Can your sins be forgiven without a priest? 

Then pagans are also saved. And if Jesus believed that he would not have given the power to forgive sins to his apostles.

​@@bridgefinBlood of Lord Jesus Christ 1 John 1:7 7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. Romans 5:9 9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. Ephesians 1:7 7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace Colossians 1:14 14 in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins. Romans 3:23-25 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, Colossians 1:20 20 and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross. Hebrews 9:12 12 Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. 1 Peter 1:18-19 18 knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. Revelation 1:5 5 and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, Ephesians 2:13 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. Revelation 5:9 9 And they sang a new song, saying: "You are worthy to take the scroll, And to open its seals; For You were slain, And have redeemed us to God by Your blood Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, Revelation 7:14 14 And I said to him, “Sir, you know.” So he said to me, "These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and rwashed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Revelation 12:11 11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death. Matthew 26:28 28 For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. Acts 20:28 28 Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. Hebrews 13:20 20 Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant

​@@bridgefinForgiveness of sin when believing in Lord Jesus Christ 1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Acts 10:43 To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins.” 1 John 1:7 7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin Acts 26:18 to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.’ Romans 3:24-26 24 being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, 26 to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. _ Blood of Lord Jesus Christ 1 John 1:7 7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. Romans 5:9 9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. Ephesians 1:7 7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace Colossians 1:14 14 in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins. Romans 3:23-25 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, Colossians 1:20 20 and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross. Hebrews 9:12 12 Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. 1 Peter 1:18-19 18 knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. Revelation 1:5 5 and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, Ephesians 2:13 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. Revelation 5:9 9 And they sang a new song, saying: "You are worthy to take the scroll, And to open its seals; For You were slain, And have redeemed us to God by Your blood Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, Revelation 7:14 14 And I said to him, “Sir, you know.” So he said to me, "These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and rwashed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Revelation 12:11 11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death. Matthew 26:28 28 For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. Acts 20:28 28 Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. Hebrews 13:20 20 Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant

​@@bridgefinpagans are not saved unless they Believe in Lord Jesus Christ Romans 10:9-10 9 that (A)if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

​@@bridgefinthere is not one example of non-apostle forgiving sin. No not one. All believers are Royal Priests 1 Peter 2:5,9-10 5 you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 10 who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy. Revelation 1:6 and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.😊

Amen, Sola Scriptura. This video is the most unscriptural crap I've ever heard.

@@ChampDuSoleil scripture refutes sola scriptura lol

Scripture (NT) says what the early church said and approved 3 centuries after Jesus' death! Scripture did not fall from heaven as scripture! This is what Protestants who harp on 'Sola scriptura' seem not to understand! What the Pope says matters!

@@gedat5538 , doesn't matter to me.

The pope is the Vicar of Christ. Succesor of St. Peter. Enlighten by the Holy Spirit. Infallible. Anyone who goes against the Holy See is not Catholic but a heretic.

What did he say to the thousands of paedophile priests

@@mick1gallagher Well if they don't repent, he will say to them on the judgement day depart from me I never knew you.

John 20:23

@@MasterKeyMagic “Whosoever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.” John 20:23 Here Jesus was giving the apostles authority over the church. As in, if a member of the church committed a sin but repented, then that member of the church should be accepted still as a member, (as a brother or sister). They had the authority of making THAT DECISION of weather one was still in good standing as a member of the church or not. It had nothing to do with forgiving sins. Men cannot forgive sins, it is blasphemy! The pope, (pope Francis) is a blasphemer and so are all the priests who think they are standing as mediators. They (popes and priests) ought to go in prayer and confess and repent of blaspheming.They need to ask the only mediator Jesus Christ, (the only begotten Son of God) to intercede on their behalf with God, so that they may be forgiven!.

@@davelight2220 exactly, it is God who forgives sins. but the priest is needed to welcome us back into the Church.

@@CatholicDefender-bp7myhey, what passage did Paul say that? I would love to add that to my bag of responses.

Well said

Yep! The veil was ripped from top to bottom ( from the holy to the most holy place) there is no more need for priests at all. The ultimate sacrifice has been made. We can definitely talk and pray and confess our sins on our own! Jesus is the ONLY mediator! Not Mary or Saints either- that’s actually necromancy, Mary and the saints are asleep in the grave!

Mary and the Saints are in Heaven with God@@romandaigle455

So good to hear the truth, from God's word. Be blessed efril259, in Jesus's precious name!

@@romandaigle455 Very well replied, romandaigle 455. Be blessed.

And that is correct. There were no priests in the New Testament churches. Priests and a need for priest is false teaching brought into the church.

@@garrybraithwaite5807 control tactic, I think

@@reythejediladyviajakku6078 I agree

My husband was raised a baptist and unfortunately he’s not a Catholic, and he’s told me that I don’t need to confess my sins to a priest. That is hogwash. If a priest isn’t available and I’m close to death than I’ll say an act of contrition.

@@psychedelicpython Christ is the only Priest we need. Men are fallible. All Catholic Priests are just as sinful as you are (if not more). Jesus is perfect and hears all prayers. By all means, Confess. But confess to the right Person. Acts 4:12 from the Bible backs me up on this.

KEEP READING THE CHAPTER!! Read until verse 36. They SPOKE THE WORD OF GOD UNTO HIM. and then the jailer OBEYED the Gospel and was BAPTIZED into Christ for salvation

Anytime I see the letters KJV- I’m going to assume you’re stupid.

You speak the truth and no we do not have to confess our sins to anyone but God to be forgiven.

