What Did Jesus Say About Confession

What Does the Bible Say About Confession?

In the event that we confess our sins, he is true and just in forgiving us our sins and purifying us from all unrighteousness in our lives.

James 5:16ESV / 75 helpful votes

As a result, confess your faults to one another and pray for one another so that you may be healed of your illnesses. In its active state, the prayer of a good person possesses tremendous power.

Proverbs 28:13ESV / 57 helpful votes

Whoever hides his or her faults will not succeed, but he or she who admits and forsakes them will be forgiven and get forgiveness.

Romans 10:9-11ESV / 32 helpful votes

Because if you believe in your heart that God resurrected Jesus from the dead and confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, you will be saved. Because faith comes from the heart, and justification comes from the mouth, and salvation comes from the lips. In fact, the Bible states that “no one who trusts in him will be put to shame.”

Matthew 10:33ESV / 29 helpful votes

The one who, however, refuses me in front of mankind, I will also deny in front of my heavenly Father.

1 John 4:2ESV / 25 helpful votes

You may tell if a spirit is from God if it admits that Jesus Christ has appeared in the flesh: any spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has appeared in the flesh is from God.

John 20:23ESV / 18 helpful votes

In the event that you forgive the sins of anyone, they are forgiven, and in the event that you refuse to forgive anyone, forgiveness is refused.”

1 John 4:15ESV / 14 helpful votes

Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God has God residing within him, and he has God residing within him.

Matthew 7:21-23ESV / 14 helpful votes

‘Not everyone who calls out to me in the name of ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only those who do the will of my Father in heaven,’ says the Lord Jesus. There will be a great number of people who will come up to me and say: ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in your name, drive out demons in your name, and do many amazing wonders in your name?’ And then I will say to them, ‘I never knew you; leave from me, you workers of lawlessness,’ as if I had never known them.

Romans 10:10ESV / 13 helpful votes

‘Not everyone who calls out to me in the name of ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only those who do the will of my Father in heaven,’ says the Lord. “Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and cast out demons in your name, and do many marvelous wonders in your name?” they will exclaim to me on that day. I will then tell them, ‘I never knew you; leave from me, you workers of lawlessness,’ because I will have no more time to spend with them.

Luke 12:8ESV / 11 helpful votes

“Not everyone who calls out to me with a loud voice, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. “Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and cast out demons in your name, and do many wonderful wonders in your name?” many would say to me on that day. And then I will say to them, ‘I never knew you; leave from me, you agents of lawlessness,’ as if they were strangers.

Psalm 32:5-6ESV / 11 helpful votes

I confessed my wrongdoing to you, and I did not attempt to cover up my wickedness; I said, “I will confess my trespasses to the Lord,” and you removed the guilt of my sin from my conscience.

Because of this, everyone who is righteous should offer prayer to you at a time when you are likely to be found; they will almost certainly not reach him in the midst of the huge flood.

1 John 4:3ESV / 10 helpful votes

And any spirit that does not proclaim Jesus as Lord and Savior is not from the Holy Spirit. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have been warned against and which has already manifested itself in the world.

Romans 10:9-10ESV / 9 helpful votes

Titus 3:5ESV / 8 helpful votes

He saved us, not because of our good deeds in righteousness, but because of his own kindness, through the washing of rebirth and renewal of the Holy Spirit, and we are eternally grateful.

Acts 2:38ESV / 8 helpful votes

Neither because of our good deeds nor because of our striving for righteousness, but because of his own compassion, through the washing of rebirth and renewing of the Holy Spirit, he rescued us.

Psalm 51:1-19ESV / 8 helpful votes

To the choirmaster’s attention. Nathan the prophet visited David after he had entered Bathsheba’s house and brought him a Psalm of David. Allow me to be forgiven according to your unfailing love, and according to your overflowing compassion, wash away my sins. Amen. Wash away all of my wickedness and purify me of all of my transgression! Because I am aware of my misdeeds, and my sin is constantly in front of me. I have sinned and done what is wicked in your eyes solely against you, and only against you, so that you may be righteous in your words and blameless in your judgment.

Hebrews 10:26ESV / 7 helpful votes

Because if we continue to sin on purpose after obtaining knowledge of the truth, there will no longer be a sacrifice for sins offered by the Lord.

Mark 11:23ESV / 7 helpful votes

It is true, I say to you, whomever says to this mountain, ‘Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and who does not have any doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, will have his wish fulfilled.’

Deuteronomy 6:13ESV / 7 helpful votes

You must be terrified of the Lord, your God. You will serve him, and you will pledge allegiance to him in his name.

Hebrews 10:23ESV / 6 helpful votes

Maintaining our trust without wavering is essential, since he who has promised will keep his word.

Acts 18:5ESV / 6 helpful votes

The arrival of Silas and Timothy from Macedonia coincided with Paul’s preoccupation with the word, proving to the Jews that the Christ was indeed Jesus.

