FORGIVENESS CONTROVERSY

Colossians 2:13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses

1. DIFFERENT TEACHINGS

a) You have to confess your sins to the priest – Biblical support from the OT and MMLJ

b) You have to confess your sins to God – 1John 1:9

c) There is an unforgivable sin – Matt 12:31-32….. What about Matt 6:14-15?

d) Forgiven of all sin – Found in Paul’s epistles (Eph, Col)

2. CONFESSING SINS TO A PRIEST

a) This is the Catholic teaching, they do have scriptural support.

b) Baptism for past sins – Acts 2:38. Penance after baptism.

c) A pattern seen in the OT – Lev 4:20, 5:5-10.

d) The Son of God had power to forgive sins – Matt 9:6…. And gave this power to men? – vs 7-8.

e) He gave the power to the apostles to carry on his commission – Matt 28:18-20, John 17:18 20:21.

f) John 20:21-23 Is clear – Matt 16:18-19.

g) The issue is that all of the scriptural support for the Catholic teaching comes from books of the Bible containing doctrine for the circumcision under the law/covenants – Rom 6:14,15:8

3. CONFESSING SINS TO GOD

a) This is the teaching of most protestants, you must repent and confess your sins for forgiveness.

b) It’s main support from scripture is found in 1John 1:9

c) David is seen as a pattern – Psalm 32:1-5, Psalm 51:1-3

d) Jesus is our priest – Heb 3:1, 4:14-15, 8:1 9:11,

e) The issue is that you could have unconfessed sin when you die. Therefore, unforgiven sins.

4. THE UNFORGIVABLE SINS

a) Found in Matthew and Mark – Matt 12:31-32, Mark 3:27-30.

b) You would think killing the Son of God would be unforgiveable…but – Luke 23:33-34

c) The context of Matt 12 and Mark 3 you have Scribes and Pharisees attributing Christ work to the devil – Matt 12:22-32, Mark 3:22-30

d) It concerns the work of the Holy Ghost.

e) “the world to come” – The world to come concerns the kingdom – Heb 2:5, Heb 6:4-8.

i. You do not taste of the Holy Ghost but are sealed – 2Cor 1:22, Eph 1:13, 4:30.

f) One you don’t hear talked about - Matt 6:14-15

g) Forgive or you won’t be forgiven – Matt 18:21-35.

i. This teaching clearly contradicts Eph 4:32.

h) People say unbelief is the only unforgiveable sin…but – 1Tim 1:12-16. We were all in unbelief at some point and time, yet we are forgiven – 1Cor 6:11, Eph 2:1-3, Col 1:21-22,

5. FORGIVEN OF ALL SIN

a) Only found in Paul’s epistles – Eph 1:7, 4:32, Col 1:14, 2:13.

b) Because God is offering reconciliation today – 2Cor 5:18-21, Eph 2:13-16

c) Forgiven for Christ sake, not because you asked or are special - Eph 4:32.

d) Grace abounds over sin today – Rom 5:20-21.