@@markhanretta9570 wrong

Growing up as a Catholic and altar boy, I'm just a "little" familiar with Catholicism. I was kicked out of a confessional once as a young boy. I was in shock! After confessing my sins to the priest, he told me "get out!" I was in shock! I simply told him that I had used the Lord's name in vain several times. So, I've come to realize as a Christian confessing your sins and asking for forgiveness is a very personal thing just between you and Jesus. I feel sorry for Catholics today, they have a Pope that is lost. Catholics pray to saints and Mary to intercede for them, when no where in the Bible does it command us to do this. I'll pray for you. GB@@Maryismymom2

Jesus never said that there was any way for sinners to be forgiven after his ascension into Heaven except through confession to a priest. Catholics accept Jesus but are prevented because of conditions outside of their control. A merciful Jesus acknowledges that and gives mercy. Anyone else has either rejected that (Protestants) or have no access to Jesus and forgiveness. They might not warrant that mercy until they accept what Jesus has taught.

@@bridgefin There is not a person called a priest, who listens to confessions, mentioned in the New Testament . Don't you think that is strange? Evangelists, pastors, elders deacons are all mentioned but NO priest. The apostle John wrote; 1John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1John 2:1 My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. A Christian can confess their sin directly to their advocate, Jesus. Please show me in scripture where Jesus said sinners have to be forgiven through confession to a priest.

@@bridgefin u got a bible chapter and verse for that?

@@garrybraithwaite5807 In the beginning the word "presbyters" was used indiscriminately for both bishops and priests. Later it just referred to priests. And John did not contradict Jesus but described how confessing to John worked...it was through Jesus that he could forgive sins. You: Please show me in scripture where Jesus said sinners have to be forgiven through confession to a priest. Me: Bishops and priests were ordained by the Apostles to carry on their work. Clearly in John 20:23 Jesus gave the power to men to forgive sins. Please show me any alternative way that Jesus provided for the forgiveness of sins after his Ascension.

@@flipping_for_funds I said that Jesus never said something. Clearly there is no bible verse since my claim is that it does not exist. The onus is on you to provide a bible verse which challenges my claim.

That man is lying to you, and you don't even know it! Why? Because you don't know the word of God. That's why.

@@donaldgodin3491 I will be praying for you Donald

Your right you can go too God anytime never let anyone try and convince you other wise hes there for you, God bless you Jeremiah 33:3 3 Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.

Amen. Catholics people are pagans.

But you never know when God has forgiven a sin or else retained it.

@@bridgefin1 john 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness The moment you ask for forgiveness in Christ name you will be forgiven. God says so in his word and we know Gods word is the way the truth and the life, Its impossible for God too lie. Christ paid for our sins with his own blood out of pure Love. Every single one of us who live and have lived owe him our lives. Praise and Glory be too God ☝🙌🙏

@@liamwalsh7300 Would this be the same John who was told by Jesus that he had the power to forgive OR RETAIN sins? Looks lie John was not speaking of the method but on what God does when sins are forgiven. And how would that John tell you to get your sins forgiven? Go to an apostle or one of his designates, of course. John would not contradict Jesus

John chapter 20 states what after Pentecost. You have no way around that. The twelve will be at your trial to prove you wrong and then ask you when did we ever cast lot over you application.

Some people may be embarrassed or have severe anxiety and it almost feels traumatic to confess your worst sins in such a way

The Word of God has a letter for the church Isaiah 1 13-17 Bring no more vain oblations,incense is an abomination unto me,the new moons and sabbaths,the calling of assemblies,I cannot bear,it is iniquityeven the solemn meeting. 14) Your new moons,and your appointed feasts my soul hateth,they are a trouble unto me,I am weary of bearing them 15)And when ye spread forth your hands,I will hide my eyes from youyea; when you make many prayers,I will not hear YOUR HANDS ARE FULL OF BLOOD 16) Wash yourselves,make yourselves clean,put away the EVIL of your doings before mine eyes,cease to do evil.

Matthew 16:23 But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.

There is only one priest in the Catholic Church, and that is Jesus Christ. Catholic priests all share this one Divine Priesthood of Jesus Christ. From the first Apostles, to the unbroken line of Popes, to the cardnals and bishops and all the way down to the parish priests - all share in the One Divine Priesthood of Jesus Christ. Because Christ willed it: Christ ordained them (Luke 22:19); gave them the great commission (Mark 16:15; Matthew 28:19); and gave them the power to forgive (or not forgive) sins (John 20-22-23), shared with them the priestly function of offering His Sacrifice of the Cross (Luke 22:19:20), and ordered them to feed the people themselves (Mark 6:35-37; John 21:15-17) later, with His own Body and Blood.) There’s only one priest, one mediator, one Redeemer who forgives sins and that is Jesus Christ. And that one priesthood He shares with the priests of the Catholic Church.

1 Timothy 2:5,6

Maybe best to refer to our main difference: Check out this for the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist.John 6:53: and Yeshua said to them, “Timeless truth I speak to you: Unless you eat the body of The Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in yourselves ”John 6:66:"after Jesus said this, many of his followers left him and stopped following him" Then Paul said in 1Cor 11:27 "So then, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord". Then Ignatius(disciple of Apostle John) , Bishop of Antioch said before his martyrdom around 105AD : "Receive Communion often, very often...there you have the sole remedy, if you want to be cured. Jesus has not put this attraction in your heart for nothing. I hunger for the bread of God, the flesh of Jesus Christ ...; I long to drink of his blood, the gift of unending love" God bless you and your kind!

@@eamonnmurphy5385 Jesus' blood is not actually drunk and that is not actually his flesh. We drink the wine and bread in place of his real body. That is what happened at the last supper. They only represent His body and blood. The eucharist does not save your soul. It is a remembrance of what Jesus sacrificed for us. Paul said bread and not blood. Ignatius is not scripture though what he said is true.

@@bcalvert321 Jesus did not say "drink the wine and bread in place of his real body." You said that. Those are not Christ's words. Christ's words are, "Whoever eats my flesh and drinks by blood remains in me and I in him."