John 20:19-24ESV / 6 helpful votes

During the time when Silas and Timothy were traveling from Macedonia, Paul was preoccupied with the word, testifying to Jewish leaders that the Messiah was none other than Jesus Christ.

John 20:19-23ESV / 6 helpful votes

On that day, the first day of the week, in the evening, when the disciples had closed their doors for dread of the Jews, Jesus appeared among them and said, “Peace be with you.” This was the first time Jesus had appeared among them. When he said this, he demonstrated it by showing them his hands and side. When the disciples finally saw the Lord, they were overjoyed. Once more, Jesus wished them well, saying, “Peace be with you.” “In the same way that the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” He then breathed on them and whispered to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” In the event that you pardon the crimes of anybody, they are forgiven, and in the event that you refuse to forgive anyone, forgiveness is refused.”

Proverbs 18:21ESV / 6 helpful votes

Death and life are in the hands of the tongue, and those who adore it will devour the fruits of their love for the language.

Psalm 44:21ESV / 6 helpful votes

Wouldn’t God be able to figure it out? Because he is privy to the innermost secrets of the heart.

Revelation 14:12ESV / 5 helpful votes

This is a call to the saints to persevere in their trust in Jesus and to fulfill the commandments of the Lord as they go through life.

1 Corinthians 11:1-34ESV / 5 helpful votes

Be as Christ-like in your imitation of me as I am of Christ. Now I praise you because you remember me in whatever you do and uphold the traditions that I instilled in you when I first handed them over to you. Nevertheless, I want you to realize that Christ is the head of every man, the head of a woman is her husband, and the head of Christ is the triune God. It is wrong for a man to pray or prophesy while covering his head, but it is wrong for a woman to do so since it is equivalent to shaving her head.

Romans 6:4ESV / 5 helpful votes

In order for us to share in Christ’s resurrection from the dead, we were buried with him in baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too may walk in newness of life.

Acts 19:5ESV / 5 helpful votes

They were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus as soon as they heard this.

Acts 19:4ESV / 5 helpful votes

They were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus as soon as they heard the news.

Matthew 9:6-8ESV / 5 helpful votes

They were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus as a result of hearing this.

Matthew 3:11ESV / 5 helpful votes

“I baptize you with water in the name of repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, and whose sandals I am not worthy to hold.” “I baptize you with water in the name of repentance,” I say. He will baptize you in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Numbers 5:6-7ESV / 5 helpful votes

“Speak to the people of Israel, and tell them that when a man or a woman commits any of the crimes that people do by breaking faith with the Lord, and that person understands that he or she has done wrong, that person must confess the fault that he or she has done wrong.” Afterwards, he must pay full atonement for his error, adding a fifth to the amount and handing it to the person against whom he has committed the wrong.

1 John 2:4ESV / 4 helpful votes

Speaking to the people of Israel, when a man or woman commits any of the crimes that are committed by individuals who have broken faith with the Lord, and that person knows that he or she has done wrong, that person is required to confess the fault that he or she has done wrong.” Afterwards, he must pay full atonement for his error, adding a fifth to the amount and handing it to the person against whom he acted wrongfully.

1 Corinthians 14:1-40ESV / 4 helpful votes

Make a sincere effort to pursue love and to truly want spiritual talents, particularly the ability to prophecy. Someone who communicates in a tongue does not speak to mankind, but to God; because no one knows what he is saying, and he utters secrets via the Spirit. People are uplifted, encouraged, and comforted when a prophet talks, on the other hand. However, while one who talks in a dialect builds himself up, it is the one who prophesies who strengthens the church.

Now I want you all to talk in tongues, but I want you to prophesy far more than that. The one who prophesies is better than the one who talks in tongues, unless someone interprets for the sake of building up the church.

Acts 8:35-36ESV / 4 helpful votes

Make a sincere effort to find love and to truly pursue spiritual talents, particularly the ability to prophecy. The reason is that a person who communicates in a tongue does not speak to mankind, but to God; for no one understands him, and he utters secrets in the Holy Spirit. The person who prophesies, on the other hand, talks to others in order to uplift, encourage, and comfort them. The one who talks in a tongue builds himself up, but the one who prophesies builds up the entire church body.

The one who prophesies is greater than the one who talks in tongues, unless someone translates for the sake of building the church.

John 12:43ESV / 4 helpful votes

The glory that comes from man, they believed, was more important to them than the glory that comes from God.

John 12:42ESV / 4 helpful votes

In spite of this, many people, including many members of the ruling class, believed in him; nevertheless, they did not disclose their faith for fear of being expelled from the synagogue by the Pharisees.

