Can anyone please help me with this - Catholic questions

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Christisking Feb 23, 2006

Hi everyone,My wife and I have been witnessing to a Catholic in a friendly and loving, yet firm, unwavering, open dialog type of format - at fist in person, now mostly over email. Here are a few questions I received in my email today. These questions seem kind of odd to me - maybe some ex-Catholics out there could help.Anyone to willing to help answering these questions would be greatly appreciated - especially with specific Scriptures.Catholic Questions????One thought that you brought up was going to a priest for confession. How do you interrupt when Jesus gave the apostles the power to forgive man’s sins? He said to Peter that whatever you bind on earth that I bind in heaven? Was it just for Peter? And giving the apostles the power to heal? I view the priests like the apostles – continuing to work in Jesus’s name. When the apostles died, didn’t that teach their students to go and do the same – otherwise passing down their teachings and tradition? How else would we have gotten the Bible if things were not passed down and eventually recorded?Thanks

sermonindex Feb 24, 2006

Hi Patrick,I can give you a website with info and links. http://www.bereanbeacon.org/this is one link from there ..http://www.whateverycatholicshouldknow.com

sermonindex Feb 24, 2006

On the above Berean Beacon site, on top hit "Articles" ... that is where I found this one for your question ...http://www.bereanbeacon.org/articles_pdf/forgiveness_through_priest.pdf

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GaryE Feb 24, 2006

Dear Christisking,My understanding is that binding and loosing and also the verses that talk about retaining and remitting sins, are speaking about the God given authourity to declare what is sin and what is not sin. As a believer, you have this authority. You are part of a royal priesthood.In Christ,GaryE

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InTheLight Feb 24, 2006

It's interesting that the Bible does mention confessing faults to one another in James...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. (James 5:16)But according to this verse the priest should also confess to the parishoner, does the Catholic church do this?In Christ,Ron

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Greenquality Feb 24, 2006

I think the main Question is not asked directly,but objectivly about Holy tradition of scripture.and what is your authority to interpret scripture,by what mean,s.

sermonindex Feb 24, 2006

off the top of my head and I would have to look for the scriptures, but I believe it is in Hebrews that it states we are all priests and priesteses and we all have access to the throne and Jesus is our high priest and advocit(lawyer). This confession thing all started in ancient Babylon so that they could keep an eye on what was going on in the Empire. Is'nt that wonderful, we all have access to the throne. WOW!!!!!!!! :-P That brings great joy to my heart. We have direct fellowship with God. MAN!!!! that just hit me like a ton of bricks. I think I'm about to have a spell. GLORY TO GOD!!! HE HAS RENT THE VAIL!!!!GLORY!!!!!OOOOOOH I love him!!! OHHH what a saviour is mine!!!! :-P

sermonindex Feb 24, 2006

Hi Christisking: maybe some of these verses can help. THE VERSES BELOW TEACH US THAT ALL BELIEVERS MAKE UP A ROYAL PRIESTHOOD, LED BY THE HIGH PRIEST CHRIST JESUS, WITH PERSONAL ACCESS TO THE THRONE OF GRACE WHEN WE PRAY! Hebrews 4:11-1611. Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief. 12. For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. 13. Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do. 14. Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. 15. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. 16. LET US (BELIEVERS) THEREFORE COME BOLDLY UNTO THE THRONE OF GRACE, THAT WE MAY OBTAIN MERCY, AND FIND GRACE TO HELP IN TIME OF NEED.1 Peter 2:1. Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, 2. As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: 3. If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious. 4. To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, 5. Ye (BELIEVERS) also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an HOLY PRIESTHOOD, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. 6. Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.1 Peter 2:9-10 tells us that all believers are Priests!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; 10. Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.God bless,Stever

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philologos Feb 24, 2006

“...Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us, and has washed us from our sins in his blood, and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father: to him [be] the glory and the might to the ages of ages. Amen.” (Rev 1:5-6 DRBY)The tenses are interesting... he (still) loves us and has (already) washed us from our sins in his blood and made us (already) a kingdom, priest to his God and Father...Peter's distinction is interesting too in that he refers to “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:” (1Pet 2:9 KJVS) Israel never had a 'royal' priesthood. In fact, kings were from Judah and the priests from Levi. There are only two 'royal priests' in the scriptures, Melchizedek and Christ, but just as Israel's High Priest served in company with his family, so does Christ and His church. “For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren, Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee. And again, I will put my trust in him. And again, Behold I and the children which God hath given me. ” (Heb 2:10-13 KJVS)This is our heavenly 'Aaron' serving God in the company of his 'sons'.

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jimbob Feb 24, 2006

Christisking,Just curious when you say you are "witnessing" to a Catholic friend, are you "being a witness" or are you "doing witnessing"?I think the whole "priest" issue is rather a side show and not an issue of salvation in the big picture. What I mean is has your friend really heard the Gospel before?Isn't a life lived in vital union with Christ salvation? Are you demonstrating that to your friend?I'm a Lutheran by confession and confirmation, and I'm Anglo Catholic in practise, priesthoods and albs are all window dressing and the true Christians that belong to these denominations know as much. Modes of baptism, use of the Lords Supper, Priesthood etc., are topics to discuss among those who are already saved, but the real question is do we know (by relationship) Christ?