"Can't I just ask God to forgive my sins where I’m at?"
"Where in the bible does it say that we have to confess to a priest and our sins are forgiven?"
The Sacrament and "ministry of reconciliation" (2 Cor 5:18), also called confession, is commonly misunderstood. Many people accuse the Catholic Church of teaching that man, and not Christ is doing the forgiving in confession. This understanding comes from a gross misunderstanding of what the Church actually teaches.
You can see that in meme's like the one posted in this article. I am sure you have seen it or others like it on social media from some of your friends. I want to show you that the image in question is MISREPRESENTED as something the Church teaches, when she does not!
It seeks to relay the erroneous message that Catholics teach or believe that the Pope, Priests, and Bishops ALONE have the power to forgive sin, or APART FROM CHRIST. Those who promote stuff like this have no idea what the Church, the Bible and in turn Jesus actually teaches us.
They want us to think that Catholics believe that the Pope has his own power and that we worship him. Nothing is further from the truth! I will be quoting from this image in order to offer you an explanation of it.
So, allow me to clear some things up!
So, allow me to clear some things up!
Let's get to it!
Contrary to what people who make claims like this want us to believe, the Pope (who is the Bishop of Rome), priests, and other bishops, DO NOT FORGIVE OUR SINS OF THEIR OWN POWER!
THE CHURCH IN NO WAY TEACHES THAT THESE MEN HAVE THEIR OWN POWER TO FORGIVE SIN!
Never has and never will!
ONLY GOD HAS THE POWER TO FORGIVE SIN! The Pope is NOT God, or even a god, any one who says that, IS WRONG! The only power that exists in the Church is THE POWER OF CHRIST, WHO IS GOD! Do not ever let anyone tell you any different.
ONLY GOD HAS THE POWER TO FORGIVE SIN! The Pope is NOT God, or even a god, any one who says that, IS WRONG! The only power that exists in the Church is THE POWER OF CHRIST, WHO IS GOD! Do not ever let anyone tell you any different.
The fact that, "this man" the Pope alone, CANNOT forgive our sins is something we all can agree on. What these men actually do, is act as a channel for the forgive that Jesus himself offers to us by His power.
Why? Because Jesus set it up that way. We must believe and worship Jesus on His terms, and not our own. If He established it, then it must be very important and we have a duty as His followers to take part in it.
Jesus is not physically here with us. He is is heaven but before he ascended, He appointed men, the apostles to carry out His mission and ministry here on earth. Jesus never told us to confess our sins to Him alone but through faithful appointed men (2 Tim 2:1-2) whom He gave authority (Jn 20:21-23) to do so. More on that in a moment.
If you've made it this far, thank you!
Please keep reading...
Maybe you don't believe me and still think that Catholics are taught to worship the pope, or think that a man can actually forgive me my sins without the Power and Will of Christ behind him. If you're a Christian and have a problem with what I just wrote here about Christ using his power to forgive me my sins through another human being than perhaps you need to go back to your bible. Because God has always used men and women to carry out his plans here on earth. Confession is no different as you will see if you are carefully and prayerfully reading this article.
Proof that The Church actually teaches what I am saying she does.
For proof of what the Church actually teaches we look to The Catechism of the Catholic Church. The Catechism is a book we can reference for a clear teaching on what The Church teaches to the faithful and what she has always taught. References included for your further study. keep in mind that this is official Catholic Church teachings, long held for 2,000 years.
For proof of what the Church actually teaches we look to The Catechism of the Catholic Church. The Catechism is a book we can reference for a clear teaching on what The Church teaches to the faithful and what she has always taught. References included for your further study. keep in mind that this is official Catholic Church teachings, long held for 2,000 years.
The point is to show you that meme's like the one shown on this page is based on assumptions about Catholic teaching that are just wrong. People who make these images and believe what they say, have no clue what the Church teaches, nor have they ever even read the catechism.
VI. The Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation,
1441 Only God forgives sins.39 Since he is the Son of God, Jesus says of himself, "The Son of man has authority on earth to forgive sins" and exercises this divine power: "Your sins are forgiven."40 Further, by virtue of his divine authority he gives this power to men to exercise in his name.41
39 Cf. Mk 2:7.
40 Mk 2:5,10; Lk 7:48.
41 Cf. Jn 20:21-23.
This right here could conclude my response to the image and others like it. If you are reading this and or are my friend. I really hope that you take the time to really understand what The Catholic Church teaches and what faithful Catholics actually believe before you share or believe this kind of garbage. As shown in the image provided.