John 9:22-38ESV / 4 helpful votes

(His parents said these things because they were afraid of the Jews, who had already resolved that if someone professed Jesus to be the Messiah, he would be expelled from the synagogue.) As a result, his parents stated, “He is of legal age; question him.” They called the guy who had been blind a second time and told him to “give praise to God,” which he did. “We are aware that this individual is a sinner.” “I don’t know if he is a sinner or not,” he responded. One thing I am certain of is that, despite the fact that I was blind, I now see.” “What exactly did he do to you?” they inquired of him.

Mark 1:4-5ESV / 4 helpful votes

As John came and baptized in the desert, he preached a baptism of repentance that would result in the remission of sins. As a result, the whole nation of Judea as well as the entire city of Jerusalem flocked to him, confessing their sins and being baptized by him in the Jordan River.

Matthew 10:32ESV / 4 helpful votes

As a result, everyone who acknowledges me in front of mankind will likewise be acknowledged in front of my heavenly Father, as well.

Matthew 6:24ESV / 4 helpful votes

“No one can serve two masters because he will either loathe the first and love the second, or he will be dedicated to the first and despise the second. You cannot serve both God and money at the same time.

Psalm 32:3-5ESV / 4 helpful votes

Because if I remained silent, my bones began to deteriorate as a result of my moaning every day. Your hand weighed heavily on my shoulders all day and night, and my strength was depleted as though by the scorching heat of summer. Selah, I confessed my fault to you, and I did not conceal my wickedness; I said, “I will confess my trespasses to the Lord,” and you removed the guilt of my sin from my shoulders. Selah

1 John 1:6ESV / 3 helpful votes

If we claim to have communion with him while walking in darkness, we are deceiving ourselves and are not practicing the truth.

2 Peter 3:9ESV / 3 helpful votes

It is a deception and a violation of the truth to claim to have communion with him while walking in darkness.

Acts 2:1-47ESV / 3 helpful votes

If we claim to have fellowship with him while continuing to walk in darkness, we are deceiving ourselves and are not practicing the truth.

John 3:16ESV / 3 helpful votes

If we claim to have fellowship with him while continuing to walk in darkness, we are lying and are not practicing the truth.

John 1:15-18ESV / 3 helpful votes

If we claim to have communion with him while walking in darkness, we are deceiving ourselves and are not practicing the truth.

Zechariah 11:17ESV / 3 helpful votes

It is a deception and a violation of the truth to claim to have communion with him while walking in darkness.

Genesis 1:1-31ESV / 3 helpful votes

The heavens and the earth were created by God in the beginning of time. The earth was devoid of shape and empty, and darkness hung over the surface of the ocean’s depths. And the presence of the Holy Spirit was hanging over the surface of the waves. As soon as God declared, “Let there be light,” there was illumination. And God saw that the light was pleasing. And God divided the light from the darkness in the beginning. God called the light Day, and the darkness Night, and he created them both.

Revelation 11:1-19ESV / 2 helpful votes

“Rise and measure the temple of God, the altar, and those who worship there, but do not measure the court outside the temple; leave it out, since it has been turned over to the nations, and they will trample the holy city for forty-two months,” I was instructed. Moreover, I will give authority to my two witnesses, who will prophesy for 1,260 days while dressed in sackcloth.” The two olive trees and two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth are depicted in this illustration. And if someone attempts to harm them, fire bursts from their mouths and consumes their adversaries.

1 Thessalonians 4:16-18ESV / 2 helpful votes

Because the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a commanding cry, the voice of an archangel, and the sound of God’s trumpet, all at the same time. And the first to rise will be those who have died in Christ. Once they have been carried up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, we who are still living and who are left will be caught up with them, and we will be with the Lord for the rest of our lives. As a result, these remarks should be used to encourage one another.

1 Corinthians 11:20ESV / 2 helpful votes

It is for this reason that the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a commanding cry, the voice of an archangel, and the sound of God’s trumpet. As a result, the first to arise will be those who have died in Christ. Once they have been carried up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, we who are still living and who are left will be caught up with them, and we will be with the Lord for the rest of our lives. This is why it is important to encourage one another.

Romans 6:14ESV / 2 helpful votes

As a result, sin will have no power over you because you are not under the law, but rather under the mercy of God.

Acts 16:1-40ESV / 2 helpful votes

Because you are not under the law, but rather under grace, sin will have no authority over you.

John 20:30-31ESV / 2 helpful votes

As a result, Jesus performed many additional miracles in front of the disciples, which are not included in this book; but, these are recorded in so that you may come to know that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and that by believing you may come to have life in his name.

1 Kings 19:1-21ESV / 2 helpful votes

Ahab informed Jezebel all that Elijah had done, including how he had slaughtered all of the prophets with the sword, and she was furious. Then Jezebel dispatched a messenger to Elijah, saying, “As the gods have done to me, so may the gods do to you, and more too, if I do not make your life as valuable as the life of one of them by this time tomorrow.” Afterward, he was terrified, so he arose and fled for his life, eventually arriving at Beersheba, which belonged to Judah, where he left his servant.