@@marietta1335 Did Jesus tear off his flesh and drain His blood for them. No, He did not. At the Last Supper Jesus said take eat of this bread which stands for my body. Then He passed the wine cup around and said to drink, this is my wine cup is my blood. There was not any flesh eaten or real blood drunk.

@@bcalvert321 What Bible do you read that says "this stands for my body and my blood" John 6:53 So Jesus said to them, " Truly, truly I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink His blood, you have no life in you; 54 he who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, I will raise him up on the last day. 55 For my flesh is food indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. 56 He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him. 57 As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so he who eats me will live because of me. 58. This is the living bread which came down from heaven, not such as the fathers ate and died; he who eats this bread will live forever. 59. This he said in the synagogue, as he taught in Capernaum. 60. Many of his disciples, when they heard it, said, "This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?" 61 But Jesus, knowing in himself that his disciples murmured at it, said to them, "Do you take offense at this? 62 Then what if you were to see Son of man ascending where he was before? 63. It is the spirit that gives life, the flesh is of no avail; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. 64 But there are some of you who do not believe."...........66. After this many of his disciples drew back and no longer went with him. Nowhere does Jesus say that it not His real body and blood.

Confession to priests IS in the Bible. John 20 23 King James Version Jesus says to His disciples that the sins they forgive are forgiven and the ones they don’t are not. This may be right after He shows up resurrected and gives them the Holy Spirit but I am not sure? There is also a quote to confess your sins to one another perhaps from one of the Apostles? The priest is an instrument of God. Jesus saves but yes He left a protocol, confession to sinners included. .

@@katesomething1701 Jesus is the high priest. In John 20 he tells “the apostles” that “they” can forgive sins. The apostles were those who had seen the risen Christ. No priests today have seen the risen Christ and they are not apostles. They have no authority to forgive sin or to intercede for us. Jesus is now our high priest as Hebrews states and Jesus is the only mediator between man and the Father.

@@katesomething1701 “23 Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.” John 20:23 Here Jesus was giving the apostles authority over the church. As in, if a member of the church committed a sin but repented, then that member of the church should be accepted still as a member, (as a brother or sister). They had the authority of making that decision of wether one was still in good standing as a member of the church or not. It had nothing to do with forgiving sins. Men cannot forgive sins, it is blasphemy! The other scripture you mention... “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.” John 5:16 This refers to the times when we wrong others. We need to admit our faults, our wrong doing and ask for forgiveness from those we wronged. It has nothing to do with confessing your sins to people. Have you ever done a verse by verse study on the book of Matthew? Please check this link and follow the study as there will be more coming. Also check all other presentations from the same channel. You will be blessed!🌈😊. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-ejGVZwnn7xA.html

@@doinareay5460 if you don't mind me asking, where do you get your understanding of this verse? Did you read it and come to that conclusion? Did your church tell you this is so? Did you look it up online? Did you check what the first century church believed and go with that? Just curious!

@@eamonnmurphy5385 Jesus had already explained at length to them how to deal with erring members, first personally ( see Matt 18:1-15, 21-35), and then with the authority of the church( see verses 16-20). Now He was reiterating that counsel given in former occasion. The church is to work faithfully for the restoration of erring members with encouragement to repent and turn from their bad ways. When there is evidence of having made things right with God and man, the church should receive the member into full fellowship. God had already accepted and pardoned the true repentant (Luke 15:1-7) The Bible is very clear that confession of sins and repentance of it are to be made directly to the throne of God in heaven (Acts 30:21; 1 John 1:9). Release of the soul from sin comes only through the merits of Christ and His personal mediation (1John 2:1; Ephesians 4:32) This prerogative God has never delegated to erring mortals, themselves so often in need of divine mercy and grace; even if they are leaders of the church (Matt 16:19) When evidence of genuine repentance is lacking the charges are to be “retained”. No man can be right with God when they are wilfully at odds with their fellow men. This principle is seen in the early church Acts 5: 1-11 Read also 1 Corinthians 5:11-13 Sadly now a days the men appointed as representatives in church are appointed by men, not by God because men disregard God’s leading more often than not. Men do whatever they want and the whole church is corrupt from leaders at the top. I believe God’s church is being built now by Christ, He gathers His own from everywhere, and He will lead them. At the second coming of Christ, that’s when His church will be very visible, those who kept the commandments of God and had the faith of Jesus. That’s why we are saved individually not corporately as a church.

I am a cradle Catholic. I lapsed for a good while and would now like to return to the Church. However, I just can’t get myself to confess to a priest. I get panic attacks just thinking about it, probably because I’ve always suffered from severe anxiety. Furthermore, throughout my life, I have been abused in all ways imaginable, and this has added social phobia to my anxiety. I do live with complex PTSD. I have a therapist and medications, but the trauma remains. I want to find comfort in God and I find myself fearing that, after this hell I have been experiencing on Earth, God will send me to Hell because I don’t participate in the a sacrament of Confession. I confess my sins to God directly. I pray to Mary and the Saints. I’ve ordered a Rosary after so many years and I’m having someone bring it to a priest so he can bless it for me. See, I can’t even get to go to the priest myself to have my rosary blessed. I love God, I want nothing more than to spend eternity with Him. I don’t even fear Purgatory, no matter how painful and long, if only that meant that I would eventually make it to Heaven. This is my situation and I’m discouraged.

God always answers prayer. Every prayer. I pray to God. He always answers my prayers.

John 20:22-23 He breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you shall forgive, they are forgiven them; and whose sins you shall retain, they are retained.” Matthew 16:18-19 And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”

“Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.” John 20:23 Here Jesus was giving the apostles authority over the church. As in, if a member of the church committed a sin but repented, then that member of the church should be accepted still as a member, (as a brother or sister). They had the authority of making THAT DECISION of wether one was still in good standing as a member of the church or not. It had nothing to do with forgiving sins. Men cannot forgive sins, it is blasphemy! The pope, (pope Francis) is a blasphemer and so are all the priests who think they are standing as mediators. They (popes and priests) ought to go in prayer and confess and repent of blaspheming.They need to ask the only mediator Jesus Christ, (the only begotten Son of God) to intercede on their behalf with God, so that they may be forgiven!

