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Confession

Page 7: Revised 10/28/1999

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What is Confession?

In every Roman Catholic church you will find one or more small boxes, usually located in the corners, that arouses the curiosity of Protestants and the fear of Catholics. The typical configuration has three compartments. The center compartment usually has a door, and a single lightbulb inside. This is the priest's compartment. On either side you will find smaller compartments, usually adorned with a heavy dark-colored curtain. These are the 'penitents's compartments, and they don't have lights inside. A thin wall separates the priest's compartment from the penitent's compartments.

At face level (with the penitent on his or her knees, and the priest on his behind), there is a sliding partition with numerous holes. The partition is supposed to give you a glimpse of the priest (and give him a glimpse of you) while blocking both sight and sound from the penitent on the opposite side. Sight is definitely blocked, but seldom the sound. You can usually hear what the person on the other side is 'confessing' with little difficulty.

The Roman Catholic custom is practiced, usually, on Saturday afternoons and evenings, and on the day before a Catholic holy day. The priest enters his area, closes the door, and shuts off the light. In many places, this action also turns on a light above the priest's compartment to let folks know he is open for business. Catholics enter one side, kneel down facing the priest, and wait their turn, which is signaled by the priest sliding the hole-filled partition open. The person then begins to 'make his or her confession.'

Confession can, of course, be had at any time of day or night, at the request of the penitent. Such confessions are generally used by the uptight, over-scrupulous catholic who thinks he or she has just committed a mortal sin. The fear of hell, inculcated by Rome's teachings, drives many a Catholic to waken the poor priest at 2:00 a.m., right after committing a big sin, such as fornication, adultery and so forth. My priest friends tell me that more than ninety per cent of such 'emergency' confessions deal with sex-related events. This is consistent with reports from ex-Catholics.

Once inside the confessional, the penitent starts by saying a formula prayer, invoking a blessing from the priest about to hear his or her sins. The penitent also asks Mary, a couple of Apostles, and an assortment of dead people to forgive their sins. The penitent then recounts the sins committed since their last confession, starting with the big ones (mortal sins) and ending with as many small ones (venial sins) as can be recalled. The priest, following instructions from Rome, often questions the penitent about certain areas of sinfulness. The questioning typically last much longer for females than for males, and involves subjects and actions that would make a hooker blush. If husbands and fathers had any idea of the grilling their wife or daughter gets from the man in the confessional, I suspect that many a priest would find himself beaten to a pulp behind the rectory on a dark night!

After the confessing and grilling, the priest, who thinks he is another Christ (Alter Christos), gives 'absolution' in which he says something on the order of 'ego te absolve' (I forgive you..."), and "Go in peace." The penitent is sent away with some penance to perform, usually in the form of some rote prayers such as saying a few rosaries, or making the stations of the cross.

For the Roman Catholic, confession, also called 'penance,' is the place where sins are forgiven. Rome also refers to confession, or penance, as 'the sacrament of reconciliation,' and 'the sacrament of confession,' and 'the sacrament of conversion.'

| What is Confession? | Forgiveness According to Rome | Forgiveness According to God |

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Forgiveness According to Rome

Official Catholic Teaching on Forgiveness of Sin (Penance/Confession)

[Ref. 1] "Christ instituted the sacrament of Penance for all sinful members of His Church:... The Fathers of the Church present this sacrament as 'the second plank [of salvation] after the shipwreck which is the loss of Grace." Catechism of the Catholic Church, Libreria Editrice Vaticana, Copyright 1994, United States Catholic Conference; Page 363, Number 1446.

[Ref. 2] "Jesus' call to conversion and penance, like that of the prophets before him, does not aim first at outward work - - but at the conversion of the heart, interior conversion. Catechism of the Catholic Church, Libreria Editrice Vaticana, Copyright 1994, United States Catholic Conference; Page 359, Number 1430 With a footnote quoting Matthew 6:1-6; 16-18 as Scriptural support.