Then he pleaded with the Lord to take away his life, saying, “Enough; now, OLord, take away my life, for I am no better than my fathers.” And he went to sleep behind a broom tree, where he had fallen asleep.

Enter a Verse Reference(e.g.,John 3:16-17)

It was Ahab who informed Jezebel all that Elijah had done, including how he had slaughtered every prophet with a sword. Jezebel then dispatched a messenger to Elijah, saying, “If I do not make your life as valuable as the life of one of them by this time tomorrow, the gods will do the same to me and more likewise.” Afterward, he was terrified, so he awoke and fled for his life, eventually arriving at Beersheba, which is in Judah, where he left his servant. Although it took him a day to travel into the bush, he eventually found a broom tree and decided to sit under it.

And he went to sleep under a broom tree, where he had been sleeping for days.

What does the Bible say about confession and forgiveness?

God is willing to forgive us if we confess our sins, I am confident of that. If I die before confessing any particular sin, what happens to my soul? “Will God accept my repentance?”

In general, sin must be acknowledged and confessed in order to be forgiven

It is obvious from several passages of Scripture that God uses His Word to convince us of our sins and unworthiness before the world. The Holy Spirit awakens our hearts to the reality of our life, and it is through this process that we learn just how filthy with sin we truly are. However, the Holy Spirit also directs us to Jesus Christ, where we may obtain forgiveness for all of our sins through Him. Nobody is capable of confessing every fault that he or she has committed. Many of our transgressions are readily forgotten.

Don’t be afraid to confess all of your transgressions!

When we claim to be without sin, we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not inside us.

Sin doesn’t change your position as a child of God

For individuals who have already received forgiveness of their sins, let us first list some Bible scriptures that provide some background knowledge that will help us to answer this issue more effectively for them.

When you accept Christ as your Savior, your relationship with God undergoes a significant transformation.

God adopts you as his child: “Behold, what great love the Father has lavished upon us, that we should be called children of God,” 1 John 3:1
“Behold, what great love the Father has lavished upon us, that we should be called children of God,” 1 John 3:1
“Behold, what great love the Father has lavished upon us, that we “For at one time you were darkness, but now you are light:”For at one time you were darkness, but now you are light.” In Ephesians 5:18, Paul writes, “but now you are lights in the Lord.” Once upon a time, you were spiritually dead, but God brought you back to life. Paul writes in Ephesians 2:4,5 that “God. even while we were dead in our sins, made us alive together with Christ” (Ephesians 2:15). Your membership in the church, which is also known as the body of Christ, has been confirmed: “Now you are the body of Christ,” 1 Corinthians 12:27
You have received forgiveness for all of your sins: “Everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins through His name,” Acts 10:43
You are God’s possession with a special position: “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood,” 1 Peter 2:9
You are God’s possession with a special position: ” A holy country, a people for His own possession, according to 1 Peter 2:9
As a sheep in Jesus’ care, you have an eternally safe status, according to Jesus: “I give them eternal life, and they will never die,” he says. “And no one will be able to take them from My hand,” says Jesus in John 10:28.

God adopts you as his child: “Behold, what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God,” 1 John 3:1; “Behold, what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God,” 1 John 3:1; “Behold, what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God,” 1 John 3:1; “Behold, what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we “For at one time you were darkness, but now you are light:”For once you were darkness, but now you are light:” In Ephesians 5:18, Paul writes, “But now you are lights in the Lord.” You were spiritually dead until God brought you back to life.

According to Ephesians 2:4,5, “God.

In Acts 10:43, it is stated that everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins through His name; you are God’s possession with a special position: “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood,” according to 1 Peter 2:9; you have received forgiveness for all of your sins: “Everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins through His name,” according to Acts 10:43; you are God’s possession with a special position: “But you are A holy nation, a people for His own possession, according to 1 Peter 2:9; as a sheep in Jesus’ care, you have an eternally safe status, according to Jesus: “I give them eternal life, and they will never die.” It is said in John 10:28 that no one will be able to take them from My hand.

Confess your sins to God

God adopts you as his child: “Behold, what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God,” 1 John 3:1; “Behold, what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God,” 1 John 3:1; “Behold, what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God,” 1 John 3:1; “Behold, what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children “For at one time you were darkness, but now you are light:”For at one time you were darkness, but now you are light.

In Ephesians 5:18, we read, “But now you are lights in the Lord.” Once upon a time, you were spiritually dead, but God raised you from the dead.

even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ.” You have become a member of the church, which is the body of Christ, as stated in 1 Corinthians 12:27: “Now you are the body of Christ.” You have received forgiveness for all of your sins: “Everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins through His name,” Acts 10:43; you are God’s possession with a special position: “But you are a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a holy nation, a holy nation, a holy nation, a holy nation, a holy nation, a holy nation, a holy nation, a holy nation, a holy nation, a holy nation, a You have an eternally safe place as a sheep in Jesus’ care: “I give them eternal life, and they will never die,” says Jesus in 1 Peter 2:9.