@@doinareay5460 John 20:22-23. That's the only part you got right.

@@CatholicDefender-bp7my God doesn't need our help

God forgives the Sin the priest declares us clean from our sin, so that we can receive the Body and Blood of Christ.

Yes!Even during the time of the apostles!!!

Not sure about that I believe the formal sacrament of Penance was created by the Council.of Trent either 325 or 435 and. Not by the original Apostles

Only in certain circumstances.

@@garydeblasio8810 Which certain circumstances?

@@freshliving4199 if you can't get to church because they were closed (covid-19).

Michael check this link, it is a great presentation of Bible truth ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-Fevqb3t_m-s.html

@@doinareay5460 LOL...you actually believe the nonsense in that video???LOL

@@michaelorsini9695 Time will reveal it to be true if you don’t believe it now😊 I won’t be LOL then, I will pity all who did not pay attention to the warnings. Praise God I have met many who heed it! All glory to Him that He is giving eye salve to many to see the deceptions of Satan and turning them away from error to the Bible truths!

@@doinareay5460 The Catholic Church determined what books would go into the Bible centuries ago...you're misusing that Catholic Book with very poor exegesis and hermeneutics. Jesus is the Word Made Flesh.

@@michaelorsini9695 We’ll see...

Not quite.

@@CatholicDefender-bp7my Jesus is our Great High Priest. Is only through him that your sins are forgiven not a mere human priest unholy before God. Christ sanctifies us before God, not Man. You go directly to him whether you hear from him or not. What's the point of the Good News if you have no access to Christ and God? 1 John 1:9 But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness. New Testament does not teach that there are to be priests in the New Covenant. Instead, the New Testament teaches that all believers are priests. First Peter 2:5-9 describes believers as a “holy priesthood” and a “royal priesthood.” Revelation 1:6and 5:10 both describe believers as “a kingdom of priests.” In the Old Covenant, the faithful had to approach God through the priests. The priests were mediators between the people and God. The priests offered sacrifices to God on behalf of the people. That is no longer necessary. Because of Jesus’ sacrifice, we can now approach God’s throne with boldness (Hebrews 4:16). The temple veil tearing in two at Jesus’ death was symbolic of the dividing wall between God and humanity being destroyed. We can approach God directly, ourselves, without the use of a human mediator. Why? Because Jesus Christ is our great High Priest (Hebrews 4:14-15; 10:21) and the only mediator between us and God (1 Timothy 2:5). The New Testament teaches that there are to be elders (1 Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 1:6-9), deacons (1 Timothy 3:8-13), and pastors (Ephesians 4:11) - but not priests

@@CatholicDefender-bp7myNo man can forgive sins so praying to a priest is pointless even if he tells you your sins are forgiven. Does the priest hear from God the moment you confess your sins before he responds to you? No. You yourself are a priest worthy to go directly to God for forgiveness of sins. No earthy being should stand between you and God. Christ torn that priestly veil under the old covenant. Be empowered of the things of God yourself. Do not put your faith and fate in the hands of mere men. Spiritually, you could be more blessed than even the Pope himself.

1 Timothy 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man

@AstronautKazaplierWhat you’ve written is true according to what I also understand about the Catholic doctrine. I just can’t get myself to go. I love God, I pray to Him, to Mary, to the Saints, and I confess directly to God. I haven’t yet been able to make an act of Perfect Contrition, though apparently that wouldn’t be enough. I feel very discouraged.

God will always give you the graces that you need. I’m publishing a weekly RU-vid video on episodes from the life of Don Bosco, entitled ST JOHN BOSCO by JOE ZAMMIT. In this series I’m narrating events and miracles from the splendid life of Don Bosco. St John Bosco used to perform a miracle almost every day, through the intercession of Mary Help of Christians. From the lives of saints we can learn how to love God more and draw closer to him. Thank you

Do it directly to God, no need to hear from a priest. GOD IS HEARING YOU, JUST LISTEN AND YOU WILL HEAR GOD IN YOUR HEART AND SOUL. Be at peace with God, not a priest who is as human as you and I. Only GOD through JESUS CHRIST has the power to forgive our sins anytime, anywhere we are as long as we ask to forgive our sins...GOD hears us always.

I understand the extra comfort in hearin the words of absolution from a priest. Do know that you can always confess your sins to God directly, and be assured of full forgiveness whenever you need that.

Jesus also gave the power to forgive sins to His apostles (the first priests), which not only cleanses a penitent of his sins but also gives him sanctifying grace (the life of God in our soul) and heals his spiritual wounds. That is the difference between a do-it-yourself confession and a sacramental confession. John 20:22-23 He breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you shall forgive, they are forgiven them; and whose sins you shall retain, they are retained.”

What does the word MEDIATOR mean?? JESUS is our MEDIATOR between GOD and us. And then JESUS said that Whatever we ask the FATHER in HIS NAME, HE WIL DO IT.

@@marietta1335 All sins are forgiven by Jesus. The Apostles could forgive sins because of the places they were to go all would not know who Jesus was. He never said the only way to be forgiven was through a priest. There is no difference at all. Your sins are forgiven.