[Ref. 3] "The Fathers of the Church present this sacrament (confession, penance) as 'the second plank for salvation..." Catechism of the Catholic Church, Libreria Editrice Vaticana, Copyright 1994, United States Catholic Conference; Page 363, Number 1446

[Ref. 4] "Individual, integral confession (to a priest) and absolution remain the only ordinary way for the faithful to reconcile themselves with God and the Church." Catechism of the Catholic Church, Libreria Editrice Vaticana, Copyright 1994, United States Catholic Conference; Page 373, Number 1484.

[Ref. 5] "If any one denieth, either that sacramental confession was instituted, or is necessary to salvation, of divine right; or saith that the manner of confessing secretly to a priest alone, which the Church hath ever observed from the institution and command of Christ, and is a human invention: let him be anathema" (cursed, damned to hell). Dogmatic Canons and Decrees of the Council of Trent: Tan Books, with Nihil Obstat and Imprimatur; page 87, Session XIV, November 25, 1551, Chapter I.

[Ref. 6] "Absolution (by a priest) takes away sin, but it does not remedy all the disorders sin has caused (cf. Council of Trent [1551]: DS 1712). Raised up from sin, the sinner must still recover his full spiritual health by doing something more to make amends for the sin: he must 'make satisfaction for' or 'expiate' his sins. This satisfaction is also called 'penance.'" Catechism of the Catholic Church, Libreria Editrice Vaticana, Copyright 1994, United States Catholic Conference; Page 366, Number 1459.

[Ref. 7] "The Lord also said: 'Except you do penance, you shall all likewise perish; (cf Luke 13:5). And Peter, the Prince of the Apostles, recommending penitence to sinners who were about to be initiated by Baptism, said: 'Do penance, and be baptized every one of you.(cf Acts 2:38). Dogmatic Canons and Decrees of the Council of Trent: Tan Books, with Nihil Obstat and Imprimatur; page 87, Session XIV, November 25, 1551, Chapter I.

Confession to a Priest Only Way to be Forgiven

From Ref. 4 we learn that the only way to have your sins forgiven is to go to confession to a Roman Catholic priest. Protestants take note: according to Rome you can never have your sins forgiven because you are not a Roman Catholic, and you don't confess to a priest of Rome. Here is just one more place where Rome denigrates you, your faith in Christ, and the Bible too.

Where in Scripture are we told we must tell our sins to an ordained Roman Catholic priest in order to be forgiven?	Your answer?
Why is Scripture silent on so important a topic as a Roman Catholic "sacrament" like penance (confession)?	Your answer?
Did Jesus make a serious oversight by not clearly saying that one must confess to a Roman Catholic priest to be forgiven?	Your answer?
The discrepancy between Scripture and Rome is sharp and clear: both cannot be correct. Which do you choose to believe?	Your answer?

Confession to Mary for Forgiveness?

Despite claims to the contrary, Rome does send her people to Mary for forgiveness of sins. This fact is proven in the following Roman Catholic prayer:

"I confess to Almighty God (so far, so good), to blessed Mary ever virgin, to blessed Michael the Archangel, to blessed John the Baptist, to the holy apostles Peter and Paul, and to all the saints, that I have sinned exceedingly in thought, word an deed, through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault. Therefore I beseech (notice that the Father is now missing?) Blessed Mary ever Virgin, blessed Michael the Archangel, blessed John the Baptist, the holy apostles Peter and Paul, and all the saints, to pray to the Lord our God for me." (The 'Confetior', quoted from The New Saint Joseph Baltimore Catechism, Official Revised Edition, Copyright 1962, Page 5.)

Who does the sincere Roman Catholic confess his/her sins to? God? Well, sort of. They start out including God, then drop Him later in the prayer. Rather is the catholic person sent to Mary, an angel, John the Baptist, Peter and Paul, and all the saints (and Rome has hundreds of them!). Just as an aside, I wonder why Rome singled-out Peter and Paul? Were there not twelve apostles? Why just these two and not the others?

QUESTION: Why does the Roman Catholic Church send you to everyone except Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins? Your answer?

QUESTION: Is there a single Scripture that tells us to confess our sins to Mary, to Apostles, or to dead "saints?" Your answer?

QUESTION: Did Jesus and the writers of the New Testament make a serious error by failing to instruct us to pray to Mary, to Apostles, or to dead "saints" to have our sins forgiven? Your answer?

