Who Can Forgive Sins? A Minister, Priest, Or Jesus Christ?

I. WHO CAN FORGIVE SINS?
A MINISTER, PRIEST, OR JESUS CHRIST? This question has surfaced numerous times down through the years. Two of the most prominent adherents to this position are the Evangelical Lutheran Churches of America ( ELCA) and the Roman Catholic Church. There are a few others, but these are the most influential in this practice.

One must remember--when you have placed your confidence in any priest or minister as mediator between yourself and God, you have acknowledged them as being equal with Christ. You have then placed yourself in a position to be susceptible to any other false teaching that is presented. For any minister or priest to declare that you must go through him to obtain forgiveness of sins is ludicrous, apostate, and diametrically opposed to the Word of God. Let us examine the claims of both from their own writings, "Absolution and Penance."

Lutheran: The following is taken and quoted from the writings of the Evangelical Lutheran Synodical Conference of North America and published by the Concordia Publishing House in Saint Louis, Missouri.

1. The preacher says:

"Do you promise that with the aid of the Holy Ghost you will henceforth amend your sinful life? Then declare by saying: I do promise."

2. The preacher says:

"Finally, do you believe that THROUGH ME, a called servant of God, you will RECEIVE THE FORGIVENESS OF ALL YOUR SINS? Then declare so by saying: I do believe. As you believe, even so may it be unto you."

2. The preacher says:

"Upon this your confession, I, BY VIRTUE OF MY OFFICE, AS A CALLED AND OR-DAINED SERVANT OF THE LORD, announce the grace of God unto all of you, and in the stead and by the command of my Lord Jesus Christ I FORGIVE YOU ALL YOUR SINS in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost, Amen." The question many have asked is, "Does the Lutheran preacher forgive his wife's sin also? Does he forgive his children’s sins, and does he forgive HIS OWN?

Roman Catholic:

Similar ideas appear in almost all Catholic literature describing Penance. The following quotes are from the Father Connell's Confraternity Edition, New Baltimore Catechism. (Lesson 29, Penance)

1. Penance is also a sacrament instituted by Our Divine Savior in which sins committed after Baptism are forgiven through the absolution of the Priest. (Par. 379, Pg. 221)."

2. "The Priest has the power to forgive sins from Jesus Christ, who said to His apostles and to their successors in the Priesthood: 'Receive the Holy Spirit; whose sins you shall forgive, they are forgiven them; whose sins you shall retain, they are retained. (Par. 380, Pg. 221). " (John 20:22-23)

3. "No man, by his own power and authority, could possibly forgive sins. Only God can do that because sin is an offense against Him. BUT the Priest, as God’s representative, can forgive sins because God has given him the power to do so. (Par. 380, (c), Pg.221" (Matthew 18:15-18).

4. "Our Savior could indeed have decreed that men should receive the Pardon of their sins by going directly to God with contrition. BUT a sacrament, administered by men in the name of God, IS A MORE ASSURING AND A MORE EFFECTIVE MEANS. (Pg. 223)."

5. "The power to forgive sins by pronouncing these words of absolution is given to the priest at his ordination. In order to exercise this power the priest must have jurisdiction, or be authorized to ACT AS A SPIRITUAL JUDGE OVER THE PERSONS HE ABSOLVES. (Par. 381, (a)." e. THE PRIEST FORGIVES SINS WITH THE WORDS: "I absolve thee from thy sins in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, Amen. (Par. 381, Pg.221)."

One might notice under "4." that the Catholic Church acknowledges that no man has the power to forgive sins, but God only; they then transfer that power to their priests. The following Scriptures are used to support their position:

1. Matthew 9:5-8.

"For whether is easier, to say, thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and walk? (v.5). But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house. (v.6). And he arose and departed to his house. (v.7). But when the multitudes saw it, they marvelled, and glorified God, WHICH HAD GIVEN SUCH POWER UNTO MEN." (v.8).

2. Matthew 18:15-18.

"Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. (v. 15). But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. (v.16.) And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican. (v.17).

Verily I say unto you, WHATSOEVER YE SHALL BIND ON EARTH SHALL BE BOUND IN HEAVEN AND WHATSOEVER YE SHALL LOOSE ON EARTH SHALL BE LOOSED IN HEAVEN." (v.18).

3. John 20:21-23.

"Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. (v.21). And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost: (v.22). Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained." (v.23).

4. Matthew 16:19.

"And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."