“And no one will be able to take them from My hand,” John 10:28;

What does the Bible say about confession of sin to a priest?

God adopts you as his child: “Behold, what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God,” 1 John 3:1; “Behold, what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God,” 1 John 3:1; “Behold, what kind of love the Father has given to us,” 1 John 3:1; “Behold, what kind of love the Father has given to us,” 1 John 3:1; “Behold, what kind of love the Father has You used to be darkness, but now you are light:”For once upon a time, you were darkness.

Bible Verses about Confession

God adopts you as his child: “Behold, what great love the Father has lavished upon us, that we should be called children of God,” 1 John 3:1; “Behold, what great love the Father has lavished upon us, that we should be called children of God,” 1 John 3:1; “Behold, what great love the Father has lavished upon us, that we should be called children of God,” 1 John 3:1; “Behold, what great love the Father has lavished upon us, that we “For at one time you were darkness, but now you are light:”For at one time you were darkness, but now you are light.” In Ephesians 5:18, Paul writes, “but now you are lights in the Lord.” Once upon a time, you were spiritually dead, but God brought you back to life.

Paul writes in Ephesians 2:4,5 that “God.

Your membership in the church, which is also known as the body of Christ, has been confirmed: “Now you are the body of Christ,” 1 Corinthians 12:27; You have received forgiveness for all of your sins: “Everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins through His name,” Acts 10:43; you are God’s possession with a special position: “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood,” 1 Peter 2:9; you are God’s possession with a special position: “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood,” 1 Peter 2:9; you are God’s possession with a special position: ” A holy country, a people for His own possession, according to 1 Peter 2:9; as a sheep in Jesus’ care, you have an eternally safe status, according to Jesus: “I give them eternal life, and they will never die,” he says.

“And no one will be able to take them from My hand,” says Jesus in John 10:28.

14 Bible Verses about Confession of Sin

God adopts you as his child: “Behold, what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God,” 1 John 3:1
“Behold, what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God,” 1 John 3:1
“Behold, what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we “For at one time you were darkness, but now you are light:”For once you were darkness, but now you are light:” In Ephesians 5:18, Paul writes, “But now you are lights in the Lord.” You were spiritually dead until God brought you back to life. According to Ephesians 2:4,5, “God. even while we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive with Christ.” 1 Corinthians 12:27 says that you have become a member and are now part of the body of Christ, and you have become a member of the church. In Acts 10:43, it is stated that everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins through His name
You are God’s possession with a special position: “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood,” according to 1 Peter 2:9
You have received forgiveness for all of your sins: “Everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins through His name,” according to Acts 10:43
You are God’s possession with a special position: “But you are A holy nation, a people for His own possession, according to 1 Peter 2:9
As a sheep in Jesus’ care, you have an eternally safe status, according to Jesus: “I give them eternal life, and they will never die.” It is said in John 10:28 that no one will be able to take them from My hand.

Bible verse of the day

Don’t put off fulfilling a pledge that you’ve made to God for whatever reason. He does not take joy in idiots, so keep your word. Accept Cookies are used on this website.

Bible Q&A: Is Jesus Talking about Confession Here?

You should not put off fulfilling a pledge you have made to God. Make good on your promise since he takes no delight in foolishness. Accept Several cookies are used on this site.

Scripture Interprets Scripture

When you examine at John 20:23 in isolation, I agree that it appears that Jesus is saying exactly what you think he is saying. In this passage, it appears that Jesus had the ability to forgive sins, and that he delegated (or shared) that authority with the Apostles. A crucial premise for effectively comprehending (or interpreting) the Bible, however, is applicable in this instance. This principle, I believe, might be better described as follows: Scripture explains the Scriptures, and vice versa.

This idea stays true because “God breathed all of Scripture into being” (2 Timothy 3:16).

Matthew 16:19

When considering a comparable construction, I believe it is beneficial to consider another paragraph that has a more useful immediate context. Several important clues to the interpretation of John 20:23, I believe, may be found in the context of Matthew 16. “I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you release on earth will be loosedin heaven,” Jesus stated. “Whatever you bind on earth will be loosedin heaven.” (16:19) It appears to be the same sort of delegation we find in John 20:23, but with the additional information of “the keys of the kingdom,” which is not seen in the previous verse.

That is to say, Jesus is going to give them something, or he is going to entrust them with something, that will unlock paradise for some and shut heaven out of others.
Clearly, Jesus is not referring to a physical “key” in this context.
When it comes to the question, “How can heaven become available for a person?” the gospel is the Bible’s response.
All of his or her misdeeds have been forgiven.