@@marietta1335 llll

In John 20:20-23, Jesus transfers to the apostles his power to forgive sins: Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I send you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and 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.“ Notice that Jesus sets it up so that the forgiveness of sins is received through the ministry of the apostles. From the words of Christ it is clear that the apostle has the authority to make a judgment whether to forgive or not to forgive. This paradigm is not foreign to the Jewish people. In the Old Testament the forgiveness of sins was associated with the intercession of the priest: “A man . . . shall confess the sin he has committed, and he shall bring his guilt offering to the Lord for the sin which he has committed . . . and the priest shall make atonement for him for his sin” (Lev. 5:5-6). Numbers 15:27-28 serves as another example: “If one person sins unwittingly, he shall offer a female goat a year old for a sin offering. And the priest shall make atonement before the Lord for the person who commits an error, when he sins unwittingly, to make atonement for him; and he shall be forgiven.” These passages show that God’s ordinary way of dealing with man’s sin is through God’s priests. Notice that it was not a part of God’s will for his people simply to confess their sins privately to him; their confession of sin involved the ministry of the priests. It is in light of this Old Testament context that Jesus tells his apostles to forgive sins. Jesus, as God does in the Old Testament, associates his new ordained ministers with the ministry of the forgiveness of sins. In doing so, Jesus is revealing his apostles to be priests. It is important to make a catechetical point here. Within the Old Covenant, the priest did not have the power to absolve sins from the individual’s soul. The priests simply offered sacrifice as a visible symbol for the individual’s repentance in hope for them to receive God’s mercy. The priests in the New Covenant, according to Jesus (cf. John 20:23), have the actual power to forgive sins as they so judge. Here Protestants usually respond, “Only God can forgive sins, not man.” No argument here. As Catholics, we are not saying that the apostles (and their successors) forgive sins by their own power. The power by which they absolve sins is the very power of Jesus Christ. The priests are simply the agents in persona Christi who exercise that power to which they have access because it resides in their soul by virtue of their ordination.

We have one high priest in the Catholic Church, and that is Our Lord Jesus Christ. Catholic priests all share this one Divine Priesthood of Jesus Christ. From the first Apostles, to the unbroken line of Popes, to the cardnals and bishops and all the way down to the parish priests - all share in the One Divine Priesthood of Jesus Christ. Because Christ ordered it: Christ ordained them (Luke 22:19); gave them the great commission (Mark 16:15; Matthew 28:19); and gave them the power to forgive (or not forgive) sins (John 20-22-23), shared with them the priestly function of offering His Sacrifice of the Cross (Luke 22:19:20), and ordered them to feed the people themselves (Mark 6:35-37; John 21:15-17) later, with His own Body and Blood.) There’s only one priest, one mediator, one Redeemer, and that is Jesus Christ. And that one priesthood He shares with the priests of the Catholic Church.

@@marietta1335 no . He doesnt share His priesthood. Apostolic gifts have ceased. And only the twelve apostles will have the right to judge, for only 12 thrones were placed for judging. ( Not speaking about the white throne judgement). What the popes say clearly deviates from the written word of God, showing and proving that they belong to the devil. And we all are chosen as royal priests and priesthood is not a ministry in the Church/body of Christ. There are only 5 types of ministry. And finally the titles given to pope are utter blasphemy ( ex. Holy father ( belongs to God the Father), Head of the Church ( belongs to God the Son), Vicar ( substitute) of Christ ( belongs to God the Holy Spirit))

@@marietta1335 They do not share anything with Jesus. There is nothing holy about anyone in the Catholic Church. Only Jesus is Holy. Only Jesus can forgive sins. The Apostles died out a long time ago. The great commission was given to us all. He gave them the power not to forgive if the people would not accept Jesus. John 20-22-23, Thomas wasn't there did he not receive the same thing. Yes but it was only the Apostles and it was not passed on from generation to generation. Anyone can go to Jesus and be forgiven. No priest needed.

@@christisalive7988 **”Apostolic gifts have ceased”** Wrong. It was not just “The apostles” given the power to forgive sins, but also their successors who were also forgiving sins, healing the sick, etc. (See Acts 1:21-26) The English word priest comes from the Greek word presbyters, which is usually directly translated as “presbyter” or “elder.” Even today, the priests of a diocese are referred to on the whole as “the presbyterate.” The sacrament of holy orders is passed on through the laying on of hands (see Acts 6:6). Paul writing to Timothy referred to Timothy’s ordination: “Do not neglect the gift you have, which was conferred on you through the prophetic word with the imposition of hands of the presbyterate” (1 Tim. 4:14). Paul referring to presbyters (see 1 Timothy 5:17-22) cautions Timothy, “Do not lay hands too readily on anyone” (v. 22). Early Christians believed that the ordination of deacon, priest, and bishop were of divine and apostolic origin: Take care, therefore, to be confirmed in the decrees of the Lord and of the apostles, in order that in everything you do, you may prosper in body and in soul, in faith and in love, in Son and in Father and in Spirit, in beginning and in end, together with your most reverend bishop; and with that fittingly woven spiritual crown, the presbytery; and with the deacons, men of God (Ignatius of Antioch, Letter to the Magnesians 13:1-2).

@@bcalvert321 **”No priest needed”** Why does the writings of the Early Church Fathers & every post-apostolic Christian writing disagree with this assertion? Ignatius of Antioch “For as many as are of God and of Jesus Christ are also with the bishop. And as many as shall, in the exercise of penance, return into the unity of the Church, these, too, shall belong to God, that they may live according to Jesus Christ” (Letter to the Philadelphians 3 [A.D. 110]). “For where there is division and wrath, God does not dwell. To all them that repent, the Lord grants forgiveness, if they turn in penitence to the unity of God, and to communion with the bishop” (ibid., 8). Basil the Great “It is necessary to confess our sins to those to whom the dispensation of God’s mysteries is entrusted. Those doing penance of old are found to have done it before the saints. It is written in the Gospel that they confessed their sins to John the Baptist [Matt. 3:6], but in Acts [19:18] they confessed to the apostles” (Rules Briefly Treated 288 [A.D. 374]). Ambrose of Milan “For those to whom [the right of binding and loosing] has been given, it is plain that either both are allowed, or it is clear that neither is allowed. Both are allowed to the Church, neither is allowed to heresy. For this right has been granted to priests only” (Penance 1:1 [A.D. 388]). Jerome “If the serpent, the devil, bites someone secretly, he infects that person with the venom of sin. And if the one who has been bitten keeps silence and does not do penance, and does not want to confess his wound . . . then his brother and his master, who have the word [of absolution] that will cure him, cannot very well assist him” (Commentary on Ecclesiastes 10:11 [A.D. 388]).

