No, God says *confess*.
You sure have lots of speculation and interpretations.
OTOH, I read what it says and believe it.
Furthermore, if at conversion we were forgiven all sins, past, present, and future, it would make no sense for Christ to require us to pray,
Oh, nonsense. There are many reasons to pray and many things to pray for.
Getting forgiveness isn't the only reason to pray.
Is the Catholic who confesses his sins to a priest any better off than the non-Catholic who confesses directly to God? Yes.
And this is unadulterated nonsense.
Catholics are such respecters of persons that it is ridiculous. And God calls that a sin.
Yes. First, he seeks forgiveness the way Christ intended. Second, by confessing to a priest, the Catholic learns a lesson in humility, which is avoided when one confesses only through private prayer.
Not true for all counts.
Third, the Catholic receives sacramental graces the non-Catholic doesn’t get; through the sacrament of penance sins are forgiven and graces are obtained.
God LAVISHES His grace on us. He doesn't dole it out in stingy little parcels based on performance.
Grace is received through faith, not through works.
Ephesians 1:3-10 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.
Fourth, the Catholic is assured that his sins are forgiven; he does not have to rely on a subjective “feeling.”
Christians assured because of the promises of God, not feelings.
WE believe God when He tells us something. We don't take man's word for it.
Lastly, the Catholic can also obtain sound advice on avoiding sin in the future.
God's word provides that sound advice.
Psalm 119:11 I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.
“Is the Catholic who confesses his sins to a priest any better off than the non-Catholic who confesses directly to God? Yes.
And this is unadulterated nonsense.”
Actually it blasphemy!
Even the evil Jewish leadership of Jesus time knew better than this. Mark 2:7