Catholics' Path To Forgiveness And Redemption

what do catholics do for forgiveness of sins

The concept of forgiveness is a key aspect of the Catholic faith. While forgiveness comes from God, there are conditions for the one being forgiven: they must pray for forgiveness, confess their sins, turn away from sin, and repent. The Catholic Church teaches that a priest can forgive sins, as they are acting under the authority and power of the Church, which in turn is acting under the authority and power of Christ. This is based on the Bible, in which Jesus says to his apostles, Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.

Characteristics Values
Who can forgive sins Only God can forgive sins
How to obtain forgiveness Pray for forgiveness; confess your sins; turn away from sin and repent
Who can absolve sins A priest can absolve sins, acting under the authority and power of the Church, which, in turn, is acting under the authority and power of Christ

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The Bible says God gave humans two means of forgiveness

Secondly, for sins committed after baptism, a different sacrament is needed. This has been called penance, confession, and reconciliation, with each word emphasizing a different aspect. This sacrament is based on John 20:21-23, where Jesus tells his apostles:

> "As the Father has sent me, so I send you... Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained."

This power to forgive sins was understood as coming from God and was passed on from the apostles to their successors, so that the Church could continue to offer forgiveness to future generations.

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Baptism forgives original sin and sins before baptism

For Catholics, baptism is a means of forgiveness for original sin and sins committed before baptism. This is based on the Bible, specifically Acts 2:38, where Peter says:

> Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Some Christians disagree with this interpretation, arguing that baptism is not the cause of the salvation experience, but follows it. However, this interpretation is supported by other Bible passages, such as Acts 22:16, where Ananias tells Paul, "Rise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on his name."

The early Church fathers also viewed baptism as bringing about the forgiveness of sins. For example, the Letter of Barnabas, dating to around A.D. 75, says, "We descend into the water full of sins and defilement, but come up bearing fruit in our heart, having the fear of God and trust in Jesus in our spirit."

The Catechism of the Catholic Church states:

> By Baptism all sins are forgiven, original sin and all personal sins, as well as all punishment for sin. In those who have been reborn nothing remains that would impede their entry into the Kingdom of God, neither Adam's sin, nor personal sin, nor the consequences of sin, the gravest of which is separation from God.

The power to forgive sins was given to the apostles by Jesus, who said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained."

This power was understood as coming from God, and it was passed down from the apostles to their successors, so that the Church could offer forgiveness to future generations.

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A different sacrament is needed for sins after baptism

Catholicism teaches that baptism is the first and chief sacrament for the forgiveness of sins. It is believed that through baptism, an individual's sins are forgiven and their punishment for sin is removed. This is based on the interpretation of biblical passages such as Acts 2:38, where Peter says, "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."

However, this interpretation is contested by some Christians, such as Protestant apologist Ron Rhodes, who argue that baptism is not the cause of salvation but rather follows it. They base this on alternate readings of the original Greek text of the Bible, suggesting that the verse could be translated as "repent, and be baptized because you've been forgiven."

Regardless of this debate, it is clear that Catholics view baptism as a critical sacrament for the forgiveness of sins. But what about sins committed after baptism?

For Catholics, the sacrament of Penance, or Confession, is the means by which individuals can seek forgiveness for sins committed after baptism. This sacrament is often referred to as Reconciliation, reflecting its purpose of reconciling the individual with God and the Church. Through Confession, Catholics believe they can obtain forgiveness for their sins and continue their spiritual journey towards salvation.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church states:

> "If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:8-9). Confessions, then, are necessary after Baptism, because we always have need of them. No one, even the most just man, can escape sin completely in this life." (CCC, 1452)

Thus, while baptism is seen as a powerful sacrament that forgives all sins up to that point, Catholics recognize the ongoing struggle against sin and the need for additional sacraments, like Confession, to maintain their relationship with God.

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Jesus gave apostles the power to forgive sins

In the Bible, Jesus claims to possess the divine authority to forgive sins. In the Gospel of St. Mark, Jesus tells a paralytic: "Your sins are forgiven" (Mark 2:5). The scribes question this, asking, "Who can forgive sins except God alone?" (Mark 2:7). Jesus then heals the paralytic, demonstrating that "the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins" (Mark 2:10).

Jesus passes this power on to his apostles, telling them: "As the Father has sent me, so I send you... Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained" (John 20:21-23). This is understood as Jesus giving his apostles the same authority that he received from God the Father.

The apostles could not know which sins to forgive unless they were first told of them, which is why confession is a necessary part of the sacrament of penance. This sacrament is also known as reconciliation, and it is required for sins committed after baptism, as baptism is meant to take away the sin inherited from Adam (original sin) and any sins committed before baptism.

The power to forgive sins was passed down from the apostles to their successors, as they would not always be on earth, but people would still be sinning. This is supported by early Christian writings, which refer to the practice of confessing to a priest as something already long-established.

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Jesus gave the power to forgive sins to his apostles, who passed it on

Jesus had the power to forgive sins during his time on Earth. In the Bible, he claims to possess the divine authority to forgive sins, stating: "Your sins are forgiven" (Mark 2:5). When challenged by scribes who asked, "Who can forgive sins but God alone?", Jesus proved his authority by healing the paralytic (Mark 2:1–12).

Jesus passed on this power to his apostles, so that they could continue his work of forgiving sins. In John 20:19–23, he says:

> Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.

This passage indicates that Jesus gave his apostles the authority to forgive sins. The apostles could not have known which sins to forgive unless they were first told of them, which implies confession.

The apostles' authority to forgive sins was understood as coming directly from God: "All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation" (2 Cor. 5:18). This power was intended to be passed down through the generations, as the apostles would not always be on Earth: "Christ ordered the apostles to, 'Go therefore and make disciples of all nations.' It would take much time. And he promised them assistance: 'Lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age' (Matt. 28:19–20)".

The Catholic Church maintains that the power to forgive sins was indeed passed down, and that priests today have the authority to forgive sins, acting under the power of Christ: "The priest has the power to confer or convey the forgiveness of God—not by his own power but by the power that Christ conferred on his apostles".

Frequently asked questions

Catholics believe that only God can forgive sins. However, they believe that Jesus, who is God, gave priests the power to forgive sins on his behalf.

In John 20:19–23, Jesus says to his disciples, "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained."

The process is called the sacrament of penance, confession, or reconciliation, and it is available to Catholics for sins committed after baptism.

The penitent must pray for forgiveness, confess their sins, and turn away from sin through repentance.

The priest absolves the penitent of their sins, but only when the penitent has confessed with true sorrow and a firm purpose of amendment or conversion.

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