CHRISTIANS:FORGIVE EVERYBODY THEIR SINS

Greetings Mahdi,

No I don't consider you to be rude, not by your simply questioning.  Now I understand.  Here we are once again talking about religious practice and of a particular church, namely the Catholic church with its practice of confession to a priest.

Confession was an important thing taught by the early apostles.  Confession is a first step to repentance, and it is in repentance that we receive God's forgiveness.

This is what was taught by
James, the half-brother of Jesus, and John, the beloved Apostle...
so two people who were very close to Jesus and what He taught.

14 Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:
15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.

16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.  (James)

and,

8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  (John)

So while it may appear so to outsiders, it is not man that is forgiving the sins, it is the sinner making the confession, seeking to repent, and God's grace to forgive. 

I think this is not much different than what muslims believe... that God forgives their sins when they sincerely ask and repent... Am I correct in this?
 
The teaching of Jesus you will see takes it a step further... that in order for the repentance to be genuine we must be willing to confess sins one to another.  This is a much harder thing to do and much more cleansing of the soul.  It is the purging of the evil that is allowed to live within when we do not acknowledge it.  In not acknowledging it to another it is easy to deceive ourselves and deny the sin and fool ourselves into believing we live for God.

Hope this helps.

Salaam,
Caringheart


Edited by Caringheart - 05 February 2013 at 3:23pm

Caringheart wrote: Greetings Mahdi,"There is no scripture(that I am aware of) that says that all those who receive the Holy Spirit will have the authority to forgive sins."We do however, all have the power to forgive those who trespass against our own selves, which is what Jesus encourages us to do."... forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us..."You do not think one needs the power of God's Holy Spirit to find it in ones self to forgive those who have done ill?� I do.Salaam,Caringheart

what you think is irrelevant. i am not trying to be rude. but let us deal with whart the Bible says. catholics use the verses i quoted to validate the sacrament of confession. so maybe you should look that up.

Edited by Mahdi The Seeke - 04 February 2013 at 3:48am

Caringheart wrote: Mahdi The Seeke wrote: Caringheart wrote: Is there a question here? i am asking christians to forgive everybody their sins so we can all go to heaven, since they received the Holy spirit and have power to forgive sins Ah, well, greetings Mahdi,This scripture was specifically Jesus speaking to His 12 Apostles.� It was to them that he gave the power to forgive sins.I wondered why you would be asking 'Christians' to forgive sins.There is no scripture(that I am aware of) that says that all those who receive the Holy Spirit will have the authority to forgive sins.� This was only spoken by Jesus to His Apostles.We do however, all have the power to forgive those who trespass against our own selves, which is what Jesus encourages us to do."...and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us..." - the prayer Jesus taught His disciples to say.Salaam,Caringheart

so, christians have not received the holy spirit?

Webber wrote: why not take Jesus for his word instead of relying on your own personal opinion , conjecture and derived beliefs? Caringheart wrote: Is there a question here? � You know how some people always end their sentences with a higher pitch like asking a question? Goofy, I know, but ... � Actually I think this is the man that knows everything and once we finish wallowing our conjecture he'll set us all back on the straight path. � Can't wait, :)

FINALLY, somebody who gets me.