Expert: Joe Norman - 2/15/2011

Question
Joe,

I was in a discussion with a coworker about folks who go to a priest for confession. He thought it was strange that we don't do it and asked how are we forgiven for our sins if we don't confess? I explained that we go to God in prayer. It was a very generic and plain answer because I wasn't prepared for it plus I have no idea what scriptures to use to support it.
I'm wondering if you could help me understand first of all why people feel it is ok to go to a priest to receive forgiveness and secondly what scriptures can I use as discussion topics with my coworker.

Rob

Answer
Hi Rob,

I do appreciate you asking me this question. I will be more than happy to assist you too. This is one of the reasons I am on this site...to help others like you to understand God's Word and equip you to teach others the truth. Here are some passages for you to share with your coworker.

First I would tell your coworker that there is not one verse in the New Testament which shows anyone going to a priest to confess their sins. No one even went to an apostle to confess their sins. In James we do see instruction regarding confessing trespasses.

James 5:16 Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.

Then we have a passage in I John.

1 John 1:9,10
9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.

Now also it is important to point your friend to certain passages in Hebrews because one main point that is made there is that Jesus is our only high priest. It also explains how under the Old Covenant man could not go directly to God to ask forgiveness. Man relied on the high priest.

Heb.4:15,16
15 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

I recommend you also study chapter 5 in it's entirety as well and you should be able to determine which parts of that chapter will be helpful to you in your study with your coworker. But the entire chapter helps explain the change from the Old Covenant priesthood system to the New Covenant where Jesus is our permanent high priest.

What might be most beneficial is to carefully study the entire book of Hebrews. There is just so much in the entire book which can help you in your study with your coworker. Consider using this passage as well at the end of Hebrews 7.

Heb.7:26-28
26 For such a High Priest was fitting for us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and has become higher than the heavens; 27 who does not need daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the people's, for this He did once for all when He offered up Himself. 28 For the law appoints as high priests men who have weakness, but the word of the oath, which came after the law, appoints the Son who has been perfected forever.

Another passage which might help you in your study with your coworker is found in I Timothy.

1 Tim.2:5,6
5 For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time,

We have ONE mediator between us and God...Jesus Christ.

Here is a passage which shows we speak to God directly in prayer. Of course Jesus is our mediator as we saw in a previous passage above.

Philippians 4:6  Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;

There are other passages as well. In Acts, Peter rebukes Simon the sorcerer.

Acts 8:20-23
20 But Peter said to him, "Your money perish with you, because you thought that the gift of God could be purchased with money! 21 You have neither part nor portion in this matter, for your heart is not right in the sight of God. 22 Repent therefore of this your wickedness, and pray God if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you. 23 For I see that you are poisoned by bitterness and bound by iniquity."

Now in verse 24 Simon does ask Peter to pray to God on his behalf, but the point is Peter told Simon to pray to God for forgiveness himself. This is only possible under the New Covenant because Jesus mediates on our behalf when we pray.

We are able to pray to God openly and directly to God because of Jesus' sacrifice on the cross and being raised again to become our high priest forever. I do hope that this has been helpful to you. If you need something more let me know and I may be able to put something together which may be more helpful to you.

In Christian Love, Joe Norman