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A LUTHERAN MINISTER, CATHOLIC PRIEST, OR JESUS CHRIST?
This question has surfaced numerous times down through the years. Two of the most prominent adherents to this position are the Evangelical Churches of America (ELCA) and the Romans Catholic Church. There are a few others, but these are the most influential in this practice. One must remember--when you have placed your confidence in any priest or minister as mediator between yourself and God, you have acknowledged them as being equal with Christ. You have then placed yourself in a position to be susceptible to any other false teaching that is presented. For any minister or priest to declare that you must go through him to obtain forgiveness of sins is ludicrous, apostate, and diametrically opposed to the Word of God. Let us examine the claims of both from their own writings, "Absolution and Penance."
The following is taken and quoted from the writings of the Evangelical Lutheran Synodical Conference of North America and published by the Concordia Publishing House in Saint Louis, Missouri.
The preacher says: "Do you promise that with the aid of the Holy Ghost you will henceforth amend your sinful life? Then declare by saying: I do promise."
The preachers says: "Finally, do you believe that THROUGH ME, a called servant of God, you will RECEIVE THE FORGIVENESS OF ALL YOUR SINS? Then declare so by saying: I do believe. As you believe, even so may it be unto you."
The preacher says: "Upon this your confession, I, BY VIRTUE OF MY OFFICE, AS A CALLED AND ORDAINED SERVANT OF THE LORD, announce the grace of God unto all of you, and in the stead and by the command of my Lord Jesus Christ I FORGIVE YOU ALL YOUR SINS in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost, Amen."
The question many have asked is, "Does the Lutheran preacher forgive his wife's sin also? Does he forgive his children's sins, and does he forgive HIS OWN?"
Similar ideas appear in almost all catholic literature describing Penance. The following quotes are from the Father Connell's Confraternity Edition, New Baltimore Catechism.
"Penance is also a sacrament instituted by Our Divine Savior in which sins committed after Baptism are forgiven through the absolution of the Priest."
"The Priest has the power to forgive sins from Jesus Christ, who said to His Apostles and to their successors in the priesthood: 'Receive the Holy Spirit; whose sins you shall forgive, they are forgiven them; whose sins you shall retain, they are attained." (John 20:22,23).
"No man, by his own power and authority, could possibly forgive sins. Only God can do that because sin is an offence against Him. BUT the priest, as God's representative, can forgive sins because God has given him the power to do so." (Matthew 18:15-18).
"Our Savior could indeed have decreed that men should receive the Pardon of their sins by going directly to God with contrition. BUT a sacrament, administered by men in the name of God, IS A MORE ASSURING AND A MORE EFFECTIVE MEANS."
"The power to forgive sins by pronouncing these words of absolution is given to the priest at his ordination. In order to exercise this power the priest must have jurisdiction, or be authorized to ACT AS A SPIRITUAL JUDGE OVER THE PERSONS HE ABSOLVES."
THE PRIEST FORGIVES SINS WITH THE WORDS: "I absolve thee from thy sins in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and the the Holy Ghost, Amen." One might notice under "b." that the Catholic Church acknowledges that no man has the power to forgive sins, but God only; they then transfer that power to their priests. The following Scriptures are used to support their position:
Christ performed hundreds of miracles, beginning with His first miracle of turning the water into wine in John 2:1-11. Not all miracles were recorded. John tells us in John 20:30,
The purpose of the miracles that are recorded, is given in verse 31.
In John 1:11 it is recorded that,
Christ declared to Israel that He was their Messiah (John 1:41), Saviour (Luke 2:11), Sin-bearer (Matthew 1:21), and King (Matthew 2:2); but the religious leaders wanted nothing to do with Him. In Hebrews 2:3,4 the Word of God declares,
In Matthew 9:1-8 Christ had healed a man sick of palsy (a paralytic) as proof that He had the power to forgive sins also. Anyone can say, I will forgive your sins, but the miracle of healing was "proof positive" that He was truly the Son of God! In Matthew 10:8, this power of healing and other miracles would also be given to the Twelve Apostles, and to The Seventy in Luke 10. As we are going to see from Scriptures, no human being was ever given the power to forgive sins. The message of the Twelve Apostles was that Christ was to bear our sin on the cross, and by the power given to them to perform miracles their message was substantiated as authentic. In Matthew 10 they were to go ONLY to the nation of Israel. In verses 6 and 7...
