Is Forgiveness Easy?

I have a friend that has had a few questions for me lately. He asked me one that I thought would be good to deal with in this format. He graciously agreed. I want to put his thoughts out here in context and then I will respond. Here is the question in context:

As a recovering Catholic, I was brought up to believe that the only way to receive forgiveness for any sin is by confession with a priest. You know the drill: one on one confession, Bless me Father for I have sinned, it's been X years since my last confession......Then the guilt trip begins. Lots of prayers need to be said for forgiveness. We also were not supposed to take communion without confession if there were any of the bigger sins that we had yet to atone for. Yes, in the Catholic church there are multiple levels of sin. Needless to say, watching all the people take communion that I had witnessed sinning (and even sinned with) this made the whole church process seem a bit hypocritical. Everything in the church seemed to teach that people need to live in fear of God. For if you are not baptized as a baby and follow all of their rules you are doomed to Purgatory at best, Hell at the worst. In your (/our) church, the message seems to be, and correct me if I'm wrong, that God is a Loving entity, and even when you do sin, if you ask God for forgiveness, you are forgiven. Sounds simply and easy enough. But where's the guilt? How can I wrap my mind around the concept that my sins can truly be forgiven just by asking God myself? That seems too easy.

Is forgiveness really that easy? I would answer by saying, it depends on what side of this issue you are on. If it is you, a sinner, then the answer is an adamant and absolute, "YES!"

But, if you are on the God side of this issue, then it would be a very sincere, "No!" Forgiveness was not easy, nor cheap for our Father God. In fact, it cost Him the very life of His Son to offer it to us. So it was not easy for God, but very, very costly and difficult.

We are no longer in bondage by man-made precepts and conditions concerning where we go to find forgiveness of sin. We get the privilege to go directly to our heavenly Father.

1 John 1:9 is very clear. We need to only confess our sins, God's part is that He remains faithful and will forgive us and cleanse us of our sins.

I want to make a few observations. One, my biggest issue with Roman Catholicism is not that they pray to Mary and other saints (even though the Scriptures are very clear to NOT do that). My biggest issue with Roman Catholicism is connected to this question. According to the Roman Catholic Church, what Jesus Christ did at the cross was NOT sufficient enough to save men.

In fact, men still have to "perform" via prayers over the Rosary and paying for masses and going to "confession" and lighting candles and countless other rituals that help one atone oneself. I frankly feel it is the most prideful, arrogant thought that would think that I can somehow do anything to help my sinful condition.

True Christianity isn't about DOING anything...it is about it already being DONE. What Jesus did at the cross was completely and totally sufficient to save me from all my sin and forgive me for all my past, present and future sins as well.

Also, confession, according to the Scriptures is not sitting in some ornate wooden box talking to a priest. In the Scriptures, the word for confession is "HOMOLOGEO" which comes from two words. Homo = Same; Logeo = words or speech. So confession literally means that I speak the same words about my sin that God does.

Which means I don't call adultery an "affair." I don't refer to internet porn addiction as "having a little problem." I get real and don't play games with God about this stuff and I call it what it is...SIN. And sin separates me from God and sickens and shrivels up my soul.

Now, even though it is not necessary to "confess" sin to anyone but God, there are some sins that need to be confessed to other people. Because if they are not, there can never be help in over-coming them.

Sexual sins, addictive behaviors, and similar sins I believe cannot be truly dealt with unless there is accountability. So when I have the courage as a man to say that I have a problem with gambling and I not only tell my heavenly Father that, but I also confess that to another brother in Christ. That breaks the hold that sin has over my life. It isn't as powerful anymore.

Shedding light on secret sins releases the shameful grip that those sins have on our hearts. And we eventually, through Christ's help and true accountability, have the ability to slay that dragon in our lives.

But I don't want to wander too far from the original question. The answer is "YES," it really is that easy to find forgiveness. But forgiveness and repentance can't be separated either. Don't think because it is easy to ask for forgiveness that is a license to keep on sinning...you must truly repent as well. And repentance is determining in your heart to not commit that sin again.