Can those called to serve forgive sins?

[TurtleHare]

If people don't want to believe that their sins are forgiven then they won't receive it and when Jesus told the disciples that the sins they forgive are forgiven then isn't it a shame that people want to say nope to that? It seems to be a trend in modern Christianity to deny a lot of what Jesus said and because they can't see it and this isn't just happening with this topic but a lot of others as well so that it becomes satan in the garden again putting doubt into the minds with Did God really say?

 

[Josiah]

When WE forgive, that comes from us. Yes, where there is repentance and faith, we are mandated to do that. I agree, GOD forgiving is a different matter (one not exclusively the issue of this thread).

Of course, such is not the same as GOD forgiving that person. However, where there is repentance and faith, God DOES so forgive (He promises it). Thus, it is appropriate for us to APPLY and ANNOUNCE God's forgiveness.... however, such annoucement would always be conditional since we (unlike God) cannot know if faith and repentance are present (WE can only "go" on what people say). Thus, while anyone can say, "in the name of God, I announce His forgiveness" however, it would be conditional, based on the person's CLAIM of repentance and faith. It would be best to add, "Upon your confession, I announce God's forgiveness of your sins."



.

You can "announce" all you like until the cows come home, but unless a person is repentant of one's sin and desires forgiveness from God through the sacrificial blood of Jesus---the cross, then nothing happens in the spiritual.

Which is why I said when God's forgiveness is announced, it's CONDITIONAL upon two things: repentance and faith.




.

 

[Full O Beans]

"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." (Jas. 5:16).
King Jimmy always says that so well

Confessing one's faults to a trusted Christian brother or sister is not the same as confessing sin.

 

[psalms 91]

or asking forgiveness

 

[Josiah]

Confessing one's faults to a trusted Christian brother or sister is not the same as confessing sin.

Actually, it is.

 

[psalms 91]

Really? You ask thenm for forgiveness rather than God?

 

[Full O Beans]

Actually, it is.

No, that is not at all what James is talking about. He is talking about trusting one another to share with one another your faults, your missteps, so that you may receive counsel, prayer support, succour and restoration without judgment.

James 5:16 AMP
Therefore, confess your sins to one another [your false steps, your offenses], and pray for one another, that you may be healed and restored. The heartfelt and persistent prayer of a righteous man (believer) can accomplish much [when put into action and made effective by God—it is dynamic and can have tremendous power].

 

[MoreCoffee]

Saint James in his letter says to confess your sins.

So confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another to be cured; the heartfelt prayer of someone upright works very powerfully.
(James 5:16)

 

[ImaginaryDay2]

Confessing one's faults to a trusted Christian brother or sister is not the same as confessing sin.

Then what do you suppose James was speaking about?

 

[ImaginaryDay2]

"Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working." (ESV)

"Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results." (NLT)

"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." (NIV)

"Make this your common practice: Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you can live together whole and healed. The prayer of a person living right with God is something powerful to be reckoned with." (Msg)

"You should get into the habit of admitting your sins to each other, and praying for each other, so that if sickness comes to you, you may be healed. Tremendous power is made available through a good man’s earnest prayer." (PHILLIPS)

*THIS ONE IS IMPORTANT! "Confess to one another therefore your faults (your slips, your false steps, your offenses, your sins) and pray [also] for one another, that you may be healed and restored [to a spiritual tone of mind and heart]. The earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available [dynamic in its working]." (Amplified Bible - Classic Edition)

 

[visionary]

Confessing is one thing, confessional is another.

 

[MoreCoffee]

Confessing is one thing, confessional is another.

Yes, just like talking is one thing and a room in which one talks is another. It is rather trite to make the observation that's in your post.

 

[Alithis]

If people don't want to believe that their sins are forgiven then they won't receive it and when Jesus told the disciples that the sins they forgive are forgiven then isn't it a shame that people want to say nope to that? It seems to be a trend in modern Christianity to deny a lot of what Jesus said and because they can't see it and this isn't just happening with this topic but a lot of others as well so that it becomes satan in the garden again putting doubt into the minds with Did God really say?

so what things did Jesus Himself say that you imply people are denying ?

 

[visionary]

Yes, just like talking is one thing and a room in which one talks is another. It is rather trite to make the observation that's in your post.

This thread is about the "one called to serve" "forgive sins" .. So that statement is appropriate.

 

[visionary]

Just to be clear... I will underline the definition meaning I meant when I posted the term "confessional".. wouldn't want to confuse anyone that I meant "room".

con·fes·sion·al
kənˈfeSH(ə)n(ə)l/

noun
1. an enclosed stall in a church divided by a screen or curtain in which a priest sits to hear people confess their sins.
2. an admission or acknowledgment that one has done something that one is ashamed or embarrassed about; a confession.

adjective
1. (especially of speech or writing) in which a person reveals or admits to private thoughts or past incidents, especially ones that cause shame or embarrassment. "the autobiography is remarkably confessional"

Especially this one.....
*****2. of or relating to confessions of faith or doctrinal systems. "the confessional approach to religious education"

 

[MoreCoffee]

This thread is about the "one called to serve" "forgive sins" .. So that statement is appropriate.

A minister of the gospel is called to serve and part of his calling is to hear confessions and give absolution for the sins confessed when the sinner is truly penitent for their sins. The penitent is encouraged to pray with the priest saying something along the lines of this: My God, I am sorry for my sins with all my heart. In choosing to do wrong and failing to do good, I have sinned against you whom I should love above all things. I firmly intend, with your help, to do penance, to sin no more, and to avoid whatever leads me to sin. Our Saviour Jesus Christ suffered and died for us. In his name, my God, have mercy.