The power given them is recorded in verse 8...
Nowhere in Matthew, Chapter 10, do you find they were given power to forgive anyone's sins. Their message and commission was to preach that..."the kingdom of heaven is at hand."
The reason the Kingdom was "at hand"--the King was here. When any Jew believed this message their sins were forgiven. Matthew earlier stated in 1:21 that...
The Seventy in Luke 10 were given the same power to perform miracles (verses 9,17,19,20). Notice carefully, as you read Luke 10, NOWHERE do you find the Seventy being given the power to forgive sins. Their message to their own nation was that Jesus Christ was their Saviour and Messiah. "Dr. Luke" stated earlier in Luke 2:11,
Christ's crucifixion and resurrection was God's payment for our sins. Paul declared this in writing to the Ephesians...
Every minister that loves the Lord Jesus Christ will not draw attention to himself, let alone claim the power to forgive sin. He will declare as Paul did to the Corinthians in 1st Corinthians 2:2 and 1:31...
To the Seventy who preached Christ and Him crucified, the Lord said concerning their hearers in Luke 10:16...
Keep in mind, it was the message they preached that would be accepted or rejected. The message would save or condemn, and that God's Word is truth (John 17:17). Ezekiel stated that God's Word would be done; i.e., whatever God says He will back it up from Heaven...
The same guarantee of God backing up His Word from Heaven, is in Christ's Words to Peter in Matthew 16:19...
Vine's Expository Dictionary of Greek New Testament Words has this to say in reference to the Word "bind":
"The Lord's Words to the Apostle Peter in Matthew 16:19 as to binding, and to all the disciples in 18:18 signify, in the former case, that the Apostle, by his ministry of the Word of life, would keep unbelievers outside the kingdom of God; and admit those who believed."
The "keys" spoken of in Matthew 16:19 were first used by Peter on the day of Pentecost, as recorded in Acts 2. Nowhere did Peter or the Eleven ever even HINT that they could or would forgive anyone's sins! The whole chapter is a testimony concerning Christ, the resurrection and His forgiveness. Here are Peter's words in verse 21...
They were saved because of the Word of God Peter preached. They were then baptized as a public testimony of their faith. Notice Peter's Words in Acts 2:41...
Peter used the "keys" (symbolic of God's Word) again in Acts 10. God sent Peter to the Gentile named Cornelius, to show the Jews that the Gentiles could be saved also. Read Chapter 10 and nowhere do you find Peter EVER claiming the power to forgive anyone's sins. Peter directed the lost to Christ and Him alone. Here are Peter's Words in
Unlike Peter, some clergy, through pride, love to claim this power for themselves and love to mediate between God and man. In doing so they outright deny and resist God's Word. 1st Timothy blatantly declares
When God's servants preach His Word on earth, it will divide--those who believe it are saved and, those who do not are lost. His Word is so powerful it will divide as a sharp. two-edged sword (Hebrews 4:12). Isaiah 55:11 declares that His Word will not return unto Him void and empty. Those in Matthew 16:10 that are bound on earth are those who have believed the Word and are saved. They have the promises of the omniscient and omnipotent God, that in Heaven He will make good the promises that He gave on earth. The same goes for those who reject God's Word (John 3:36). Even though many do not believe in Christ, the Word of God or Hell, it will not alter God's faithfulness to His Word when He pronounces their end sentence in
Then they will realize that, not in all the New Testament nor in Peter's two epistles, was there the vestige, either claimed or exercised, of Peter forgiving anyone's sin. Who will you believe--man or God? Romans 3:4 makes it perfectly clear concerning God's Word...
John 20:23 is the verse relied upon as the strongest to support this position of the Lutherans and Roman Catholics. This they claim is their right and power given to them by God to forgive your sins.