QUESTION: Who will you believe, God's Word or the Roman Catholic Church in this matter? Your answer?

SIR, THE ENEMY IS IN THE OTHER DIRECTION!

Do the Fathers Agree On Confession?

Rome declares that it never interprets Scripture other than that which has 'the unanimous consent of the Fathers.' As shown above, Rome's doctrine of Penance is based on her interpretation of Scripture. Thus, the doctrine stands or falls on Rome's own claims and definitions. In Ref. 1 Rome points to those 'Fathers' to convince the reader that her sacrament of penance, or auricular confession, was practiced by those early Fathers of the Catholic Church. Since I have learned never to blindly accept what Rome says, I decided to read the writings of those Fathers of the Church to see what they had to say.

It was no surprise to learn that the Fathers of the Church did not agree with current Roman Catholic teaching on this subject. Not only did they not agree, they categorically contradicted it! To name just a few, St. Augustine, St. John Chrysostom, Nestorius, St. Basil, and Erasmus all stated, in writing, that they did not, and would not ever confess their sins to a mere man, whoever he was! If you wish to see it for yourself, |click here| to read what they said. Then decide for yourself whether or not Rome lies when she claims the support of those early Christian men!

ANOTHER LIE BITS THE DUST! QUESTION: Does the Roman Catholic Church tell the truth when she claims the support of the Fathers of the Church for the practice of confession (penance)?

Your Answer? The Historical Facts

Did Jesus Initiate the Practice of Confession (Penance)?

According to Rome (Ref. 2 and Ref. 7), Jesus Christ initiated the practice of auricular confession, or penance. The Catholic Catechism even quotes Scripture to 'prove' her point. Thus, it should be very easy to see if Rome is right or not. Because my space at this site is limited, I won't repeat all the Scriptures here, so you should open up your Bible and read them for yourself. But I must tell you that these references by Rome are nothing short of ridiculous!

Rome on Matthew 1:1-6. Rome quotes Matthew 1:1-6. Alright, what do those verses have to say about confession? Nothing. Not one, single word! Rather does Jesus tell us not to perform our good deeds, nor to say our prayers, out in the public eye, just to get people to admire us, and see how 'holy' we are! These verses are sandwiched between many other verses, all dealing with how a Christian should live.

QUESTION: Does the Scripture of Matthew 6:1-6 prove that Christ instituted confession? Your Answer?

Did Rome leave something out here? Why? I find it most interesting that Rome stops at verse 6. A quick glace at verses 7 and 8 tell why:

"But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him. (Matthew 6:7-8)"

Here, Jesus tells us not to use 'vain repetition' because that is what the heathens do. Now, tell me, what is the rosary if not vain repetition? What are the various 'litanies' mouthed by the Roman Catholic faithful if not vain repetition? Attend any Mass and you will hear lots of vain repetition too. Rome's religion is full of vain repetition, and that, I believe, is why she conveniently neglects these important verses.

Rome on Matthew 6: 16-18.The second verse Rome uses to 'prove' that Christ instituted the practice of confession is Matthew 6: 16-18. Please take time to read it.

What does it really say? It merely tells us how to behave when fasting. Here again, Jesus is only telling us how to behave, and to not fast in a manner that will get the attention and flattery of others. Not a single word, not even a hint of confession here either! What's wrong with this picture?

When Jesus Forgave Sins

If the Roman Catholic Church is correct in teaching that Jesus instituted her sacrament of Penance (confession), is it not reasonable to expect to find examples in Scripture? Let us take a look at some places where Jesus forgave sins.

^5"When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee. ⁶But there were certain of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts, ⁷Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only?" (Mark 2: 5-7)

^44"And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head. ⁴⁵Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet. ⁴⁶My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment. ⁴⁷Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little. ⁴⁸And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven." (Luke 7: 44-48)

Do you notice anything missing here?

