CHRISTIANS RECEIVE FORGIVENESS---ABSOLUTION?  BY STEVE FINNELL

Is the doctrine of absolution a Biblical fact or is it a tradition of men?

ABSOLUTION: Absolution is perceived to be the remission of sin, or the punishment due sin, granted by the church.

Can a priest or any man acting for the church forgive the sins of  a Christian? NO, THEY CANNOT!

When Christians pray for other Christians; they are not granting forgiveness of sins committed against God. They are simply making a request. They are petitioning God. The church in general nor individual church members have no authority to forgive sins committed against God.

Luke 5:21The scribes and Pharisees began to reason, saying, "Who is this man who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone?"

Anyone who claims to have the authority to forgive the sins of Christians speaks blasphemies. Jesus could forgive sins because He was God in the flesh.

Jesus Christ is the mediator, the intercessor, negotiator, and advocate between Christians  and God. No priest, preacher, the Virgin Mary, pew sitter, nor dead saint stands between Christians and forgiveness from sin.

Romans 8:34 who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also interceded for us.

Jesus is the intercessor for Christians. Priests, preachers, the Virgin Mary nor any other Christians can reconcile differences between man and God.

1 Timothy 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Jesus Christ,

Jesus is the only one standing between Christians and forgiveness from sin. No man or women, dead or alive qualifies as a mediator for the forgiveness of sins.

1 John 2:1 My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous;

The apostle John said that the advocate for Christians who sin is Jesus Christ. John did not say that a priest, preacher, the Virgin Mary, nor any saint dead or alive was an advocate for Christians who sin.

NOTICE: There is not one case recorded in Scripture were an apostle or the apostles said to Christians I or we forgive you of your sins. THE APOSTLES TOLD PEOPLE HOW TO HAVE THEIR SINS FORGIVEN, THEY DID NOT GRANT FORGIVENESS OF SINS.