Why can't I just go to Jesus?
Yes, we absolutely can and should ask Jesus directly in prayer to forgive our sins, daily!
"If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us." (1 John 1:8)
I personally love to use The Lord's prayer that He gave us (Matt 6:9-13) I find that the Lord's prayer contains everything we should be asking God for, and most importantly offering to him. Another one of my favorite Catholic Christian prayers to recite is The Fatima prayer.
"Oh my Jesus, forgive us our sins. Save us from the fires of hell. Lead all souls to heaven, especially those in most need of thy Mercy." I like to say prayers for myself and family. Especially for unbelievers and for those who don't ask Jesus for forgiveness themselves.
It's also a beautiful thing to have the consolation and assurance of the sacrament of confession, that Jesus instituted. Through this sacrament we can know with certainty that we are in fact forgiven when we hear those beautiful words of absolution spoken by the priest in Persona Christi!
Only Jesus has the power, and authority to forgive sins! All of us Christians agree with this truth. There should never be a debate on that truth. Our Lord Jesus Christ through His sacrament allows the priest to act in Persona Christi. This means in The Person of Christ, because IT IS CHRIST and NOT THE PRIEST who forgives us our sins!
That is what we can conclude through scripture, and that is official Church teaching as well folks. If you continue to read this I will provide you with the scripture.
Jesus gave the authority to the Apostles to forgive sins in His name and power.
* "Some men brought to him a paralyzed man, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the man, “Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.” At this, some of the teachers of the law said to themselves, “This fellow is blaspheming!” Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said, “Why do you entertain evil thoughts in your hearts? Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the paralyzed man, “Get up, take your mat and go home.” Then the man got up and went home. When the crowd saw this, they were filled with awe; and they praised God, who had given such authority to man." (Matt 9-2-8 NIV)
Notice in Matt 9, it was the man's friends who brought the paralytic to Jesus, and Jesus forgives the man's sins. The priest as our friend simply brings us to Christ directly through the sacrament, just as these men brought their friend to Jesus. Also notice that the crowed was "filled with awe and they praised God, who had given such authority to man." Simply put, Jesus forgives sins, but He can, and will use men to accomplish his task as well.
* "And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.” (John 20:22-23 NIV)
This was after the resurrection when the Apostles were in the upper room. Jesus came to them and breathed on them, and using His Word, gave them the authority, and power of the Holy Spirit to forgive sins. Interesting here is that Jesus says, "If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven."
Jesus gave the authority to the Apostles to forgive sins in His name and power.
* "Some men brought to him a paralyzed man, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the man, “Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.” At this, some of the teachers of the law said to themselves, “This fellow is blaspheming!” Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said, “Why do you entertain evil thoughts in your hearts? Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the paralyzed man, “Get up, take your mat and go home.” Then the man got up and went home. When the crowd saw this, they were filled with awe; and they praised God, who had given such authority to man." (Matt 9-2-8 NIV)
Notice in Matt 9, it was the man's friends who brought the paralytic to Jesus, and Jesus forgives the man's sins. The priest as our friend simply brings us to Christ directly through the sacrament, just as these men brought their friend to Jesus. Also notice that the crowed was "filled with awe and they praised God, who had given such authority to man." Simply put, Jesus forgives sins, but He can, and will use men to accomplish his task as well.
* "And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.” (John 20:22-23 NIV)
This was after the resurrection when the Apostles were in the upper room. Jesus came to them and breathed on them, and using His Word, gave them the authority, and power of the Holy Spirit to forgive sins. Interesting here is that Jesus says, "If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven."
He doesn't say "receive the holy spirit and then tell everyone to just pray to me and then I will forgive their sins." NO! He breaths on them and speaks The Word over them, "Receive the Holy Spirit, If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven."
It doesn't get much clearer than that!
The apostle Paul explains "the ministry of reconciliation" that Christ gave to us.
(2 Corinthians 5:17-20 NIV)
The Sacrament of confession back in New Testament times was called, "the ministry of reconciliation" as indicated here by St. Paul. Even today the Sacrament is known as, Reconciliation. The ministry of reconciliation is carried out by The Church from Jesus, to Apostles like Paul, on to the post apostolic fathers and even down still to this day.