Gospel as the Key

“The time has come, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and trust in the gospel,” Jesus declared (Mark 1:15). To put it another way, the kingdom of God (or the kingdom of heaven) is on its way, so what do you need to do? Repent and put your faith in the gospel. According to Jesus, believing in the gospel is the key that unlocks the gates of heaven (or the kingdom of God). “This is the testimony, that God has given us everlasting life, and that this life is found in his Son,” John stated.

I think that when John speaks of eternal life, he is referring to the state of being admitted into paradise.

‘I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, first and foremost to the Jews and then to the Gentiles,’ Paul declared (Romans 1:16).

According to the Apostle Paul, our redemption, or our admission into paradise, is made possible by the power of the gospel.

Back to John 20:23

Take John 20:23, for example, and apply the same logic to it: “If you pardon the sins of any, those sins are forgiven; if you maintain the sins of any, those sins are retained,” the Bible says. As a result, what Jesus stated here does not apply to any specific Christians in particular. Jesus intended it first and foremost for the Apostles, and later, when they had left the scene, for the entire Church (universal). In this regard, the Church has a responsibility: to properly steward the message of the gospel and to share it with as many people as possible.

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So many Christians in America today think that the Bible is the only infallible source of authority for Christian life and practice, and that no other source of authority exists. The majority of these same Christians will subsequently claim that some activities within the Orthodox Church are not in accordance with “biblical teaching.” A common example of something that Protestants commonly question and reject is the Church’s sacrament of Confession, which they believe is not supported by Scripture.

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The Bible says the Apostles could forgive sins

So many Christians in America today think that the Bible is the only infallible source of authority for Christian life and practice, and that no other source can be relied upon. The majority of these same Christians will subsequently claim that some behaviors within the Orthodox Church are not in accordance with “biblical principles.” In particular, Protestants sometimes dispute and reject the Church’s sacrament of Confession because they incorrectly believe it is not supported by Scripture. This piece, on the other hand, will look at what the Bible actually teaches about Confession and the Holy Mystery of Penance.

Bishop? Presbyter?

So many Christians in America today think that the Bible is the only infallible source of authority for Christian life and practice, and that no other source can be relied on. Many of these same Christians would subsequently claim that some traditions within the Orthodox Church are not “biblical.” Protestants sometimes dispute and reject the Church’s sacrament of Confession because they incorrectly believe that Scripture does not support it. However, in this piece, we will look at what the Bible has to say regarding the Holy Mystery of Confession as it is written in the Bible.

The Bible says we should confess our sins to one another

So many Christians in America today think that the Bible alone is the only infallible source of authority for Christian life and practice. Many of these same Christians would then assert that some traditions within the Orthodox Church are not “biblical.” Protestants sometimes dispute and reject the sacrament of Confession because they incorrectly believe that Scripture does not support it.

However, in this piece, we will look at what the Bible actually teaches regarding the Holy Mystery of Confession. Let’s jump right in!

The Bible says we receive forgiveness of sins as part of the Church, not on our own

Let’s get started!

Confession is biblical!

Everything that the Bible says about confession may be summarized in one word: biblical! We should not question the authenticity of Confession or deny ourselves of God’s pardon by refusing to go to the confessional. Scripture states that “if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to purify us from all unrighteousness.” If we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). This is the authentic teaching of Scripture, which has been preserved by God’s mercy in the Orthodox Church for almost 2,000 years.

If someone else (or your own thinking) informs you that the actions of the Orthodox Church are not in accordance with Scripture, don’t take their claims at face value.

Instead, put their assertions to the test to discover whether they are actually from God.

If you are unsure about how to test them, get assistance from your priest!

Is Confession in Scripture?

God proclaims in Isaiah 43:25: “I, I am He who blots away your trespasses for my own sake, and I will not remember your misdeeds.” He is the one who blots out your transgressions for his own sake. It also says in Psalm 103:2-3: “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and do not forget all his mercies; for he forgives all your sins and cures all your maladies.” Many people will use these passages to argue against the concept of going to a priest for confession. They would argue that God’s forgiveness of sins precludes the notion of a priest who can forgive sins on God’s behalf.

BEGINNING WITH THE OLD

While the Catholic Church does not deny what the Bible says unambiguously, it does admit that God is the one who forgives our sins. However, this is not the conclusion of the narrative. According to Leviticus 19:20-22, if a man engages in sexual relations with a woman, he will not be put to death. However, he is required to present a guilt offering to the Lord on his own behalf. After that, the priest will offer up the ram of the guilt sacrifice before the Lord as an atonement for the sin that he has committed, and the sin that he has committed will be forgiven him.

The priest served as the secondary, or indirect, cause of God’s forgiveness; God was the primary cause of forgiveness.

