That’s why Catholics have the gift of the Sacrament of Penance/Reconciliation.
God forgives and forgets in that Sacrament!
Calvinists understand that penance/forgiveness only accounts for the past. It is in the present that we sin with every breath we take.
Which is not found anywhere in Scripture.
All your *penance* means nothing in terms of attaining forgiveness of sin. You can't earn forgiveness.
If you earn it, it's wages due for work performed and ceases to be forgiveness. You've simply paid a debt you owe. Which you can't anyway cause the wages of sin is death, not penance or suffering.
You either have the righteousness of Christ credited to your account, or you don't and you stand in your own filth.
We are saved, only, by the grace and sacrifice of Christ who washes away the stench of our sin. Hide in the rock of His salvation. Do not believe yourself capable of standing firm in your own strength before the Lord.
Your answer:
That’s why Catholics have the gift of the Sacrament of Penance/Reconciliation. God forgives and forgets in that Sacrament!
Completely unnecessary for Christians because "We are saved, only, by the grace and sacrifice of Christ who washes away the stench of our sin. Hide in the rock of His salvation. Do not believe yourself capable of standing firm in your own strength before the Lord"
The onslaught of Catholicism's "sacraments" and needless extra Biblical traditions only serve to bring confusion to the simple message of Biblical salvation.
And create confusion and "space" between the gospel message and sinners.
Superfluous to say the least.
But these tangents from the gospel seem to keep Catholics in that faith system denomination.