To obtain the correct teaching of Verse 23, as any Bible student knows, you must compare all other Scriptures that pertain to the same subject or verse in question. When all Scriptures pertaining to the same subject AGREE, then you have the correct teaching of that subject or verse. If not, then you have a wrong interpretation or application of the verse or subject in question. This would then lead to a false teaching perpetuated upon the unsuspecting congregation. Since all Scripture is given by "inspiration of God" (2nd Timothy 3:16), there can be no error or contradiction in God's Word. This is why Peter declared in
The Word "prophesy" is the Greek "propheteia" and defined by Vine's Expository Dictionary of Greek New Testament Words:
"Signifies the speaking forth of the mind and counsel of God. Though much of the Old Testament prophecy was purely predictive, it is the declaration of that which cannot be known by natural means. It is the FORTH-TELLING OF THE WILL OF GOD, WHETHER WITH REFERENCE TO THE PAST, THE PRESENT, OR THE FUTURE."
This does not mean that one cannot understand the Scriptures for themselves. It does warn against anyone building a doctrine on one, isolated, verse without comparing all other verses on the same subject. This is why the Holy Spirit inspired Paul in his second epistle to Timothy, verse 2:15, to emphasize the value of studying the Word of God for yourself.
Rightly dividing comes from the Greek Word "orthotom" and means "teaching Scripture accurately." Our study thus far has shown that only God, Who is Christ in human flesh, can forgive sins. Now let us compare John 20:23 with some other Scriptures concerning forgiveness of sins, and a preacher or priest trying to place himself as mediator and intercessor between God and man.
A mediator is one who goes between God and man. There have been and still are myriads of men, either claiming they are the Christ, or that they possess special powers above others in order to be man's representative to God. Maybe you are one who actually believes your minister or priest can forgive your sins; thereby instilling in you the confidence that you are now ready for eternity. Let us examine the BIBLE and see if you have been misled or if their claims are substantiated. Here is God's Word on the subject...
One would have to outright deny the Word of God and call Jesus Christ a liar by not acknowledging that Christ, and He alone, is the only One Who can forgive our sins. Isaiah 53:5,6 describes the lost condition of man and what our Wonderful Saviour did for us. No wonder He is a jealous God!
The only One who can forgive sins is the One Who paid for our sins and that is Jesus Christ. The only true and absolute peace a person can posses concerning eternal life comes from Jesus Christ and His payment for sin. Paul makes this perfectly clear in
Scriptures are vouchsafed in plenty for those who have a sincere desire to know the truth. Tradition has propagated upon humanity, the most dastardly evil employed by some of the clergy to convince the unsuspecting that they have the power of Jesus Christ to forgive your sins. The following Scriptures will unmask the veil of error and illuminate the truth of God's Word:
(I don't see anything in this verse that indicates the priest or minister is the one who takes away sin).
This is what every Lutheran minister and Catholic priest should be preaching; i.e., that through Jesus Christ, and Him alone, is the forgiveness of sin. Our question is, and should be yours also, why are they not directing their parishioners to Christ instead of themselves? I, personally, have asked hundreds of people belonging to these two organizations to question their minister or priest, asking them why they cannot go directly to Jesus Christ for forgiveness? Most often their answer is, "I wouldn't dare do something like that." My reply, "Why not, are you scared to? You have a right to question your pastor or priest on ANYTHING they teach."
Sad to say, the clergy of these organizations have almost promoted themselves to the level of a god in the eyes of their people, a practice so entrenched that it would be a "sin" to question their authority! We find the prophet, Jeremiah, experienced the same problem, so nothing has changed in over 2,500 years!
(Please note: By believing in Jesus Christ, we are justified.)
Remember--nowhere in the New Testament can you find one case where any of the Apostles ever forgave anyone's sin. They always pointed their listeners to Jesus Christ. If not one of the Apostles ever made that claim, then those today claiming that power have placed themselves above the Apostles, and equal with Jesus Christ Himself.
In verse 48, Christ assures this woman her sins have been forgiven:
In verse 50 the Lord gives the reason the woman's sins were forgiven. It is on the same basis that our sins are forgiven, our FAITH IN HIM, and not in a minister or priest. No priest or minister ever died for your sins, but Christ did.
The Lord Jesus Christ forgave sins while He was on the earth, and is still the only One Who can forgive sins today. Every preacher and priest is a sinner themselves, and needs forgiveness. Notice God's indictment on mankind in
My Bible says "ALL have sinned"; and I cannot find where it says, "ALL, but preachers and priests." "Coming short of the glory of God" literally means falling short of being as righteous as God, Himself. Therefore, Romans 3:24,25 tell us how and why we have remission of sins...
