forgiveness of sins

[Guest]

ok i just edit'd this, to make it more debateable
when you confess your sins, do you feel you have to confess them to a priest ?
or is confessing to God yourself good enough.....

Edited November 26, 2004 by Guest

[Guest Aluigi]

it is absolutely necessary to assuredly obtain God's forgiveness for grave sins to go to his representatives the apostles to whom he gave the power to forgive sins and confess your sins.

HOWEVER, venial sins are forgiven through contrition alone and/or faithful reception of the Eucharist.

AND, in regards to grave sins, you can ask God's forgiveness and be forgiven. it must be perfect contrition, contrition that is motivated solely out of the only real reason you should be sorry for sins (fearing the loss of heaven and the pains of hell but MOST OF ALL because they offend the God you love who is all Good and Deserving of all your love). No one should ever presume that they have this authentic contrition, and when grave sins are committed should flee to the Apostolic reps of Christ to obtain the forgiving power He gave them when He said "receive the Holy Spirit, whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, whose sins you retain are retained"

if you confess Jesus as Lord with your mouth and believe it in your heart and are sorry for your sins, the Merciful God will forgive you. But you could have any number of tainted motives for being sorry for sin, the way to be assured forgiveness is to go to a priest.

[Guest]

[quote name='Aluigi' date='Nov 26 2004, 03:01 AM'] it is absolutely necessary to assuredly obtain God's forgiveness for grave sins to go to his representatives the apostles to whom he gave the power to forgive sins and confess your sins.

HOWEVER, venial sins are forgiven through contrition alone and/or faithful reception of the Eucharist.

AND, in regards to grave sins, you can ask God's forgiveness and be forgiven. it must be perfect contrition, contrition that is motivated solely out of the only real reason you should be sorry for sins (fearing the loss of heaven and the pains of hell but MOST OF ALL because they offend the God you love who is all Good and Deserving of all your love). No one should ever presume that they have this authentic contrition, and when grave sins are committed should flee to the Apostolic reps of Christ to obtain the forgiving power He gave them when He said "receive the Holy Spirit, whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, whose sins you retain are retained"

if you confess Jesus as Lord with your mouth and believe it in your heart and are sorry for your sins, the Merciful God will forgive you. But you could have any number of tainted motives for being sorry for sin, the way to be assured forgiveness is to go to a priest. [/quote]
i shoulda just put that in the question and answer
cuz i dont even wanna debate wut u said, becuz you make perfect sence
God bless you for always takeing the time to reply with the care and thought you do......i agree with everything you said

[Guest Aluigi]

dude, much love. i really respect you and am honored i am able to help you better understand Catholic Teaching.

[ICTHUS]

[quote name='Aluigi' date='Nov 26 2004, 03:01 AM'] it is absolutely necessary to assuredly obtain God's forgiveness for grave sins to go to his representatives the apostles to whom he gave the power to forgive sins and confess your sins.

HOWEVER, venial sins are forgiven through contrition alone and/or faithful reception of the Eucharist.

AND, in regards to grave sins, you can ask God's forgiveness and be forgiven. it must be perfect contrition, contrition that is motivated solely out of the only real reason you should be sorry for sins (fearing the loss of heaven and the pains of hell but MOST OF ALL because they offend the God you love who is all Good and Deserving of all your love). No one should ever presume that they have this authentic contrition, and when grave sins are committed should flee to the Apostolic reps of Christ to obtain the forgiving power He gave them when He said "receive the Holy Spirit, whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, whose sins you retain are retained"

if you confess Jesus as Lord with your mouth and believe it in your heart and are sorry for your sins, the Merciful God will forgive you. But you could have any number of tainted motives for being sorry for sin, the way to be assured forgiveness is to go to a priest. [/quote]
How is this anything other than salvation by works?

[Guest Aluigi]

because it's God's grace saving you through your faith.

the Sacrament of Penance was instituted in this, the age after God became Man and was visible to us, to be a visible physical sign by which us physical creatures can be sure of the invisible grace. What do you make of Jesus telling the Apostles they have the power to forgive and retain sins?

we are not saved by works.
but without works, there is no faith for grace to work through.
penances are works that rebuild broken and damaged faith.
Sacraments are things that God uses to give grace through visible signs.
Your action in coming to the sacrament of confession strengthens and rebuilds faith you have broken through grave sin.
The priests action through Christ's power He gave to His Apostles and their successors convey the grace that can work through the faith you are there rebuilding.