Who has the Authority to Forgive Sin

HopeHouse.vi operates as a non-denominational ministry, and I have written previously about what it means to be non-denominational, but in truth, I cannot get too far away from my Pentecostal roots.

I believe that in confessing my sins, I confess them to Jesus and ask for His forgiveness, but not all denominations feel the same way, and what I am trying to do in this post is give a thoughtful and respectful juxtaposition of the differing views on the authority to forgive sins between Roman Catholicism and Pentecostalism (and more broadly, Protestantism):

The Roman Catholic and Pentecostal/Protestant views on the authority to forgive sins fundamentally differ in their interpretation of scripture and the role of church authority. Catholics adhere to a tradition that involves the intercession of priests, grounded in specific biblical texts and the doctrine of apostolic succession. In contrast, Pentecostals and many Protestants emphasize a direct, personal relationship with Jesus Christ, maintaining that forgiveness is granted by Christ alone without the need for ordained intermediaries.

Roman Catholic View

Scriptural Basis:

1. John 20:21-23: Jesus breathes on His apostles, giving them the Holy Spirit and saying, “If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”
2. Matthew 16:18-19: Jesus grants Peter the “keys of the kingdom of heaven,” with the authority to bind and loose sins.
3. James 5:14-16: Encourages confession of sins to one another, supporting the practice of communal confession.

Theological Principles:

1. Apostolic Succession: The authority given by Jesus to the apostles is believed to be passed down through an unbroken line of bishops and priests.
2. Sacrament of Reconciliation: Catholics practice confession to a priest, who acts in the person of Christ (in persona Christi) to forgive sins. This is seen as a continuation of Jesus’ ministry of forgiveness.
3. Priesthood Authority: Priests are believed to have the authority to forgive sins because of their ordination and their role within the Church’s sacramental system.

Pentecostal/Protestant View

Scriptural Basis:

1. 1 Timothy 2:5: “For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus.”
2. 1 John 1:9: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”
3. Hebrews 4:14-16: Emphasizes direct access to God through Jesus Christ as the High Priest.

Theological Principles:

1. Direct Access to God: Belief that every believer has direct access to God and can seek forgiveness through personal prayer and confession to Jesus Christ.
2. Priesthood of All Believers: Emphasizes that all Christians are part of a “royal priesthood” (1 Peter 2:9), negating the need for a distinct priestly class for mediating forgiveness.
3. Christ’s Unique Role: Jesus Christ is seen as the sole mediator and high priest who grants forgiveness, based on His sacrifice on the cross.

Juxtaposition

Authority to Forgive Sins:

• Catholicism: Believes that Jesus explicitly gave His apostles, and by extension their successors (bishops and priests), the authority to forgive sins through specific scriptural mandates and apostolic succession.
• Pentecostalism/Protestantism: Holds that only Jesus Christ has the authority to forgive sins and that individuals can seek forgiveness directly from Him without human intermediaries.

Role of Confession:

• Catholicism: Confession to a priest is a sacrament wherein the priest, acting in the person of Christ, absolves sins, reflecting the authority given to the apostles.
• Pentecostalism/Protestantism: Encourages personal confession to God, emphasizing a direct relationship with Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins.

Intermediaries:

• Catholicism: Sees priests as necessary intermediaries who have received authority through apostolic succession.
• Pentecostalism/Protestantism: Rejects the need for human intermediaries, advocating for the direct access of every believer to God through Jesus.

Conclusion

It is not mine to judge whether one or the other is right or wrong. Whichever is right in your expression of faith, the importance is that ultimately God hears your confession, and ultimately, God forgives you.