QUESTION: Did Jesus forgive the sins of the paralytic man and of the woman? Yes No

QUESTION: Did Jesus give either person some "penance" to perform? Yes No

QUESTION: Did Jesus remind either person that they had to "expiate" or pay the price for their own sins later, in a place called Purgatory? Yes No

QUESTION: Is there anything in these examples that even remotely hits at the sacrament of Penance (confession) as practiced by the Roman Catholic Church? Yes No

QUESTION: How could Jesus have overlooked such important things as penance, Purgatory and our need to pay for our own sins? Your answer?

QUESTION: Is it possible that Jesus never mentioned these things because they are totally unnecessary? Yes No

QUESTION: Can you see how Rome's sacrament of Penance is a direct contradiction of the teaching and practice of Jesus? Yes No

QUESTION: Which do you choose to believe - Rome or Scripture? Your answer?

Did Jesus Institute Auricular Confession?

According to the Council of Trent, which was confirmed by Vatican Council II (Ref. 5), the Roman Catholic sacrament of penance (confession) was not just instituted by Christ, but that Christ taught that one must confess one's sins, in private, secretly to a priest alone. Trent further says that this practice of private, secret, auricular confession has been practiced "from the beginning" (since the time of Christ).

Rome then places a curse on anyone who dares disagree. Since a number of the Fathers of the Church specifically contradict Rome's interpretation of Scripture which is her basis of the sacrament of Penance (auricular confession, in secret), we are forced to conclude that the Council of Trent has place her "anathema" (a curse, being damned to Hell) upon those very Fathers on whom she relies to prove her point!

Such claims should be very easy to check out. So, dear reader, get your Bible out and begin to search for any Scriptures that put in the mouth of Christ the command, instruction, or even a slight hint that this is the case. See if you can find a single place where any Apostle 'heard' or 'listened to' another's confession of sins, or 'granted absolution' to anyone.

Such passages must be there because Rome states in her infallible declarations at the Council of Trent that the practices were instituted by Christ. It is only reasonable, therefore, that we should expect to find Christ doing just that, and in clear terms to avoid confusion.

Rome on Luke 13:5 and Acts 2:38. "The Lord also said: 'Except you do penance, you shall all likewise perish; (cf Luke 13:5). And Peter, the Prince of the Apostles, recommending penitence to sinners who were about to be initiated by Baptism, said: 'Do penance, and be baptized every one of you [for the forgiveness of sins].(cf Acts 2:38).'"⁽³⁾

So, Rome would have us believe that Jesus and Peter both commanded us to do penance. And, of course, by 'penance' Rome means her own definition of penance, which means good works and at times payment of money. This should be very easy to check by looking at the verse in question:

⁵"Not at all! And you, too, will perish unless you repent." (The Living Bible)

⁵"I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish." (New International Version)

⁵"I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish." (King James Version)

Notice anything? Yes, you are correct. Jesus said we must repent - not "do penance." There is a world of difference between repentance and penance!

In fairness, we must now ask, "Is it possible that the Greek term translated repent admits of any other interpretation - and in particular, can it be interpreted at penance? For our answer, let's look at Strong's Exhaustive Concordance and Greek Dictionary:

STRONG'S #G3340
metanoeo
met-an-o-eh'-o
From G3326 and G3539; to think differently or afterwards, that is, reconsider
(morally to feel compunction):--repent.

According to one of the best Greek dictionaries available, the Greek term, mentanoeo, can be translated in one, and only one way: as repent. A search of Strong's Concordance reveals that the term penance does not exist in the Scriptures! Think about it!

Rome has deliberately changed the Scriptures, by substituting penance for repentance! Rome's counciliar decrees, pretending to quote Scripture, are false. It can be proven by a simple reading of the Scriptures so 'translated' by Rome.

Jesus and Peter tell us that we must repent - have a change of heart and mind - to be forgiven. Rome tells us we must perform good works prescribed by a priest to be forgiven, and completely ignores the need for repentance!

