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Catholic, How does God forgive sins?

The foundation of the Catholic Church is Jesus Christ. We believe as Catholics that it is through the merit of Jesus Christ that man's and woman's sins are forgiven. Sacramentally we receive new life through the church, but this life isn't without conversion. It is through repentance and faith that a Christian is justified, and he or she is kept in a state of grace through the merit of Jesus' death and resurrection. The church has the right to forgive sins, but it is God through the church who is doing the forgiveness. The Catholic Church holds to the teachings of the bible, and although we don't believe that justification is a one time event, we believe that through conversion a person enters new life in Christ after baptism.

Conversion is a heart choice to live in deeper harmony with the church and to commit oneself to a lifetime of repentance. The reason why we believe that a holy life is necessary to reach heaven is because the bible teaches this, (without holiness no one will see the Lord). We believe that the doctrine strengthens our faith, but our faith must be alive to our baptismal call, this is why we ask to be renewed in our faith, each time we celebrate the mass. Justification by faith is a Catholic doctrine as well. We believe that without faith it is impossible to please God. As a Catholic, I believe in the mercy of God and as the thief on the cross cried out to the Lord to save him, we believe that God is a merciful God and will judge us also by our works.

The reason why works are important is because they reflect the character of the individual who is living their life. Although we are accused of not believing in salvation as described by other churches, it is God's mercy we believe in. Jesus is the head of our church, and he uses people inside the church to lead them to conversion. In evangelical Christianity it is taught that works don't save a person, but in my experience a lifetime of faith is what is missing in these churches, and we believe that without faith it is impossible to please God. Spiritual pride can develop in churches where there isn't infused grace, and although we believe we are saved by grace, our clergy implores us that sacramental life is essential to live a life in holiness.

We believe that a person will be judged not just because they said a sinners prayer and are now repentant, but the church looks at the whole life of a person, as if to say that God is not mocked, whatever a man sows he will reap. We believe that actions have consequences, and we believe that God does forgive sin through His mercy. He will have mercy on who he chooses to have mercy. In light of those who say that the church is claiming a false security in saying that she has the power to retain or forgive sins, it is God working through Jesus Christ who accomplishes all this. Reconciliation to God is also a conversion to holiness, and without God's mercy and the church established by God, sins could not be forgiven. This is Mike.
  

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