Catholics: what is the point in not sinning if rigth after you can always be forgiven?

Answer 1

It really is no loophole. In order to be forgiven, you have to be truly repentant. And unless you are repentant, the sacrament of reconciliation is useless to you, no matter how many times the priest blesses you or how much penance you do.

So if you are into sinning irrespective of going to confession, you aren't repentant and you aren't forgiven.

Answer 2

The point in not sinning is that rejecting sin is what our Lord and Savior calls us to do. But the fact is, we all sin. Which is why our precious Lord and Savior gave us a means of obtaining forgiveness when we fall, by granting His priests the power to minister His forgiveness through the sacrament of reconciliation. You question is like asking, "what is the point of staying healthy if there are medicines that can cure you when you get sick?".

Answer 3

Don't pretend you don't have at least one moral flaw that compels you to commit at least one certain sin over and over again. We've all got moral flaws. Don't pretend you don't.

As for why would God forgive over and over again? The answer is obvious: because God's capacity for forgiveness is greater than man's capacity for sin.

In Confession, a person's sins are forgiven ONLY if they honestly repent. If a confessor's repentance is insincere, the sins remain - even after the priest has said, "I absolve you from your sins."

God is generous in His forgiveness of our trangressions, but He's not going to be taken for a fool.

The Sacrament of Confession has another purpose: In addition to forgiving one's sins (assuming the confessor is honest) the sacrament also bestows graces needed for hte confessor to resist the temptation to commit further sin.

In order for this to work, one MUST receive Confession Repeatedly. Over time, the confessor builds enough resistance to sin and commits less.

Answer 4

It is always curious when people bring up this question.

In non-Catholic Christian religions, all you have to do is say "Oh, sorry about that, Lord". You do not have to confess to anyone and there is no pennance or any consequences at all. There are even some non-Catholic Christians that will tell you that they cannot lose their salvation no matter how much they sin.

Answer 5

I'm not Catholic but... you're forgiven for your sin when you admit that you have sinned. You know that you have done wrong and you wish you hadn't. If you are just going around sinning because you can, there's no repentance. You're saying "I haven't done anything wrong and I don't care if I did." Jesus died to save you from your sins and you're taking that for granted.

Answer 6

That's not how it works, no matter what a horde of anti-catholic propagandists and bigots might claim. Forgiveness in Roman Catholicism *still* requires repentance. The difference is that in RC doctrine, God is not nearly as bloodthirsty, vengeful, and hate-filled as in more retributive doctrines practiced by some other Christian groups.

Answer 7

I could ask the same thing of non-Catholic Christians who "confess directly to God" and also continue in sin. The "point" to not sinning is identical in both cases.

Answer 8

Why ask this of only Catholics?

Do you believe that Protestants believe they cannot be forgiven or that they do not sin?
Either answer is ridiculous.

Answer 9

Three things are required in order to receive absolution for one's sins:

1. SINCERE remorse for one's sins
2. A firm RESOLUTION to TRY to avoid that particular sin and all sin
3. The REALIZATION that we are not perfect and that we do not give up our ABILITY to sin. We still have our free will...Jesus forgives but does not take away free will. We'd all be puppets, then!

Answer 10

You are NOT forgiven if you intend to go out and sin again. You are only forgiven if you sincerely ask pardon and vow to do better.