As a result, God’s declaration in Isaiah 43:25 and Psalm 103:3 that he is the forgiver of sins does not rule out the idea of God establishing a ministerial priesthood to express his forgiveness.

OUT WITH THE OLD

Many Protestants would accept that priests served as mediators of forgiveness in the Old Testament, despite their opposition to the concept. The assertion will be made that “the people of God had priests in the Old Testament,” but this will be refuted. In the New Testament, Jesus is the only priest we have.” The question is whether it is possible that “our great God and Savior Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:13) accomplished something akin to what he did in the Old Testament while he was acting in his divine capacity.

IN WITH THE NEW

Many Protestants would accept that priests served as mediators of forgiveness in the Old Testament, despite their opposition to the practice. The assertion will be made that “the people of God had priests in the Old Testament,” but this will be denied. As far as the New Testament goes, Jesus is the sole priest.” The question is if it is possible that “our great God and Savior Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:13) accomplished something akin to what he did in the Old Testament while he was acting in his divine capacity?

TO FORGIVE OR TO PROCLAIM?

According to many Protestants and various quasi-Christian sects, John 20:23must be interpreted as Christ simply repeating “the great commission” ofMatthew 28:19andLuke 24:47in different words that mean the same thing:Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be preached in his name to all nations.Commenting onJohn It is clear that the commission to evangelize is intertwined with the commission to proclaim forgiveness of sins through faith in Jesus Christ, according to Protestant Apologist Robert Zins (White Horse Publications, Huntsville Alabama, 1995), p.

100: “It is apparent that the commission to evangelize is tightly woven into the commission to proclaim forgiveness of sins through faith in Jesus Christ.” Zin asserts that John 20:23 does not state that the apostles would pardon sins, but rather that they will just declare the remission of sins, which is consistent with the rest of the Bible.

It is impossible to overstate how important this is: this is more than a simple statement of crimes being forgiven—this “commission” of the Lord transmits the ability to really pardon the sins that have been committed against you and your family.

FREQUENT CONFESSION

After reading St. John’s straightforward remarks, many people wonder, “Why don’t we hear any more about confessing our sins to a priest throughout the remainder of the New Testament?” The truth is that we don’t have to. God has to tell us something a certain number of times before we will believe it. Despite the fact that Jesus only provided us with the right form for baptism once (Matt. 28:19), all Christians adhere to this instruction. However, regardless of the circumstances, there are several scriptures that deal with Confession and the forgiveness of sins through the New Covenant minister, including the Bible.

2:10: And to anybody whom you have forgiven anything, I also forgive you.

The following is an example of how many people would reply to this text using current Bible translations, such as the RSVCE: “What I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, has been for your sake in the presence of Christ” (emphasis added).

Prosopon is a Greek word that can be interpreted in either direction. And I should remind out that decent Catholics will also explain their case on this topic. This is a reasonable and understandable point of contention. However, I do not agree with it for the following four reasons:

Not only does the Douay-Rheims read prosoponas as “person,” but so does the King James Version of the Bible, which no one would accuse of being a Catholic translation.
A prosopon was used to refer to the “person” of Jesus Christ by the early Christians who spoke and wrote in Koine Greek at the Councils of Ephesus (AD 431) and Chalcedon (AD 451), and it is still used today. However, even if the passage is translated as St. Paul forgiving sins “in the presence of Christ,” the context appears to suggest that he also forgave the sins of others. In addition, take note that St. Paul said explicitly that he was not forgiving anyone for transgressions done against him (seeII Cor. 2:5). This is something that each Christian can and should do. It was in the “person (or presence) of Christ,” he claimed, that he performed the forgiving acts. Although it is unclear from the context, it appears that Jesus is forgiving offenses that do not concern him directly. Three chapters later, St. Paul explains why he is able to forgive the sins of others: “All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation” (II Cor. 5:18). The phrase “the ministry of reconciliation” in verse 18 may be seen as being interchangeable with the phrase “the message of reconciliation” in verse 19. To put it another way, St. Paul is merely referring to a declarative authority in this instance. I don’t agree with you. Rather than just referring to “the message of reconciliation,” I believe St. Paul is referring to the same “mission of reconciliation” that was Christ’s. Besides simply preaching a message, Christ also pardoned sins on the cross.

It is not just the Douay-Rheims, but even the King James Version of the Bible—which no one would accuse of being a Catholic translation—that translates prosoponas as “person.” ; During the Councils of Ephesus (AD 431) and Chalcedon (AD 451), the early Christians, who spoke and wrote in Koine Greek, used the term prosopon (person) to refer to the “person” of Jesus Christ. However, even if the language is translated as St. Paul forgiving sins “in the presence of Christ,” the context appears to suggest that he also forgave sins committed by others.

