by 
koroleva
ANSWERS: 3
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Every man must confess his sins and ask for forgiveness. Although confession to anybody in church is unnecessary. God is the one to confess to.
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We don't confess to our Pastors our Deacons. If we sin against a fellow church member we are to confess to them and beg forgiveness from them. If our sin is private, as in not seen by the world, we confess and beg forgiveness from God only. No man on earth, Pastor, Deacon, fellow church member, or otherwise can absolve the sin. Only God can do that. Getting forgiveness from other church members only has the significance of preventing hard feelings inside the church. God is still the only one who can absolve the sin. If we sin against someone who is not a member of our church, it is still the same. We confess to them, and beg forgiveness, for the sake of our testimony. They cannot absolve the sin any more than other men. That can only come from God. We don't say hail maries or our fathers because they are memorized prayers, and therefore not from YOUR heart when you talk to God. I think He would much rather hear me say what's in my heart.
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Also, there is one mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus. (1 Timothy 2:5) Even the Pharisees recognized that God alone can forgive sins, it's a reason they accused Him of calling Himself God. Luke 5:21 And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, Who is this which speaketh blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone? John 10:32 Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me? 33 The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God.
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