a question for Catholics. Is it true that as long as you repent your sins they will be forgiven?

Question

No matter how bad that sin is??
The subject came up during a conversation about Kate & Gerry McCann

Answer 1

If you believe, I think yes.
Odd aint it ! ?

Answer 2

All Chrsitians of any denomination can be forgiven through repentance. Repentance is a true and heart felt need to be sorry for something you have done...just saying sorry and moving on isnt true repentance.

Although if you are truly living a christian life then you should be commited to trying to avoid sin in your life. God look upon sin as sin, size does not count. Murder carries the same penalty as lying...it's death.

Forgiveness and life with Christ goes the other way...to eternal life.

Answer 3

Yes, it is true, but repentance has to be true. A lot of people go to confession and say they lied and that they are sorry but then they go out and say a few Hail Mary's but continue to lie. God forgives you if you are truly sorry. If you truly repent you will make an effort every day to tell the truth, and live a life of truthfulness.
Here is an excerpt from the Catechism of the Catholic Church and you can read for yourself the actual belief.
http://www.christusrex.org/www1/CDHN/healing.html#SACRAMENT
The biblical passage that is most important in this belief is
Jn 20:19, 22-23 "On the evening of that day, the first day of the week," Jesus showed himself to his apostles. "He breathed on them, and said to them: 'Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained"'
I believe that it is a beautiful sacrament and and a gift from God to us.

Answer 4

This is not only a question for "Catholics". It is also a question for any member of the Orthodox Church, The Church of England and The Roman Catholic Church.
All these churches exercise the Sacrament of Penance, Confession or Reconciliation.
If any sin was too great to be forgiven, Christ could not have obtained pardon for us on the Cross.

Answer 5

Yes this is what the chruch teaches us, but it also teaches us to....'Make amends whever possible, unless to do so would injure others more.
Obviously this doesnt mean we can live a sinfull life with the attitude of, sure its ok I confess get forgiveness and do again and again. We need a true and sorrowful heart and an understand and effort not to committ this sin again.
I find it easy to accept that God forgives me, I find it more difficult at times to forgive myself!
God Bless All

Answer 6

If one repents and not just goes through the motions without at least "attrition", which is sorrow for the personal effects of sin, and far better to have "contrition",sorrow for sin because our relationship with God who is Love, is impared or even shattered(if the sin is mortal or deadly 1 John 5:16).

I love the Sacrament of Confession and Absolution,the Sacrament of Reconciliation, where one have the objective offer of the forgiveness of sin. I meet Jesus there so powerfully.

When the priest says "I absolve you..." it is Jesus Himself saying that to me and actually applying the merits of His Death and Resurrection in cleansing and reviving me. Jesus has the authority to forgive sins(Matt9:2-8). Jesus gave the Apostles that authority too( and their successors the bishops and priests) when Jesus said "Receive the Holy Spirit:whose sins you shall forgive ,they are forgiven(John 20:22&23)

There is no sin too wicked for Christ to be unable to cleanse through His loving sacrifice of Himself. Our sins are forgiven but we still have responsibility for our actions and attitudes and their results.

Penance, a part of the word repentance(poenitentia) and an important part of it, or the doing or praying something to help take responsibility in the power of Christ to help repair the harm we have done through our sins. Sin is not just against God Who cannot be harmed but against other people and ourselves.

The New Testament tells us to confess our sins ,not just privately to God but to one another and to the prayer of the presbyters (elders,priests) is a channel of this forgiveness(James5:13-16)

Answer 7

The theory is correct but I doubt if all those who confess are sincere about ensuring it does not happen again. I know one guy who claimed to be all holy and pious .....threw out words like integrity etc (obviously never having checked the definition)he used the confessional on a weekly basis but each week reported the same sin.......can't imagine God being taken in byu that one somehow.

Answer 8

Yes, any sin, no matter how serious, when sincerely repented and confessed, is forgiven. Less serious sins don't even have to be confessed, just repented.

Answer 9

The essence is in the word "repent". It's not the same as getting caught and apologising.

Answer 10

That is true, yes.
As a catholic you can do whatever you like and all you will punished with is a couple of hail mary`s an `our father` and one for the priest - then you are pure again.

Answer 11

Absolutely NOT...!

As a Former Catholic.... ONE... had to go to Confession and have A [ So Called ] Priest... forgive you....!

ONCE I WAS BORN AGAIN... and left the Catholic Church.... AND .... READ IN THE BIBLE....

(1Timothy 2:5) For God is one, and there is one Mediator of God and of men, the Man Christ Jesus,

AND....

(1John 1:5-to-10) And this is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all.

(1Jo 1:6) If we say that we have fellowship with Him and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.

(1Jo 1:7) But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.

(1Jo 1:8) If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

(1Jo 1:9) If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

(1Jo 1:10) If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His Word is not in us.

I and .... ALL..... True Christians.... HAVE THIS ACCESS TO GOD THE FATHER..... through the Finished WORK... of Christ JESUS!

Thanks, RR