Is Apostolic Succession Biblical?
Scripture, not apostolic succession or church tradition, is the foundation of Christ’s church and the believer’s confidence in salvation.
If I was to confess my sins to a priest or a religious leader who themselves is a bad moral character or a sinner, am I still absolved or would that nullify my confession?
“Roman Catholics, Greek Orthodox, and some Lutheran churches practice confession. Specifically, a person goes to a priest or perhaps a lay minister and confesses his/her sins. The priest / minister asks if you are “truly sorry for your sins,” prays for the sinner and particularly to Roman Catholics, assigns several prayers – an “act of contrition” and usually “X” number of rosaries – as a penance to have your sins forgiven.
In Roman Catholicism, technically, they believe the priest decides to “forgive or retain” the sin. If the priest determines the penitent is truly sorry, he has “absolved” the sinner. Catholics maintain that Jesus’ gave His priesthood to men to continue in His steps.
Most protestant traditions do not practice “going to confession” or saying penance for sins. From a biblical-theological perspective: We do not need a mediator. We have evidence for this in 1 Timothy 2:5, Psalm 32:5, 1 John 1:9, and others.”
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Scripture, not apostolic succession or church tradition, is the foundation of Christ’s church and the believer’s confidence in salvation.
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