However the Bible states correctly in Bold Print below:

Mr. Weathers said:
[quote:1xt7yaey] I have a question about confession. It is my understanding that when we go to confession and confess our sins, we are forgiven. The priest usually tells me to say certain prayers or read from the bible certain passages, as my penance. I read yesterday, in one of the forums that God is going to hold us accountable for each sin we commit. That we would have to continue to repent for these sins even when we die. How is that? Am I not understanding something? I guess my question is, is our sin wiped away when we confess them? Do we start from that point on a clean slate, so to speak? And do we have to actually say outloud to the priest every sin we want to be forgiven for, or can a person be vague, such as (ex. I want to be forgiven for all of my sins, anyone I have hurt either knowingly or unknowingly? Another way to say that I guess would be, can we keep certain sins only in our hearts, between God and us? and still be forgiven?[/quote:1xt7yaey]_________________

To which Mr.Benedict answers:

To answer the questions specifically:

[quote:1xt7yaey]Quote:
I read yesterday, in one of the forums that God is going to hold us accountable for each sin we commit. That we would have to continue to repent for these sins even when we die. How is that?

This is incorrect as regards sins that have been absolved in confession. While we do need to make restitution through temporal punishment, there is no guilt to repent of after we are absolved. [/quote:1xt7yaey]
[b:1xt7yaey]Absolved in confession? No sir! Only God can forgive sins and that happens when the person accepts the free gift offered by Jesus’ death on the cross! Who says the priest has that power? John 20:23 does not say that, but since the disciples knew how one got saved, they could then tell those that theyed meet if their sins were or weren’t forgiven base upon what those people would be trusting in [/b:1xt7yaey]

Quote:
I guess my question is, is our sin wiped away when we confess them? Do we start from that point on a clean slate, so to speak?
[quote:1xt7yaey]
Yes. You are absolved of your sins. As far as the east is from the west, so has God removed you from your sins. [/quote:1xt7yaey]
[b:1xt7yaey]Talk about quoting out of context, Benedict! No one gets to Heaven until they understand that they would be cleaned when they washed in the blood of Jesus That alone saves anyone. (Hebrews 9:22)[/b:1xt7yaey]

[quote:1xt7yaey]Quote:
And do we have to actually say outloud to the priest every sin we want to be forgiven for, or can a person be vague

You must confess any and all mortal sins that you can remember. [/quote:1xt7yaey]
[b:1xt7yaey]Mortal sins? since when? REvalation 21:27 says NO imperfections enter and James 2:10 says “if you commit one you are guilty of all” James 5:16,17 is talking about physical death such as Paul mentioned in 1 Cor 11 (Or somewhere in there) and as Those two in Acts 5 dropped over for lying.[/b:1xt7yaey]

[quote:1xt7yaey][quote:1xt7yaey]Quote:
Another way to say that I guess would be, can we keep certain sins only in our hearts, between God and us? and still be forgiven?

Does that sound like confession to you? Me neither. If you intentionally withhold confessing a sin, you are certainly not absolved of it, and you may have sinned or even invalidated your confession in doing so.

If you honestly forget, you are forgiven. However, you are obligated to confess the sin the next time you are at confession. [/quote:1xt7yaey][/quote:1xt7yaey]

[b:1xt7yaey]So you think that going to a priest will absolve you? Sounds like a gospel of works and just ignore what Jesus did? I got news for you – Faith in what Jesus did is the only thing that washes away sins, not your going to a priest to have him “do his thing” [/b:1xt7yaey]
[b:1xt7yaey]
Makes me wonder what you fellows think Jesus accomplished at Calvary?
Isaiah 53:5 [color=red:1xt7yaey]- by HIS stripes we are healed[/color:1xt7yaey][/b:1xt7yaey]