Where do you find anything about a minister or priest being able to remit your sins? Ask your minister or priest if they are trusting Jesus Christ as the payment for their sin. The clergy go to Heaven the same way the congregation does; that is through Christ and Him alone. If the answer is "Yes," then ask them why you cannot go directly to Christ the same as they?
The only One Who can forgive sin is the One Who is sinless. 2nd Corinthians declares that Christ was without sin...
Would any minister or priest dare to claim they are sinless? Remember, only the One Who is without sin can forgive those who are sinners, and that is Christ Jesus. By making the claim they can forgive sins, they are actually placing themselves on equality with Christ and being sinless themselves. I personally, have talked to many and all deny they are sinners, but become a little offended that one should question their self-appointed authority. Even though they deny this, their solicitation for sinners to come to them for forgiveness is an indictment against themselves by their own WORD AND PRACTICE.
The first chapter of 1st John is written to Christians who sin AFTER they are saved. John is addressing the Christian's service--not salvation. His fellowship with Him and not his Son-ship. His power for Christ as a witness--not his position with Christ in Heaven. Let us closely analyze what the preceding verses actually say.
Who are we to confess sins to? Answer: Jesus Christ.
Who is faithful to forgive our sins? Answer: Jesus Christ.
Who is able to cleanse us from all unrighteousness? Answer: Jesus Christ.
Should any Lutheran minister or priest even hint that they, themselves, are without sin, God says they are SELF DECEIVED (v.8), and make God a liar (v.10).
I have been a pastor for 34 years and it is beyond my comprehension to even think I could forgive someone's sins. What a blessing it has been and still is to direct people to our Wonderful Saviour, Who will forgive any and all sins. John 6:37 declares,
There are multitudes of Scriptures in addition to what we have already quoted. Isaiah 43:25; 44:22; 53:5,6; Micah 7:18,19; Exodus 34:7; Daniel 9:17-19; and Psalm 130:1-4, could have been quoted, as well as many, many others.
What follows in an examination of the verse most commonly used by Lutheran ministers and Catholic priests to justify their "power" in claiming they can forgive your sins. By this, they place themselves as the mediator between you and God.
As we compare other verses with John 20:23, we can easily see the only way a Christian, clergy, or layman, can remit sins is by presenting the WORD OF GOD. The Word will judge those who reject it, as Christ stated in
Psalm 138:2 relates how important the Word of God is:
The reason the WORD is magnified above His name is that we today would not know the surety of God or His name, if it weren't for the WORD OF GOD.
When a Christian witnesses to a lost person with the WORD of God, as recorded in John 3:16 and 36, that person then has a choice to make. If they accept Christ, they have everlasting life. Should they reject Christ until death, they will then experience the wrath of God in Hell, just as the Word of God has stated in
When one believes God's WORD, their sins are then remitted, not by the preacher or priest, but by the WORD OF GOD which promises them eternal life. Should they reject God's WORD, they will retain their sin. Only by presenting God's Word as a faithful witness for Christ, do we have a part in another person's salvation. This is what Christ meant in John 20:23 when He told His disciples that...
The Greek Word for "remit" is "aphiemi" and literally means "to send away." Vine's Expository Words in the Greek New Testament explains the use of this verb as such.
"Scripture makes clear that the Lord's Words could not have been intended to bestow the exercise of absolution which the Scripture declares is the prerogative of God alone. There is no instance in the New Testament of this act on the part of the Apostles. The Words are to be understood in a "declarative" sense; the statement has regard to the effects of their ministry of the gospel, with it's two-fold effects of remission or retention."
Search the New Testament through and you will not find where any of the Apostles ever claimed the power or authority to forgive anyone's sins. The Apostles always directed the Lost to Christ, and Him alone, as the One Who paid for sin and offers forgiveness to all in return for their faith.
Fact: The minister or priest who asks you to trust him as God's representative to forgive your sins has placed himself as mediator between you and God. God's Word in 1st Timothy 2:5 states, in no uncertain Words...