QUESTION: Does the term penance appear anywhere in the Scriptures?
Yes
Give examples
No

QUESTION: Do Jesus and Peter tell us that we must (1)Repent or (2)Do Penance to be forgiven of our sins? Repent Do Penance

QUESTION: Does Rome tell us that we must (1)Repent or (2)Do Penance to be forgiven of our sins? Repent Do Penance

QUESTION: Does Rome substitute the term penance in place of Scripture's repentance? Yes No

QUESTION: Who do you choose to believe - Rome or God's Word? Rome God's Word

QUESTION: In Scripture do we find any Apostle 'hearing' the confession of anyone in a private, secret manner as taught by Rome? Yes
Give Examples
No

QUESTION: In Scripture, do we find Jesus teaching that we must confess sins in a secret, private manner to an ordained Roman Catholic priest? Yes
Give Examples
No

QUESTION: Is there any Scripture that says that we must do penance (good works) to earn our own forgiveness of sins? Yes
Give examples
No

QUESTION: Is there any Scripture that tells us to confess our sins to God alone, and that we will be forgiven, completely, and without any 'residual' punishment to pay off after we die? Yes No

QUESTION: do you believe that the sacrifice of Jesus was sufficient to atone (pay the price for) our sins? Yes No

QUESTION: How does Rome justify her blatant contradiction of God's Word in this matter? Your answer?

You will not find anything in Scripture to support Rome's claims on auricular confession - not one single passage that states one must confess, in secret, in private, to a priest to have your sins forgiven. It is equally clear that Scripture teaches a totally different thing on the subject of confession and forgiveness of sins - that we must go to God alone, and that He readily forgives us, and does not require that we 'expiate' (pay the price for) our own sins by good works in this life and incredible suffering in the next life.

Think for a moment. If you must 'expiate' or pay the price for your own sins, then the sacrifice of Jesus was pointless! Who needs Him, or what He did, if we can work it out ourselves as demanded by the Roman Catholic Church?! Just obey that church, spend your life making continual offerings, continual sacrifices for your own sins, and all will be well - after, of course, an unspecified time of incredible torment in Purgatory.

Is this the forgiveness of the Bible? Certainly not! Rather does it bear an uncanny resemblance to the pagan religions, where you can readily find a "purgatory" and sacrificing priests, and the requirement of personal sacrifices for one's sins. Once again has Rome re-instituted the old pagan mystery religions of Satanic origin. Satan could not care less what you call it, all he wants is for you to believe you can save yourself, earn your way to Heaven, pay for your own sins - anything but accept the plain, simple Gospel of Jesus Christ.

There you have the comparison between God's way and Rome's way.

CHOOSE!

The Unforgiveness of Rome

Alright. You went to confession. You ran-out your shopping list of sins. You made sure to 'tell' all your mortal sins and most of your venial sins. The priest said, "I forgive you..." gave you some penance to do, and said "Go in peace." You push the curtain aside, go to the altar or the stations of the cross and do your penance. You head to the back of the church and open the door to the bright Saturday afternoon sunlight.

Your spirits should be soaring, right? So why aren't they soaring? Because down deep you know you have not really been forgiven at all. The punishment has only been deferred until after you die. Then you will suffer untold agony in the fires of purgatory until God is satisfied that you have 'expiated' or paid the price for your sins.

So how on earth can you 'go in peace?' You cannot, and you know it. You also know you will be back next week, or next month, or will make an emergency visit to the rectory because you will bed that secretary again, take 'the pill' for the next 28 days, or get drunk tonight with your buddies. That's why! You are a normal human being. Normal human beings fail. Often. You know you are normal. You know you will fail, even if you don't want to. And even if you manage to avoid the really 'big' sins, you will still be back - just in case - to repeat sins previously confessed - in the vain hope of finding the peace of true forgiveness. But you never find it, do you? That's why you keep coming back, and back, and back.

Your church tells you to love God, and then gives you dozens of reasons to view Him, not as a loving Father, but as a stern executioner who is waiting to let you have it right between the eyes as soon as you die! She then offers her substitutes, especially her unbiblical Mary, as your true hope. You have been successfully separated from the only real hope you have, Jesus Christ.

"Go in peace?" Give us a break! All you 'know' for sure is that between now and the next time you fall, you can get to Heaven, via Purgatory, if you get taken out by a bus, or an irate husband. As an honest Roman Catholic you must admit that spiritual peace is a thing you know nothing about. Rome has kept that from you by keeping Scriptural Truth from you. The peace you could have is buried so deep in cannon law, lists of sins, rituals, and so forth that your hope of finding it is, for practical purposes, nil. You have neither the time nor inclination to spend months studying the claims of Rome - you are too busy surviving to do that. So you trust your church to do it for you and tell you what to think, what to believe, how to behave.