The psalms give us a wonderful example of contrition before God: Have mercy on me, O God, in your faithful love, in your great tenderness wipe away my offences; wash me clean from my guilt, purify me from my sin. For I am well aware of my offences, my sin is constantly in mind. Against you, you alone, I have sinned, I have done what you see to be wrong, that you may show your saving justice when you pass sentence, and your victory may appear when you give judgement, remember, I was born guilty, a sinner from the moment of conception. But you delight in sincerity of heart, and in secret you teach me wisdom. Purify me with hyssop till I am clean, wash me till I am whiter than snow. Let me hear the sound of joy and gladness, and the bones you have crushed will dance. Turn away your face from my sins, and wipe away all my guilt. God, create in me a clean heart, renew within me a resolute spirit, do not thrust me away from your presence, do not take away from me your spirit of holiness. Give me back the joy of your salvation, sustain in me a generous spirit. I shall teach the wicked your paths, and sinners will return to you. Deliver me from bloodshed, God, God of my salvation, and my tongue will acclaim your saving justice. Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will speak out your praise. Sacrifice gives you no pleasure, burnt offering you do not desire. Sacrifice to God is a broken spirit, a broken, contrite heart you never scorn. In your graciousness do good to Zion, rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. Then you will delight in upright sacrifices,-burnt offerings and whole oblations -- and young bulls will be offered on your altar. (Psalms 51:1-19)

 

[visionary]

A minister of the gospel is called to serve and part of his calling is to hear confessions and give absolution for the sins confessed when the sinner is truly penitent for their sins. The penitent is encouraged to pray with the priest saying something along the lines of this: My God, I am sorry for my sins with all my heart. In choosing to do wrong and failing to do good, I have sinned against you whom I should love above all things. I firmly intend, with your help, to do penance, to sin no more, and to avoid whatever leads me to sin. Our Saviour Jesus Christ suffered and died for us. In his name, my God, have mercy.

The psalms give us a wonderful example of contrition before God: Have mercy on me, O God, in your faithful love, in your great tenderness wipe away my offences; wash me clean from my guilt, purify me from my sin. For I am well aware of my offences, my sin is constantly in mind. Against you, you alone, I have sinned, I have done what you see to be wrong, that you may show your saving justice when you pass sentence, and your victory may appear when you give judgement, remember, I was born guilty, a sinner from the moment of conception. But you delight in sincerity of heart, and in secret you teach me wisdom. Purify me with hyssop till I am clean, wash me till I am whiter than snow. Let me hear the sound of joy and gladness, and the bones you have crushed will dance. Turn away your face from my sins, and wipe away all my guilt. God, create in me a clean heart, renew within me a resolute spirit, do not thrust me away from your presence, do not take away from me your spirit of holiness. Give me back the joy of your salvation, sustain in me a generous spirit. I shall teach the wicked your paths, and sinners will return to you. Deliver me from bloodshed, God, God of my salvation, and my tongue will acclaim your saving justice. Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will speak out your praise. Sacrifice gives you no pleasure, burnt offering you do not desire. Sacrifice to God is a broken spirit, a broken, contrite heart you never scorn. In your graciousness do good to Zion, rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. Then you will delight in upright sacrifices,-burnt offerings and whole oblations -- and young bulls will be offered on your altar. (Psalms 51:1-19)

So you believe you can "go and sin no more"?

 

[Josiah]

No, that is not at all what James is talking about. He is talking about trusting one another to share with one another your faults, your missteps, so that you may receive counsel, prayer support, succour and restoration without judgment.

James 5:16 AMP
Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed and restored.

So, we ARE to confess our sins to each other....."Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working." (ESV) "Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results." (NLT) "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." (NIV)
Make this your common practice: Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you can live together whole and healed. The prayer of a person living right with God is something powerful to be reckoned with." (Msg) "You should get into the habit of admitting your sins to each other, and praying for each other, so that if sickness comes to you, you may be healed. Tremendous power is made available through a good man’s earnest prayer." (PHILLIPS)

ANYTHING that is imperfect is sin.... missing the mark.

True, we should ALSO confess to God but that doesn't negate our confessing ALSO to the PERSON we sinned against.

Yes, we CAN forgiven those who sinned against us. And yes, we CAN announce God's forgiveness conditional upon their being repentant and having the gift of faith in Christ as Savior.




.

 

[psalms 91]

So, we ARE to confess our sins to each other....."Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working." (ESV) "Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results." (NLT) "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." (NIV)
Make this your common practice: Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you can live together whole and healed. The prayer of a person living right with God is something powerful to be reckoned with." (Msg) "You should get into the habit of admitting your sins to each other, and praying for each other, so that if sickness comes to you, you may be healed. Tremendous power is made available through a good man’s earnest prayer." (PHILLIPS)

ANYTHING that is imperfect is sin.... missing the mark.

True, we should ALSO confess to God but that doesn't negate our confessing ALSO to the PERSON we sinned against.

Yes, we CAN forgiven those who sinned against us. And yes, we CAN announce God's forgiveness conditional upon their being repentant and having the gift of faith in Christ as Savior.




.

Yup

 

[MoreCoffee]

So you believe you can "go and sin no more"?

When one repents of one's sins it ought to be with the intention of sinning no more and with the hope of receiving from God grace to resist temptation as the holy scriptures teach: "Therefore let any one who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your strength, but with the temptation will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it." (1 Corinthians 10:12-13)