Notice in which directiin the veil was rent when the earth opened up...the opposite of what is natural.

When you confess your sins, how do you know you're not just confessing it to yourself, to forgive yourself? To justify to yourself what might not be objectively justifiable? Yes, with personal prayers, you can go directly to God. But there's also another kind of prayer - communal and liturgical prayer, His own eternal holy Sacrifice which was ordered by Jesus Christ Himself to be offered by viri selecti (selected men) whom He ordained to such offices - as Apostles, Bishops, Deacons, Presbyters (all mentioned in the New Testament) to the unbroken line of Popes, cardinals and bishops, all the way down to the parish priests.

@@marietta1335 The pope cannot forgive sins even though he may think he can. He is not Holy and he sins. Which means he is not infallible. There is only one true prayer and it is always to Jesus and God.

@@bcalvert321 Why does the writings of the Early Church Fathers & every post-apostolic Christian writing disagree with your assertion? Ignatius of Antioch “For as many as are of God and of Jesus Christ are also with the bishop. And as many as shall, in the exercise of penance, return into the unity of the Church, these, too, shall belong to God, that they may live according to Jesus Christ” (Letter to the Philadelphians 3 [A.D. 110]). “For where there is division and wrath, God does not dwell. To all them that repent, the Lord grants forgiveness, if they turn in penitence to the unity of God, and to communion with the bishop” (ibid., 8). Basil the Great “It is necessary to confess our sins to those to whom the dispensation of God’s mysteries is entrusted. Those doing penance of old are found to have done it before the saints. It is written in the Gospel that they confessed their sins to John the Baptist [Matt. 3:6], but in Acts [19:18] they confessed to the apostles” (Rules Briefly Treated 288 [A.D. 374]). Ambrose of Milan “For those to whom [the right of binding and loosing] has been given, it is plain that either both are allowed, or it is clear that neither is allowed. Both are allowed to the Church, neither is allowed to heresy. For this right has been granted to priests only” (Penance 1:1 [A.D. 388]). Jerome “If the serpent, the devil, bites someone secretly, he infects that person with the venom of sin. And if the one who has been bitten keeps silence and does not do penance, and does not want to confess his wound . . . then his brother and his master, who have the word [of absolution] that will cure him, cannot very well assist him” (Commentary on Ecclesiastes 10:11 [A.D. 388]).

@@SuperrBoyful Why go to writtings by people that did not know Jesus or the Apostles. Romans 8:34, Hebrews 2:16-18, John 14:16-17, John 17:20-23, 1 Timothy 2:5 For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, Hebrews 1:1-2, Hebrews 9:15, Hebrews 10:19, 1 John 2:1, there are many more. No priest can forgive sins. Only God can do that.

@@bcalvert321 **”Why go to writings by people that did not know Jesus or the Apostles.”** Every Apostolic Father knew an Apostle or was affiliated with a disciple of an Apostle. Read Philippians 4:3 Clement of Rome knew Paul personally. Philippians 4:3 “Yes, and I ask you, my true companion, help these women since they have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are in the book of life." Clement of Rome wrote upon the Eucharist & the true interpretation of the gospel of John. “Eat my flesh, he says, and drink my blood (John 6:53-5). Such is the suitable food which the Lord ministers, and he offers his flesh and pours forth his blood, and nothing is wanting for the children’s growth. O, amazing mystery! We are enjoined to cast off the old and carnal corruption, as also the old nutriment, receiving in exchange another new regimen, that of Christ, receiving him if we can, to hide him within; and that, enshrining the Savior in our souls, we may correct the affections of our flesh.” [In book I, chapter six of his Paedagogus; The Instructor of Children] If the Eucharist were purely a symbol, it wouldn’t be an “amazing mystery.” The Real Presence is further affirmed by St. Clement’s assertion that we hide Christ within us in receiving the Eucharist, “enshrining the Savior in our souls.” This can’t happen if the Eucharist were merely bread and wine and thus only a symbol of his body and blood.

You're forgetting that you had to pay for these so called indulgences some years ago. Does that sound wonderful

None of us are worthy of grace. That is what is so amazing about the grace of God.

Absolutely correct. Amen

ITS A LIE that you cant go directly to God for many churches teach that .I grew up in a church that taught direct contact with God .And i have walked with God for many years .I have seen Him do miracles of healing and also many mighty acts . I HAVE ALSO BEEN ALLOWED TO VISIT HEAVEN . i dont know why priests want to hide this from you BUT IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE WILL OF GOD TO BE IN DIRECT CONTACT WITH HIS CREATION . bypassing the need for any priests or go between . THE BLOOD OF THE LAMB OF GOD MAKES ALL OF US RIGHTEOUS ENOUGH TO STAND IN GODS PRESENCE

