Confession - Did Jesus establish it?

Question

God had sent Jesus to forgive sins, but after his resurrection Jesus told the apostles, "‘As the Father has sent me, even so I send you.’ And when he had said this, 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’" (John 20:21-23). This is the establishment of the Sacrament of Penance (Confession).

Christ told the apostles: "As the Father has sent me, even so I send you" (John 20:21). Just as the apostles were to carry Christ’s message to the whole world, so they were to carry his forgiveness: "Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven" (Matt. 18:18). This power was understood as coming from God: "All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation" (2 Cor. 5:18), "So we are ambassadors for Christ" (2 Cor. 5:20)

Some say that any power given to the apostles died with them. Not so. The powers necessary to maintain the Church as a living, spiritual society had to be passed down from generation to generation.It would take much time. And he promised them assistance: "Lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age" (Matt. 28:19-20). The Catholic Bishops (and Eastern Orthodox Bishops) are the direct successors of the Apostles through the laing on of hands. There is an unbroken line of 265 popes going back to Peter himself. In this way, the authority to forgive sins was handed down. But again, this power is understood as coming from God: "All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation" (2 Cor. 5:18).

Question: Comments anyone?

more info at
http://www.catholic.com/library/Confession.asp
http://www.catholic.com/library/sacraments.asp
http://www.catholic.com/

Answer 1

Yes, and you have provided the evidence. "If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained’" (John 20:21-23). "Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven" (Matt. 18:18).

Forgiving sins was a scandal in Jesus' day, and it remains a scandal today to those who don't know Jesus well, and who look not to scripture (as they claim), but to the doctrines taught by their denominations.

Cheers,
Bruce

Answer 2

Your first point I agree with, the second point I do not agree with.

On your first point I would add that we are told to confess our sins one to another. There is nothing in the Bible that states we MUST confess our sins to a particular person of standing within the church, instead it is a command to be held accountable to the entire body of Christ.

Your evidence is weak for your second point. "Lo, I am with you always," means that Christ resides in the hearts of believers. It does not mean He established a strict succession and that all Catholic Popes have the authority of the apostles. Christ granted particular power to the apostles, allowing them to perform miracles that others cannot. The purpose of which is even stated in the Bible, so that we would know they were of God. We have the evidence of their miracles written in the testimony of witnesses, we need no other evidence. Tis a wicked and adulterous generation that seeks after signs and wonders, is it not?

It is a dangerous and slippery ground you tread upon if you claim that every Pope since then has possessed the same authority, like the ability to raise people from the dead.
We don't even need to mention the horrible atrocities that former Popes have committed, thus proving that they are human beings and sinners at heart.

I believe that many Catholics are Christian. It is a matter of heart and your personal relationship with Jesus Christ.