the middle person(Priests) to forgive us or be a link to God. We can do that ourselves. Just take it to the Lord, in Prayer !!!

Answer 8

I agree that we should confes our sins one to another, but where does it say that it has to be a priest? Apostles yes, but not Priests. You see the church has mis-interpreted these scriptures completley. Only Christ can forgive sins and nobody else. But we are told to confess our sins to each other. This means that we share our problems with others and they forgive us. The Old Testament doesn't say that the Priests forgave anyone sins that my friend is blasphemy.

Answer 9

Protestants believe only God can forgive sins. What you have said above is correct. There is confession in the 'High Church'. Protestants have to be different to Catholics. They also do not believe in the Consubstantiation. To admit otherwise would for them to admit they were wrong. It's up to them.

Answer 10

Perhaps you missed these Scriptures?

1. (1Timothy 2:5) For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;

2. 1John 1:5-to-10

3. (Matthew 23:9) And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.

WHY DO PRIESTS INSIST ON BEING CALLED "father" when the command from the WORD is to call no earthly man father?"

4. (John 3:3) Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

BEING BORN AGAIN = is not Water Baptism

Thanks, RR