Josh, I disagree that the believer can just confess his sins to God and have his sins forgiven. See Lev 5:14-26 shows public confession with animal sacrifice.
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I stopped attending mass more than 30 years ago. Are you saying now I have to confess to a priest and slaughter a goat?
Look, this is why I try to stay out of these debates. I can’t change your views, God has to show you the truth. I left the CC when I began to study it’s history without the catholic slant clouding my studies; please spare me the satan got me garbage. The CC is like the JW’s I witness to. You take the same scriptures out of context and ignore every scripture given in response to show your view is wrong. I must admit you are getting a little off the crazy train to bring up Jews and sacrifices. Just a little FYI; Animal sacrifices ended with the final sacrifice. There was no need for them anymore. With all due respect your reference to Leviticus displays bondage to the catholic teachings of self sacrifice and an ignorance to the gospel of grace. I will pray that you find the truth but will not banter back and forth with these old, tired, proven wrong attempts to defend your teachings. God’s grace to you.
Say WHAT???
Yeah.
We can't change theirs, and they can't change ours.
BUT...
...we CAN be like Lazarus and that Great Gulf Fixed:
Send a message to his brothers so that THEY won't go to that awful place!
You misconstrue my post where I cite Leviticus. Of course animal sacrifices are left in the dustbin of history. The reason I cited that was to demonstrate that the expiation of sin was a public affair. You say that Catholics take Bible citations out of context. Catholics have the same complaint of Protestants. You did not address my other New Testament citations. Those show that Christ authorized his Apostles to forgive sin. Do you deny that? We Catholics are well aware of and believe in the grace of God.