Re: The Mark of the Beast
Posted: Wed Oct 28, 2015 6:31 am
Paul wrote:
Again, in regards to confession, nowhere do you read the words of jesus stating that we MUST confess our sins to anyone other than Him and Our Father.
1 John 1:9ES replied ... again ...
If you believe the bible is the word of God then it should not matter if it is God Himself or the ones He has chosen and utilizes for salvation, who speak of confession...
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Acts 19:18
Many also of those who had believed kept coming, confessing and disclosing their practices.
James 5:16
Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.
Proverbs 28:13
He who conceals his transgressions will not prosper,But he who confesses and forsakes them will find compassion.
2 Peter 3:9
The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.
Acts 17:30
The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent,
Do these verses seem implied to you ? They explicitly use the word confession or repentance (external acknowledgement of sin + remorse = confession). Does that satisfy ? IDK i really don't. I don't know what you believe these verses say. They aren't the words of Christ but are from the chosen ones who should be inspired (or they wouldn't be in the book) by God. Do you trust these words as you say or not ?
Paul wrote:
in regards to public mass, Christ was very critical of it
http://biblehub.com/commentaries/matthew/6-5.htmES, Christ can be critical of something as he was with the way public masses were going ( and still go to this day) and NOT be against them.
To be critical of something doesn't mean you disagree with it;s meaning BUT how it is being done.
Jesus being critical of mass in His time is echoed by many in our time.
There are a half dozen commentaries on this verse Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers, Benson Commentary, Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary, Barnes' Notes on the Bible, Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary and Pulpit Commentary there are more if you like and not one of them sees Christ criticize the mass, only the way some people present themselves during the mass. You have skewed the basic intent and manipulated the words to reach your conclusion. Christ has a critical eye on the pseudo believer with all their pretense, but not issued a word against the assembly for public mass, as you want. You'll need to come up with another verse for proof Christ was critical of the mass and not the people involved.
Either do I. We do pray/ask forgiveness to Christ every time we go to confession ... directly through the priest who has the same priestly relationship as a mediator of Christ. Exactly as the priestly class of Jews would be used for atonement to God for sins of the ancient Jew.Paul wrote:
I do not confess to anyone other than Him.
agreed, this is a good verse ... see how St.James separates illnesses for healing.Paul supplied:
13 Is anyone among you suffering? Then he must pray. Is anyone cheerful? He is to sing praises. 14 Is anyone among you sick? Then he must call for the elders of the church and they are to pray over him, [k]anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; 15 and the prayer [l]offered in faith will [m]restore the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up, and if he has committed sins, [n]they will be forgiven him. 16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective [o]prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.
When it comes to one “suffering;” St. James says, “Let him pray.” “Is any cheerful? Let him sing praise.” But when it comes to sickness and personal sins, he tells his readers they must go to the “elders”—not just anyone—in order to receive this “anointing” and the forgiveness of sins. Hebrews 7:23. It explicitly says to go to the elders for anointing and forgiveness of sin. It explicitly calls out for a specific ( if he has committed sins) remedy for this specific illness (sin)... go to the elders, the priestly, best versed of the community for reparation and wellness with God through those elders.
"The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much." The effective prayer of many righteous within the collected community can do more. Come to my church and see.