In the back of your mind, you question how dried-up, celibate (?) Italian priests in the archives of the Vatican can make decisions for your life. You wonder what a Pope, so out of touch with real life, knows of your struggle to house and feed your growing brood, to make love to a woman who's religion focuses more on the thermometer and calendar than on the deep love you share. In less-guarded moments you even express your contempt for your theologians, cannon lawyers, popes and priests. I know. I have listened to your questions - I have laughed at your jokes. I have heard you tell stories of priests who dippy-dunk across the street in the convent. Yes, and I know that you more than half-believe it too! I have chuckled as you told me of mother superiors who carry out a modern inquisition to find out who left the toilet seat up in the convent bathroom.

I have listened as you ask why a church with a net worth greater than the World Bank begs you to give money to feed the hungry, or to support a church in Italy you have never seen. I have seen the pain in your eyes as you shell-out money that would be better used for your kid's shoes - to men dressed in medieval splendor, wearing rings that are worth a year's salary for you. I have shared a simple repast of pasta and cheap hamburger as we discussed the sumptuous feasts had by local priests in dining rooms bigger than your whole house. I know what it is to watch a wife labor to put a palatable meal of spam (a physical impossibility!) on the table while managing four children, house cleaning, shopping and laundry, knowing that the priest with whom she will share shocking, intimate things is, at the same moment, being served in his mansion by not one, but two housekeepers.

Harangue - continued. You run to your priest to be forgiven for doing only what is right to nurture the love of your spouse. You seek forgiveness from a man who has no more power to forgive you than a turnip - a man who, in all likelihood, is breaking his own vows of chastity, obedience, and poverty every day.

Thus does the Church of Rome keep you in bondage to herself - keeps you coming back again and again, hoping to find what, in Rome, is unfindable. When, my dear Catholic friend, will it occur to you that your priest should be asking forgiveness from you?! When will you find the voice to shout "foul!" When will you find the courage to picket the rectory and the bishops palace (can you picture Jesus and the Apostles living in palaces?) and demand to be heard? When will you be able to tell that celibate(?) Priest to keep his questions out of your bedroom, and his mind out of the gutter of carnality? When will you have the strength to demand that your Church and her priests lead you to freedom in Christ and not to the bondage of a medieval legal system of laws that would make the Pharisees of Jesus' time envious?

Forgiveness According to God

A Note on Rome's Deception

Before stating God's clear and simple picture of forgiveness of sin, I need to point out a deliberate deception by Rome on this subject. Where the Bible teaches that repentance is prerequisite to forgiveness, Rome teaches that penance is the prerequisite. Consider the following from Rome's Catechism:

"In converting to Christ through penance and faith, the sinner passes from death to life... (see Jn 5:24)" Catechism of the Catholic Church, Page 369, #1470

Alright. Rome says that penance (good works) converts us to Christ. She refers to the passage in John 5:24 to support this teaching. So what does this scripture say? Let's look:

"Amen, amen, I say to you, he who hears my word, and believes him who sent me, has life everlasting, and does not come to judgement, but has passed from death to life. (John 5:24, Douay Version).

QUESTION: Do you see the word, or even the idea of penance in this Bible passage?

Yes

QUESTION: According to the Scripture above, what does Jesus say is the only thing is required for salvation?

Your Answer?

Whenever Rome considers a Scripture that deals with the forgiveness of sins, with salvation, she arbitrarily transforms terms such as 'repent' and 'repentance' into 'penance.' Can you see how dishonest a practice this is? Rome has the habit of referring to totally unrelated Scriptures in this area too, as shown above.

My Roman Catholic readers, take the trouble to check the Scriptures when your church uses them to prove her dogmas, doctrines and Traditions. In most cases you will be unpleasantly surprised!

What Must I Do to be Forgiven?

I shall let the Word of God speak for itself. It needs no clarification!

