Mr. Weathers writes:

[quote:30435hsc]What is confession?[/quote:30435hsc]
and gives the Catholic view as follows

[quote:30435hsc]Confession has two parts.First,that we confess our sins,and
second, that we receive absolution, that is, forgiveness, from the
pastor as from God Himself,not doubting, but firmly believing
that by it our sins are forgiven before God in heaven.[/quote:30435hsc]
The first is Biblical but not the second part as no one can forgive sins but God!
[quote:30435hsc]
1 It is hard to say,”I was wrong. I am sorry. Forgive me.”
God’s Word makes it clear that the “wages of sin is death”
(Rom.6:23).[/quote:30435hsc]
Yes and the Bible is clear that there is only one solution for sins – trusting what Jesus did at Calvary alone takes away sins!

[quote:30435hsc]In confession and absolution,God’s Word is having
its way with us,moving us to confess the truth about ourselves
and our need for His forgiveness. [/quote:30435hsc]
To confess our ned for forgiveness is Biblical, but not to a priest because Jesus is our High Priest – He did away with the sacramental priesthood 2000 years ago – Hebrews 7:23-27 says [i:30435hsc][color=red:30435hsc]23 Also there were many priests, because they were prevented by death from continuing. 24 But He, because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood. 25 Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.
26 For such a High Priest was fitting for us, who isholy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and has become higher than the heavens; 27 who does not need daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the people’s, for this He did once for all when He offered up Himself.[/color:30435hsc][/i:30435hsc]

[quote:30435hsc]Because of Jesus Christ, confession and absolution is a
blessed, joyful,happy exchange! “For our sake He made Him to
be sin,who knew no sin,so that in Him we might become the
righteousness of God”(2 Cor. 5:21).When Jesus hung on the
cross,He became sin for us.He was the ransom for sin.God
poured out His just wrath on Christ.Christ won peace between
God and man.[/quote:30435hsc]
That us correct, but how do you then explain it as to be? –
[quote:30435hsc]
In confession,Christ takes the burden of our sin
and gives us in exchange His complete forgiveness and love. [/quote:30435hsc]
this would happen only by accepting what He did at Calvary not by your act of going to a priest for Scriptures tell us clearly – Titus 3:5 –
[i:30435hsc][color=red:30435hsc] [b:30435hsc][u:30435hsc]not by works of righteousness which we have done[/u:30435hsc][/b:30435hsc], but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit,[/color:30435hsc][/i:30435hsc]
[quote:30435hsc]
Absolution is the ongoing work of Holy Baptism,in which
our old,sinful nature in Adam is drowned and the new man in
Christ arises.[/quote:30435hsc]
Again you think a sacrament cleanses you instead of what Jesus did?
[quote:30435hsc]
Through Holy Absolution we receive “the gift of
God,”which is forgiveness of sins and “eternal life in Christ
Jesus our Lord”(Rom.6:23). [/quote:30435hsc]
Yes but only by trusting in what He “finished” on the cross, not by your sacraments!
[quote:30435hsc]
What sins should we confess?
Before God we should plead guilty of all sins, even those we
are not aware of,as we do in the Lord’s Prayer; but before the pastor
we should confess only those sins which we know and feel in
our hearts.[/quote:30435hsc]
How about reading what is sinful as in 1 Cotrinthians 6:0+10 and Ephesians 5:3-5?
[quote:30435hsc]Which are these? Consider your place in life according
to the Ten Commandments:Are you a father,mother, son,
daughter,husband,wife,or worker? Have you been disobedient,
unfaithful,or lazy? Have you been hot-tempered, rude,or quarrelsome?
Have you hurt someone by your words or deeds? Have
you stolen,been negligent,wasted anything or done any harm? [/quote:30435hsc]
and don’t forget praying to Mary or any one but Jesus is idolatry
[quote:30435hsc]
Confessing our sins in the Divine Service, we hear the
Lord’s servant, our pastor, absolve our sins in the name of
Christ.Privately,we go to the pastor for confession and absolution
precisely for those sins we are most aware of and those
sins that are particularly troubling to us.These we confess to
our pastor and hear the words of Christ,”I forgive you.” [/quote:30435hsc]
I think you are in for a surprise for your pastor cannot absolve sins!

[quote:30435hsc]By what authority does the church forgive sins?
The Office of the Keys is that special authority which Christ [/quote:30435hsc]
nothing like taking a twist of Scripture to “prove” your point
– sorry but the key is knowing God’s way through God’s Word as He said
[i:30435hsc][b:30435hsc]”You are mistaken, not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God.[/b:30435hsc][/i:30435hsc] Matthew 22:29