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Confession to Priests
Matt,
I would like to start with the subject of "confession" since that is a mutual point. I would like to start by using scripture and commentary along with it.
1: Timothy
For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
I realize that you cannot use one scripture to make a doctrine and I intend to use many others to corroborate the point I am making. It is clear from this verse however that there is only ONE mediator between God and men and it is Jesus. If there were any other teaching implying that we needed another mediator and it should be a man, I would think that it would be clearly stated in scripture. I know of no scripture that instructs us to go through a man to access God for forgiveness of sins. Even in Judaism, the priest only offered the sacrifices that were brought to them, but it was each individual's responsibility to seek repentance from God themselves.
It started in the Garden when God desired that personal relationship with man and had exactly that until sin caused a barrier. A covering was needed for sin and God caused a sacrifice to be made for something to cover them. Blood from an animal was shed to cover sin but was never intended to "take" it away and the Bible verifies this:
Heb:10:4: For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.
However, the blood of Christ is sufficient to take away sins forever. So what the priest were insufficient at accomplishing through offering the animals blood Jesus accomplished Himself as scripture attests:
Heb: 9
22: And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.
23: It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.
24: For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:
25: Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others;
26: For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.
Heb:10:
10: By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
11: And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins:
12: But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;
13: From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.
14: For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.
It is clear through these scriptures that Jesus made a new way for believers to access God and proved that this particular office of the priest was no longer needed. We now do not need to go through a priest but can go directly to God as scripture indicates:
Heb. 10:
19: Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,
20: By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;
21: And having an high priest over the house of God;
22: Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.
Mt:7:7: Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:
Mt:7:8: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
Lk:11:9: And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.
Lk:11:10: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
Jesus said, "Come unto me", Matt. 11:28, not "go to Peter or some priest".
The scriptures clearly indicate that we are to go directly to God and that there is no need for a priest to be mediator for us. Look at the following:
1 John 1:
9: If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
It does not say that "if we go to a priest and confess our sins." Who should we listen to the priest or catholic church or what Jesus says?
This is what Jesus says:
Jn:14:13: And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
Jn:14:14: If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.
Jn:15:7: If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
Jn:15:16: Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.
Jn:16:23: And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you.
Jesus makes no mention of going to a priest to gain access to God. One of the very reasons the Jewish leaders were so opposed to Jesus and His teaching was because He was teaching things that they considered contrary to the law. It was contrary to the law in what they knew, but they were not recognizing the fact that this was the Messiah and He was about to make a New law. The new law allowed man the renewed immediate access to God through His blood as was the case in the Garden. This was the desire of God from the beginning. Jesus done away with the veil in the Temple that was keeping everyone from coming into the presence of God. Now that way was opened by Jesus' sacrifice and Jesus made it much simpler than going through all the rituals of the Old Law. Now you simply accessed God through Jesus because His sacrifice made that way possible.
In fact God says that we are all priests unto Him through what Jesus' sacrifice.
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.
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.
7: Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner,
8: And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.
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:
It is clear by verse 9 that anyone that has been called out of darkness into the light is part of this royal priesthood.
Revelation 1:
4: John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne;
5: And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,
6: And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
Rv:5:10: And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.
Rv:20:6: Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
I find it quite interesting that nowhere in the New Testament is the word "priest" used to describe an office of the Body of Christ. In fact look at the following:
1 Corinthians 12:
4: Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.
5: And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord.
6: And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.
7: But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.
8: For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;
9: To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;
10: To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:
11: But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.
The nine gifts of the Spirit fail to mention a gift of being able to forgive someone else's sin or even the ability to be the mediator for those sins.
27: Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.
28: And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.
29: Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles?
30: Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?
31: But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.
Here Paul lists five areas used in the ministry of the church and none list the office of "priest."
Ephesians 4:
11: And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
12: For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
If there is a place in the New Testament that speaks of the office of a "priest" it is always referring to the Jewish leadership and the office that was established under the Old Law. That is why I find it strange that the catholic church seems insistent upon using this term (much like being called "father"). It appears that catholic tendencies are to continue practicing the Old Law and it's traditions and rituals. If you look at the robes the priests wear imitating that of the Old Testament priest, along with the other rituals they follow it is hard to see the difference. This is exactly what Jesus was trying to explain to them and show them and they refused to see it and were very opposed to Him and His words.
2 Corinthians 11:
1: Would to God ye could bear with me a little in my folly: and indeed bear with me.
2: For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.
3: But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.
I believe that Jesus wanted to make it simple and that it was never intended to be a tradition and ritual consumed church. That process was already in place and if He were not trying to change any of the customs or traditions then the Jewish leaders would not have wanted Him dead. In fact, they even indicated that this was the reason they were so willing to have Him killed.
I have used many scriptures to make my point and I hope that you will do the same.
In Christ, Adam
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