In John 20:20-23, Jesus transfers to the apostles his power to forgive sins: Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I send you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and 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.“ Notice that Jesus sets it up so that the forgiveness of sins is received through the ministry of the apostles. From the words of Christ it is clear that the apostle has the authority to make a judgment whether to forgive or not to forgive. This paradigm is not foreign to the Jewish people. In the Old Testament the forgiveness of sins was associated with the intercession of the priest: “A man . . . shall confess the sin he has committed, and he shall bring his guilt offering to the Lord for the sin which he has committed . . . and the priest shall make atonement for him for his sin” (Lev. 5:5-6). Numbers 15:27-28 serves as another example: “If one person sins unwittingly, he shall offer a female goat a year old for a sin offering. And the priest shall make atonement before the Lord for the person who commits an error, when he sins unwittingly, to make atonement for him; and he shall be forgiven.” These passages show that God’s ordinary way of dealing with man’s sin is through God’s priests. Notice that it was not a part of God’s will for his people simply to confess their sins privately to him; their confession of sin involved the ministry of the priests. It is in light of this Old Testament context that Jesus tells his apostles to forgive sins. Jesus, as God does in the Old Testament, associates his new ordained ministers with the ministry of the forgiveness of sins. In doing so, Jesus is revealing his apostles to be priests. It is important to make a catechetical point here. Within the Old Covenant, the priest did not have the power to absolve sins from the individual’s soul. The priests simply offered sacrifice as a visible symbol for the individual’s repentance in hope for them to receive God’s mercy. The priests in the New Covenant, according to Jesus (cf. John 20:23), have the actual power to forgive sins as they so judge. Here Protestants usually respond, “Only God can forgive sins, not man.” No argument here. As Catholics, we are not saying that the apostles (and their successors) forgive sins by their own power. The power by which they absolve sins is the very power of Jesus Christ. The priests are simply the agents in persona Christi who exercise that power to which they have access because it resides in their soul by virtue of their ordination.

Jesus provided no other way for sins to be forgiven after his ascension but by confessing to men. Go directly to Jesus? You might be talking to yourself. If he wanted us to do that he would have said so.

@@bridgefin God is real and does interact with us .Why do you think that past Christians were willing to die rather than submit to the Pope ? ITS BECAUSE WE ARE IN CONTACT WITH THE LIVING GOD . and He gives us verification that we are saved and on the right path . YOU PEOPLE MAKE A BIG DEAL OUT OF A SMALL MIRACLE and our lives are filled with miracles sometimes daily . WE HAVE SEEN THINGS OF GOD THAT EVEN THE PROPHETS HAVE NOT SEEN so we will never submit to your false religion FOR GOD TOLD US FIRST thou shalt make no images or bow to them . AND WE ARE GOING TO OBEY GOD AND IGNORE YOU PEOPLE

A priest cannot absolve anyone of sin. If you genuinely wish to know the truth, do a little research on Mt. 16:19. The original Greek text states that the person hearing someone confess sin can tell the sinner that his sin "will be having been loosed" (set free from the consequence of sin). Notice the future tense verb with the past participle? This is pure the literal translation, but translators change the past participle to future tense to agree with the verb. In doing so, they create a heresy. Jesus did not tell Peter he has power to forgive sin. But Peter could say to the contrite sinner, your sins have already been forgiven; they were forgiven the moment you were remorseful. Smoothing out a translation, so that it is more readable in English, comes at the cost of right theology. Now you can choose to ignore this truth and live deceived, or you can be liberated from the apostate church that is so clearly described in Rev.17. Paul conveyed, "the truth will make you free." But most people prefer to live in ignorance.

Yes the Roman Catholic church does like to use there own authority over the Bible's. They also put the church tradition right up there too, lol... I shouldn't laugh it is actually sad. They don't realize how easy Jesus made it for us to be forgiven and to be saved. I still pray for all my Catholic friends that they will see the truth one day.

@@Scarface1970 Jesus established an Apostolic tradition that proceeded Scripture. Interestingly enough, the Bible actually came from the Roman Catholic Church in the 4th century. The process culminated in 382 as the Council of Rome, which was convened under the leadership of Pope Damasus, promulgated the 73-book scriptural canon. The biblical canon was reaffirmed by the regional councils of Hippo (393) and Carthage (397), and then definitively reaffirmed by the ecumenical Council of Florence in (1442). In regards to the forgiveness of sins, In John 20:20-23, Jesus transfers to the apostles his power to forgive sins: Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I send you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and 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.“ Notice that Jesus sets it up so that the forgiveness of sins is received through the ministry of the apostles. From the words of Christ it is clear that the apostle has the authority to make a judgment whether to forgive or not to forgive. This paradigm is not foreign to the Jewish people. In the Old Testament the forgiveness of sins was associated with the intercession of the priest: “A man . . . shall confess the sin he has committed, and he shall bring his guilt offering to the Lord for the sin which he has committed . . . and the priest shall make atonement for him for his sin” (Lev. 5:5-6). Numbers 15:27-28 serves as another example: “If one person sins unwittingly, he shall offer a female goat a year old for a sin offering. And the priest shall make atonement before the Lord for the person who commits an error, when he sins unwittingly, to make atonement for him; and he shall be forgiven.” These passages show that God’s ordinary way of dealing with man’s sin is through God’s priests. Notice that it was not a part of God’s will for his people simply to confess their sins privately to him; their confession of sin involved the ministry of the priests. It is in light of this Old Testament context that Jesus tells his apostles to forgive sins. Jesus, as God does in the Old Testament, associates his new ordained ministers with the ministry of the forgiveness of sins. In doing so, Jesus is revealing his apostles to be priests. It is important to make a catechetical point here. Within the Old Covenant, the priest did not have the power to absolve sins from the individual’s soul. The priests simply offered sacrifice as a visible symbol for the individual’s repentance in hope for them to receive God’s mercy. The priests in the New Covenant, according to Jesus (cf. John 20:23), have the actual power to forgive sins as they so judge. Here Protestants usually respond, “Only God can forgive sins, not man.” No argument here. As Catholics, we are not saying that the apostles (and their successors) forgive sins by their own power. The power by which they absolve sins is the very power of Jesus Christ. The priests are simply the agents in persona Christi who exercise that power to which they have access because it resides in their soul by virtue of their ordination.

