Objection to the Penance that a priest gives

Objector says:

Roman Catholics, will you point to where it is written in Scripture, that Jesus instructed the apostles to impose a "penance" on those people who confessed their sins to them

Jesus Christ did not command it explicitly, but gave the example.  Let me lay the background, the headings of Jesus Christ are prefigurings of the Sacraments.  In the Sacrament of Reconciliation, we present ourselves to Christ and ask Him to heal our soul.  Lets look at what Jesus says to a certain leper whom He heals:

Matthew 8:4

And Jesus saith unto him, See thou tell no man; but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.

The equivalent of the penance, at this point, is the command to offer the gift that Moses stipulates.

We also see that St. Paul, in the book of Acts, requires that Gentiles to "works meet for repentance."  That is the wording used in the King James Bible.  But in the Catholic Douay Rheims, it is much more explicit:

Acts 26:20

Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition (DRA)

20 But to them first that are at Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and unto all the country of Judea, and to the Gentiles did I preach, that they should do penance, and turn to God, doing works worthy of penance.

There are not many verses addressing this topic.  But the faith of Jesus Christ is not about how many verses are in the Bible concerning the matter.  Even if there were only one verse, that would be enough.


Here is one concerning suffering and the doing away of sin:

Here is where St. Peter says it:

1 Peter 4:1

King James Version (KJV)
4 Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin;

He also says it here:
1 Peter 3:17-19

King James Version (KJV)
¹⁷ For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.
¹⁸ For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:
¹⁹ By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison;

Note how he begins by saying that we must suffer. Then he explains that we must suffer because Jesus ALSO suffered for sins.

In other words, Jesus suffered for our sins so that we might also suffer for our sins.

Now, St. Paul is not as explicit about the expiation for personal sin, but he is explicit about suffering for the sins of the Church:
Colossians 1:24

King James Version (KJV)
²⁴ Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the church:

and he says that unless we suffer with Christ we will not inherit the Kingdom with Christ:
Romans 8:17

King James Version (KJV)
¹⁷ And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

2 Timothy 2:12

King James Version (KJV)
¹² If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:

For those who deny the Traditions of Christ, they will not understand this teaching. But for those of us who accept the Traditions of Christ, we know that this means that we expiate our sins in suffering.

The Objector continues:

- of course this question is based strickly on the Roman Catholic teaching that the apostles were 'appointed by Christ to forgive sins' through the ritual that the RCC calls their 'sacrament of 'confession,' - which is now refered to as the sacrament of 'reconcilliation' by the RCC.

Which is based upon many verses of the Bible. But the two which fit the best are these:

John 20:23

King James Version (KJV)
²³ Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.

Hebrews 13:17

King James Version (KJV)
¹⁷ Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.

The Objector continues:
What is the consequence if a Roman Catholic does not do the "penance" assigned to them by the Roman Catholic priest, after they confess their sins?If he is disobedient to the Priest, then he is disobedient to Christ whom the Priest represents:

In Heb 13:17 above, it says that this would be "unprofitable for you".  So, its not a good thing.  Because Scripture says that the Priest is the Ambassador of Christ.

2 Corinthians 5:19-21

Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition (DRA)

19 For God indeed was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, not imputing to them their sins; and he hath placed in us the word of reconciliation.

20 For Christ therefore we are ambassadors, God as it were exhorting by us. For Christ, we beseech you, be reconciled to God.

21 Him, who knew no sin, he hath made sin for us, that we might be made the justice of God in him.

Thus,

Luke 10:16

King James Version (KJV)
¹⁶ He that heareth you heareth me; and he that despiseth you despiseth me; and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me.

and Christ only saves those who obey Him:
Hebrews 5:9

King James Version (KJV)
⁹ And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;

The Objector continues:

As a young catholic I was told/taught that the "penance" part was to atone for my sin, to make it right again and remind me not to do it again. Of course this is not biblical.

Show me where Scripture says you must not pay for your sins.
Luke 19:8-10

King James Version (KJV)
⁸ And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord: Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold.
⁹ And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham.
¹⁰ For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.

Zacchaeus found salvation after he paid for his.

The Objector continues:

 I do not know if there is an official sanction, others might know this of course, I can just remember feeling as if I would be in big trouble and my sin would not be forgiven if I did not do the penance.

 If you refuse to do the penance, you are disobeying Christ whom the Priest represents.

The Objector continues:
Of course that is not biblical either, and makes your "atonement" rather works based, instead of what it is in the bible.

What is it in the Bible? You guys keep saying it is something else. But I see where God wants us to work to show our faith. Where does He say, "just sit on your hands and claim to be saved by faith alone."?

I want to see it. Show me from Scripture.

The Objector concludes:
I do not know of what authority a priest would even have to assign a non biblical penance. He can not tell my heart. Only God can.

I guess you just have a spirit of disobedience. Christ, whom the Priest represents, gave the Church authority to enforce Her rules:
Matthew 18:17

King James Version (KJV)
¹⁷ And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.

But again, if you disagree, show me from Scripture.

Sincerely,

De Maria