If you are one who is trusting the Lutheran preacher or Catholic priest to forgive sins, instead of Jesus Christ, you will spend eternity separated from God. Christ encountered these same types of religious leaders in His day and levied a stern rebuke against them. Consider
An analysis of this verse will show the strength of Christ's Words against these RELIGIOUS LEADERS:
The Scribes. In New Testament times the Scribes were the students, interpreters, and teachers of the Old Testament Scriptures, and were held in high esteem by the people.
They were also called lawyers in Matthew 22:35. They were avowed opponents of Christ, and were publickly denounced by Him for making the Word of God of none effect through their tradition.
Pharisees. The name means "separated" and they were called "separatists" because they had separated themselves from the ambitious political party in their nation. They were the exponents and guardians of the written and oral law, and, in belief, were the "conservatives" in distinction from the Sadducees. Their religious orthodoxy was spiritually dead and barren. These were the religious leaders--just as you have today!
Christ called the Scribes and Pharisees "Hypocrites" because they were aware that what they were teaching the people was not true. Christ knew this and that is why He labeled them correctly. Your minister may appear to be very humble and sincere on the surface, but when he tells you that he can forgive your sins, his true character is then exposed. Christ had this to say in
If you believe the false teaching of today's modern "scribes and pharisees," you will not enter the Kingdom of Heaven.
These false teachers are not saved and will not enter the Kingdom of Heaven, but Hell awaits their entry.
Who do these ministers and priests confess their sins to? Do they forgive themselves? Have you ever heard one of these clergymen telling their congregation who they profess their sins to? If you support these churches with your money, you surely have a right to know how the Lutheran ministers or Catholic priests get their sins forgiven. Why not ask them?
Have they presented themselves to you as being without sin? I should hope not, but if that is the case with some, then, according to 1st John 1:8, God would indict them with "First Degree LYING."
In Luke 23:43, it was Jesus Christ Who forgave the thief on the cross next to Him. He didn't call for the religious leaders or the priest, did he? Only Christ could assure this thief that his sins were forgiven and give him the absolute assurance that "TODAY SHALT THOU BE WITH ME IN PARADISE." Who are you going to trust for your salvation, the Lutheran minister, the Catholic priest, or JESUS CHRIST?
For the ministers and priests who assume the power to forgive your sins by claiming Matthew 9:8...why do they not claim and practice the power God gave the Apostles in Matthew 10:8? "Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, RAISE THE DEAD, cast out devils (demons): freely ye have received, freely give."
As Christ stated in
If these Lutheran ministers and Catholic priests can legitimately forgive your sins, let us see proof of their claim such as: (a.) healing the sick, (b.) cleansing lepers, (c.) RAISING THE DEAD!
Notice the paradox. The Apostles had and exercised the powers given them by Christ in Matthew 10:8; but, NEVER claimed to possess the power to forgive anyone's sin. The Lutheran and Catholic clergy claim the power to forgive your sins; yet, are unable to exercise the power to heal the sick, raise the dead, etc. If they posses the power the Apostles had, let us take them to the nearest hospital and let us witness the healing of every person in that hospital. If they fail, you have exposed a false teacher who pretends to be humble, pious, loving God and etc. This would all be so convincing until compared with the Word of God. Again, may I submit, IT IS MUCH EASIER TO SAY TO SOMEONE, "I forgive your sins" than to say "Arise and walk." Put them to the test and you will find their claims and teaching to be fraudulent.
Whether in the secular or ecclesiastical arena, men have always craved to have power over others. Christ indicted the religious leaders for their pride. Here are Christ's Words in
There is only one Person Who can forgive your sin. There is only one Person Who paid for your sin. There is only one Person Who is your Mediator, and there is only one Person Who can give you eternal life. That Person is the LORD JESUS CHRIST. Whether you go to Heaven or Hell depends on who you want to believe, the Lutheran preacher, the Catholic priest, or THE LORD JESUS CHRIST.
Personally, if I was visiting a church where the preacher got up and stated he would forgive my sins, I would get up and walk out immediately. I would not subject myself or my family to that type of brainwashing; but would find myself a good, Bible-teaching church where Jesus was exalted--not the preacher!
Our prayer is that you will accept the Lord Jesus Christ as your personal Saviour, and have the peace and assurance that you have a home in Heaven when life is through.