@@SuperrBoyful Well Jesus did establish an Apostolic tradition however and interesting enough Jews were reading scripture long before the word Catholicism was invented. To say the Bible came from the Roman Catholics is just false. Also did you know the apocryphal books the Catholics put in were never in the original scriptures? They were written long before the New Testament was written, yet the Jews never put them in their own scripture (even today they are not in Jewish Bibles) because they deemed them not inspired. That means they were not in Jesus Bible either. To say the catholic church was the first church is true because catholic means universal but to say Roman Catholic Church was first would be false. Paul wrote to a lot of different churches like the ones in Ephesus, Corinth, Galatia, and in Rome. That said where does it say that the Roman Catholic Church was the first? You are getting all your info from one spot and that is from the Roman Catholic church and there own catechism. Muslims claim and believe they have the first Bible too, just because someone says its true doesn’t automatically mean it is. You wrote “In the Old Testament the forgiveness of sins was associated with the intercession of the priest: “A man . . . shall confess the sin he has committed, and he shall bring his guilt offering to the Lord for the sin which he has committed . . . and the priest shall make atonement for him for his sin” Yes this was true, in the Old Testament, but when Jesus came and died for us He made a New Covenant he died once for us all, He became sin for us. His blood was poured out for us once we don’t have to re sacrifice him to gain his graces every week, all we have to do is accept him and believe that he is our Savior, and we shall have eternal life. As far as forgiveness goes Jesus didn’t transfer power to the Apostles In John 20:20 He was telling them to forgive those who come up against them personally. Like in the Lords prayer “forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us” If He did transfer power to them He also did it to all the saints. 1 Peter 2:9 says “ "You are a royal priesthood and a priestly kingdom," Revelation 5:10, "Through your blood you have made us into priests and kings." That said we can only forgive one another what they did to us. The sins we commit against God himself can only be forgiven by Him when we ask Him for forgiveness. 1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Matthew 6:14-15 - “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. I know where you are coming from, I use to believe what you believed until the Holy Spirit came upon me and opened my eyes. I was a Devout Catholic for 49 years and taught CCD classes to the children in our church, so I completely understand where you are coming from, but the Catechism is not the Bible and Traditions must line up with the Gospel or its only someone else’s tradition. Good discussion God bless.

@@Scarface1970 Please be aware of the many Protestant presuppositions you are asserting that are no historical, non biblical, & simply not true. The Catholic Church & “Roman” Catholic Church are interchangeable - one in the same. This idea that they are “different” is a Protestant distinguishment that was created less than a hundred years ago. If you’re ‘Catholic’ you simply acknowledge the chair of Peter is in Rome & acknowledge the Pope is successive authority of the Apostle Peter, who Jesus prescribed as head of the Church 2,000 years ago (See Matthew 16:18). Peter eventually was crucified upside down in Rome which is why the Papacy is established there & not somewhere else Jesus did not come to abolish the Old Testament, He came to fulfill the Old Testament prophesies (See Matthew 5:17). Matthew 5:17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.” He transferred Jewish traditions within the New Covenant such as a hierarchical structure of councils & laymen (priests, bishops, & deacons). See in Luke 5:14 after Jesus heals the man with leprosy, He continues with Old Testament traditions by saying, Luke 5:14 “Go show yourself to the priests & offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded for your cleansing as a testimony to them.” Jesus did not get rid of the hierarchical structure He established to Mosses in the Jewish law (Sanhedrin, priests, etc). He established a New Israel or the “Church” which is universally known as the Catholic Church. Paul clearly indicates this in his writings, especially in Romans 9-11, where he indicates God continues to fulfill his promises about the Jewish people by preserving a remnant of Jewish believers in Christ (11:1-5). This indicates a special place for Israel, for no other people has a promise that there will always be a believing remnant. God also has future plans for the Jewish people: One day the Jewish people as a nation will return to Christ, and this will be one of the signs of the Second Coming and the resurrection of the dead (11:12, 15). On the other hand, along with covenant theologians, Catholics acknowledge that the Church is spiritual Israel or, in Catholic parlance, the “new Israel” (cf. CCC 877). This too is indicated in Paul’s writings: In Romans 9:6 he says that “not all who are of Israel are Israel.” This indicates the existence of two Israels. One-”all who are of Israel”-indicates the ethnic people, not all of whom believe in Jesus. The other Israel, the context reveals, does not include those who have rejected the Messiah. This new Israel, founded by Messiah, exists in spiritual continuity with the Old Testament saints and so counts as a “spiritual Israel.” It includes Gentiles who believe in the Messiah and so through baptism are spiritually circumcised (Col. 2:11-12) and are reckoned as spiritual Jews (Rom. 2:26-29). In his letter to the Ephesians Paul is even more explicit about the Gentiles’ spiritual inclusion when he states that “you Gentiles in the flesh . . . were [once] separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel . . . But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near . . . So then you are no longer strangers and sojourners, but you are fellow citizens with the saints” (2:11-13, 19). Thus the Catholic Church, not being constrained by the new theological systems of dispensationalism and covenant theology, is able to avoid the extremes of both while it acknowledges the truths both contain-as it has since before either was invented.

@@Scarface1970 **”Jesus didn’t transfer power to the Apostles in John 20:20 He was telling them to forgive those who come up against them personally.”** Jesus did transfer power to the Apostles in John 20:20, notice He “breathes” on them the holy spirit. This indicates something very significant as only Scripture had previously been “God breathed.” This was the start of the Apostolic tradition Jesus prescribed as allowing human- beings (with proper successive ordination) to forgive sins in person of Christ on Earth. Paul demonstrates his ability to forgive sins many times in his letters. For example, when addressing the Church at Corinth 2 Corinthians 2:10 “Anyone you forgive, I also forgive. And what I have forgiven-if there was anything to forgive-I have forgiven in the sight of Christ for your sake.” God is the only mediator that can reconcile God and humanity. Jesus exercises this authority through ordained men in the confessional as priests act in persona Christi (person of Christ). 2 Corinthians 5:18 “All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation”