I’ll use Psalms 8:1, 16:2, and 31:1-4
My Shepherd met me in His green pastures contemplating a question that was asked of me after church Wednesday: What do I say to a Catholic who believes he must confess his sins to a priest?
He laid me down in 1 Timothy 2:5, John 20:23, and Hebrews 7-9.
Along the still waters, I reflected on these passages.
1 Timothy 2:5 makes it clear that Jesus is the ONLY mediator between God and man. No Catholic Priest can insert himself between us and God as our mediator.
Catholics sometimes cite John 20:23 to claim that Jesus granted His disciples the power to remit (i.e., forgive) sins.
Jesus uses the same root word translated remit in John 20:23 and forgive in Mark 2:10. Does this mean Jesus gave to His apostles the power to forgive sin?
In Mark 2:7, the Pharisees asked, “Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only?” In Mark 2:10-11, Jesus replied, “But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (he saith to the sick of the palsy,) I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house.”
In John 20:23, Jesus tells the disciples that “whose soever sins ye remit (FORGIVE) they are remitted (FORGIVEN).” We can use the word forgive in place of remit since each is rooted in the same word, and both have that meaning. Remit points to the payment made for sin, and forgiveness points to the dismissal of the debt that has been paid by the remittance. (Subtle differences in the form of the words used directed the translators in which word to use.)
The word used in John 20:23 is ἀφίενται. The word used in Mark 2:7 is ἀφιέναι. The form of the words creates sublte distinctions. But both words come down to the same idea: Jesus said the Son of man can forgive sins, and told the discipes that whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted. The difference, however, is that the disciples may declare the remittance of Christ for the forgiveness of sins, but the remittance was the blood Christ shed on Calvary.
In Mark 2:10, we are told that the Son of man (Jesus Christ) hath “power (exousia=authority) to forgive sins.”
However, in John 20:23, the disciples are not told they have “authority” (power) to forgive men’s sins committed against GOD.
Jesus commanded us to forgive those who sin, or trespass, against us (Luke 17:3-4; see Matthew 6:14-15; 18:35; Mark 11:25-26). Therefore, it is clear that we have the power to forgive anyone’s sins committed against us, but we cannot forgive sins committed against GOD.
For example, I cannot forgive a sin someone else committed against you; I can only forgive sins committed against me. The power we have to forgive sins is limited to sins committed against us by others. Jesus is the only one with “authority” to forgive sins committed against God.
Our power to forgive others for their sins against us is real. This is seen in Matthew 18. When the church acts in assembly, rendering a judgment in the matter of an offense between brethren, God in Heaven binds or looses in response to the action of the assembly (Matthew 18:15-18). Paul warned the Corinthians believers to forgive the repentant member because failing to do so would give Satan an advantage over them:
2 Corinthians 2:10 To whom ye forgive any thing, I forgive also: for if I forgave any thing, to whom I forgave it, for your sakes forgave I it in the person of Christ;
2 Corinthians 2:11 Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.
Therefore, while we have power to forgive sins committed against us, and as an assembly, to forgive sins committed against the Body of Christ, we cannot discharge sins committed against God. That can only be done when we confess our sins to Christ (1 John 1:7-9). Notice, this passage says, if we confess our sins, He (GOD) is faithful and just to forgive!
Every believer is a priest, and Jeus is the only High Priest: Hebrews 7-9.
First, every believer is a priest unto God, commanded to present spiritual sacrifices:
Christ has made each of us a king and a priest unto God: Revelation 1:6 “And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.”
We are a holy priesthood, responsible to offer up spirituall sacrifices: 1 Peter 2:5 “Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
This is a royal priesthood: 1 Peter 2:9 “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light.”
Second, Christ is our only High Priest and it is through Him only that we have access to God.
Speaking of Jesus Christ: Hebrews 7:17 “For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.”
Christ is our High Priest, and His priesthood is greater than any other, and it is eternal: “Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless” (Hebrews 7:25-26).
Our Hight Priest sits on the right hand of the Majesty on High: “Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens; a minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man” (Hebrews 8:1-2).
Christ is our High Priest Whose Blood Atoned for Our Sins: “But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us” (Hebrews 9:11-12).
Therefore, He is our only Mediator: “And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance” (Hebrews 9:15). Note, He i “the mediator,” not “a mediator.”
Only Christ may enter into the holiest of all on our behalf: “And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance” (Hebrews 9:15).
Conclusion:
1. Every believer is a priest, there is no separate priesthood that presides over the Church or over Christ’s disciples.
2. Christ is the High Priest of this priesthood.
3. Christ Jesus our Lord is the only Mediator between man and GOD, and the only Person Who can wash our sins away.
In the valley, my High Priest, my Mediator, stood on my behalf before the Throne and acknowledged the witness of His Spirit in me crying, “Abba, Father” (Romans 8:15; Galatians 4:6). My Shepherd His call to all: “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me” (Luke 9:23).
He walked me to His table, and anointed my head with His oil and filled my cup with His grace. Goodness and mercy appeared behind me as we walked together into the harvest.
Praying for revival! 🙏
Going live asap:
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