Repent to be Forgiven

Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out. (Acts 3:19)

Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee. (Acts 8:22)

Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent. (Rev. 2:5)

From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. (Matthew 4:17)

Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. (Acts 5:31)

For the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation; but the sorrow of the world produces death. (2 Cor 7:10)

Accept Jesus as Lord and be Forgiven

"Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved (me) much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little. And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven." (Luke 7:47-48)

Forgive Others if You Wish to be Forgiven

And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. (Luke 11:4)

Confess Directly to God

"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:9). Please notice that when this instruction was given, the Roman Catholic priesthood was a couple of centuries in the future! There is not so much as a hint in this Scripture, nor it its entire context that one much confess one's sins to another man, be he Apostle or not. And, as pointed out, the priesthood had been abolished by Christ and would only be re-instituted by later traditions of man - traditions taken from Roman Paganism.

| What is Confession? | Forgiveness According to Rome | Forgiveness According to God |

It's Your Choice!

Now that you understand the difference between God and Rome when it comes to the forgiveness of sins, you have a choice to make: follow Rome's endless and useless rules, or accept God's simple invitation. You can go directly to God, confess your sins, and be clean and free. It's really up to you. If you still have questions, click here to ask them.

| What is Confession? | Forgiveness According to Rome | Forgiveness According to God |

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Comments? Questions?

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QUESTION: Why does the Roman Catholic Church send you to everyone except Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins?	Your answer?
QUESTION: Is there a single Scripture that tells us to confess our sins to Mary, to Apostles, or to dead "saints?"	Your answer?
QUESTION: Did Jesus and the writers of the New Testament make a serious error by failing to instruct us to pray to Mary, to Apostles, or to dead "saints" to have our sins forgiven?	Your answer?
QUESTION: Who will you believe, God's Word or the Roman Catholic Church in this matter?	Your answer?

QUESTION: Did Jesus forgive the sins of the paralytic man and of the woman?	Yes	No
QUESTION: Did Jesus give either person some "penance" to perform?	Yes	No
QUESTION: Did Jesus remind either person that they had to "expiate" or pay the price for their own sins later, in a place called Purgatory?	Yes	No
QUESTION: Is there anything in these examples that even remotely hits at the sacrament of Penance (confession) as practiced by the Roman Catholic Church?	Yes	No
QUESTION: How could Jesus have overlooked such important things as penance, Purgatory and our need to pay for our own sins?	Your answer?
QUESTION: Is it possible that Jesus never mentioned these things because they are totally unnecessary?	Yes	No
QUESTION: Can you see how Rome's sacrament of Penance is a direct contradiction of the teaching and practice of Jesus?	Yes	No
QUESTION: Which do you choose to believe - Rome or Scripture?	Your answer?

QUESTION: Does the term penance appear anywhere in the Scriptures?	Yes Give examples	No
QUESTION: Do Jesus and Peter tell us that we must (1)Repent or (2)Do Penance to be forgiven of our sins?	Repent	Do Penance
QUESTION: Does Rome tell us that we must (1)Repent or (2)Do Penance to be forgiven of our sins?	Repent	Do Penance
QUESTION: Does Rome substitute the term penance in place of Scripture's repentance?	Yes	No
QUESTION: Who do you choose to believe - Rome or God's Word?	Rome	God's Word
QUESTION: In Scripture do we find any Apostle 'hearing' the confession of anyone in a private, secret manner as taught by Rome?	Yes Give Examples	No
QUESTION: In Scripture, do we find Jesus teaching that we must confess sins in a secret, private manner to an ordained Roman Catholic priest?	Yes Give Examples	No
QUESTION: Is there any Scripture that says that we must do penance (good works) to earn our own forgiveness of sins?	Yes Give examples	No
QUESTION: Is there any Scripture that tells us to confess our sins to God alone, and that we will be forgiven, completely, and without any 'residual' punishment to pay off after we die?	Yes	No
QUESTION: do you believe that the sacrifice of Jesus was sufficient to atone (pay the price for) our sins?	Yes	No
QUESTION: How does Rome justify her blatant contradiction of God's Word in this matter?	Your answer?