Paul said explicitly that he was not forgiving anyone for transgressions done against him in his letter (seeII Cor.
This is something that every Christian can and should do.
Although it is unclear from the context, it appears that Jesus is forgiving offenses that do not directly concern him.
Paul provides us with the reason why he is able to forgive the sins of others: “All this is from God, who in Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation” (II Cor.
It has been suggested that “the ministry of reconciliation” in verse 18 and “the message of reconciliation” in verse 19 are the same thing.
Paul, to put it another way.
I contend that St.
Besides preaching a message, Christ also pardoned sins on the cross;

Even the King James Version of the Bible, which no one would accuse of being a Catholic translation, uses the word prosoponas to mean “person.”
At the Councils of Ephesus (AD 431) and Chalcedon (AD 451), the early Christians, who spoke and wrote in Koine Greek, used the term prosopon to refer to the “person” of Jesus Christ. Even if the passage is translated as St. Paul forgiving sins “in the presence of Christ,” the context appears to suggest that he also forgave the sins of other people. Moreover, take note that St. Paul said explicitly that he was not forgiving anyone for transgressions done against him (seeII Cor. 2:5). This is something that every Christian can and should do. It was in the “person (or presence) of Christ,” he claimed, that he performed the forgiveness. The context appears to suggest that he is forgiving offenses that do not directly concern him. Just three chapters later, St. Paul explains why he is able to forgive the sins of others: “All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation” (II Cor. 5:18). Some may argue that the phrase “the ministry of reconciliation” in verse 18 and the phrase “the message of reconciliation” in verse 19 are interchangeable. To put it another way, St. Paul is merely speaking to a declarative authority in this passage. I’m not on board with it. I contend that St. Paul employs separate phrases exactly because he is talking to more than simply “the message of reconciliation,” but to the same ministry of reconciliation that was Christ’s. Besides simply preaching a message, Christ also pardoned sins.

ONE PRIEST OR MANY?

Many Protestants (including myself when I was a Protestant) are put off by the fact that confession implies the existence of a priestly order. “Theapostle and high priest of our confession” is how Jesus is referred to in Scripture, as I said before. According to Hebrews 7:23, the old priests were numerous; nevertheless, we now have only one priest—Jesus Christ. Specifically, where does the concept of priests and confession fit into this picture? Is there a single priest or a large number of priests?

and, like living stones, be transformed into a spiritual home, to serve as a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through the person of Jesus Christ.

There is a conflict in Scripture if we believe that Jesus Christ is the one and only priest in the New Testament strictly speaking.

All Christians, according to the teachings of I Peter, are members of a holy priesthood.

FULL AND ACTIVE PARTICIPATION

As long as one understands the very Catholic and very biblical concept of participation, these difficult-to-understand verses and others become quite simple to comprehend. It is true that Jesus Christ is “the one and only mediator between God and men,” as I Timothy 2:5 states. The Bible is unambiguous. Christians, on the other hand, are called to serve as mediators in the name of Christ. In our efforts to plead for one another or to communicate the Gospel with others, we are acting as agents of God’s love and grace via the one real mediator, Christ Jesus, who has been given to us as a gift of participation in Christ, who is the one mediator between God and humanity (seeI Timothy 2:1-7, I Timothy 4:16, Romans 10:9-14).

“.it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.”, as St. Paul put it. All Christians, in a way, may agree with him. (Galatians 2:20)

PRIESTS AMONG PRIESTS

Given that all Christians are priests, what is the basis for Catholics’ claim to a ministerial priesthood that is fundamentally unique from that of all Christians? The explanation is that God desired to call out a specific priesthood from within the general priesthood in order to minister to his people, and this is what happened. This idea is practically as old as Moses himself. “A kingdom of priests and a holy people,” God refers to ancient Israel in Exodus 19:6 when teaching us about the universal priesthood of all believers.

Peter especially referenced to this verse while teaching us about the universal priesthood.

Peter reminds us that there was a universal priesthood among the people of God in the Old Testament, just as there is a universal priesthood among those in the New Testament.

In a similar vein, we have a global “Royal Priesthood” in the New Testament, but we also have an ordained clergy who, as we have seen, have priestly power granted to them by Christ to carry out his ministry of reconciliation.

TRULY AWESOME AUTHORITY

If all Christians are priests, then why do Catholics assert a ministerial priesthood that is fundamentally distinct from the universal priesthood that all Christians share? It is God’s will that a specific priesthood be called out from among the general priesthood, and that this priesthood be called forth to minister to his people. This notion dates back to the time of Moses. “A kingdom of priests and a holy people,” God refers to ancient Israel in Exodus 19:6 while teaching us about the universal priesthood of all believers.

Peter expressly referenced to this passage in his teaching on the universal priesthood.

Yet the presence of a ministerial priesthood within the scope of the universal priesthood was not precluded by this fact (seeExodus 19:22, Exodus 28, andNumbers 3:1-12).