* "Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective." (James 5:13-16 NIV)
Here we see that prayers over a sick person forgives their sins. This is also a proof text for the Sacrament of The Anointing of the sick, which is still practiced in the Church today.
It was Jesus who gave the Apostles His authority to forgive sins, and make things happen for those in the Church.
* “Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven." Matthew 18:18
The Sacrament of confession back in New Testament times was called, "the ministry of reconciliation" as indicated here by St. Paul. Even today the Sacrament is known as, Reconciliation. The ministry of reconciliation is carried out by The Church from Jesus, to Apostles like Paul, on to the post apostolic fathers and even down still to this day.
* "Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective." (James 5:13-16 NIV)
Here we see that prayers over a sick person forgives their sins. This is also a proof text for the Sacrament of The Anointing of the sick, which is still practiced in the Church today.
It was Jesus who gave the Apostles His authority to forgive sins, and make things happen for those in the Church.
* “Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven." Matthew 18:18
Jesus speaking to the apostles about sin in the Church and gives the apostles the authority to bind and lose. This means to make things happen basically. He tells them "whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven" By Christ's power and Word these men can make decisions for the Christian community as a whole aka The Church, even to forgive sin in His name.
Remember? John 20:22-23 which I already quoted for you.
If you are doubting that this Matthew verse is about sin then let me include the first part for your convince. In the Gospels here Jesus tells us exactly how to deal with our sin. If you are a Christian and you ever doubted how the body of believers should deal with sin, here it is.
“If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses. If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector."
"Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven." Matthew 18:15-18 NIV
Compare this Matthew verse with the John 20 one I already mentioned above.
Also in scripture those who were baptized by men (the Apostles) were also confessing their sins. We may ask to whom were they "confessing" their sins? The answer is men, the Apostles the same ones doing the baptizing Jesus told them to d, Matthew 28:19.
"People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River." Matt 3:5-6 NIV
Like I said yes we should confess our sins to Jesus in prayer but he left us the ministry of reconciliation as well. It has been past down from our Lord to the Apostles and to us now through the priesthood. Jesus promised that He would not leave us as orphans, John 14:18.
Paul The Apostle says in to Timothy that what was handed down to Paul the Apostle would be handed down to other faithful men who can tech it also.
"You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others." 2 Timothy 2:1-2 NIV
It is clear that the teachings and practices that Christ taught and instituted with the Apostles was meant to be past down to faithful men. But it is the Holy Spirit and not man who have the power to make all of this happen.
“All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you." John 14:25-26 NIV
Lets read this last verse in context because it is so beautiful and I love it.
“If you love me, keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.
I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.”
Then Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said, “But, Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?” Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.
“All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.
John 20:15-26 NIV
In conclusion
I know there is a lot of scripture here but it is necessary, it is The Word of God! Clearly Jesus intended for his ministry to continue on to the present day. Clearly he used and I believe intended to use men and women to carry out his mission to the world long past His ascending into heaven.
The work Jesus accomplished here on earth is meant to last forever! The Church Christ established through the Apostles didn't just suddenly disappear. It has stood the test of time by the power of The Holy Spirit just as our Lord said it would. It has lasted despite how much Satan has tried/tries to discredit, and destroy it.
Jesus said, "And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it." Matthew 16:18 NIV
Is Jesus the fool or the wise man in His parable? This is a question that serious Christians need to ask themselves. The entire world and everything exists, exists because Jesus made it happen with His Word! If Jesus builds it, it will last! If He says it, it will be so.
I included a little bit about Apostolic Succession here but I am going to leave that topic for another post. I wanted to center this article around answering the claims that non Christians make about confession. No, the pope or a priest cannot forgive us our sins on his own.
A man or women for that matter have no power of their own. And not just any man can act in Persona Christi and forgive sins. He has to have Christ behind him and he needs to be validly ordained into the Apostolic succession that comes directly from Christ Himself.
These well intending Christians don't understand how the sacrament of confession works or what the Church really teaches about it. I hope this article has helped you understand it better. My prayer is that you will not only accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, but also recognize Him in the breaking of the Bread.
by Joane Utke
For more information about the biblical teachings of The Church or to hear this explained further watch the videos.
The Biblical Basis for Confession
Why do Catholics confess their sins to a priest?
Thank you for taking the time to read this!
As always feel free to go to the Welcome and ask any specific questions you like.
Please pay attention to the links on this page for further research.
