Romans 9:13 As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated. 14 What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid. 15 For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. 16 So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.
This passage of scripture teaches us that it is the sole prerogative of God to grant mercy, in the form of pardoning our sins. We are admonished to show mercy and compassion wherever and whenever it is needed or warranted, but the mercy which pardons and forgives our sins, only comes from God alone, and must never, ever be tethered to any mortal man. Thus, the "Year of mercy" which was recently announced by the pope, by which people will be forgiven of specific sins, for a set period of time, is an affront to the authority and prerogatives of God, and as such it constitutes one of the most diabolical violations ever proposed to man.
When Christ gave His mandate to the apostles, which stated that whosoever sins they remitted on earth, would be remitted in heaven, He was not thereby giving them the authority to forgive sins, but rather to point sinners to the heavenly sanctuary where Christ would be interceding for us, being the only place in the universe where the remittance of any sins takes place. We know this from the scriptures, for on the day of Pentecost, when Peter and the other disciples were preaching to the people, the question was asked "Men and brethren, what shall we do?". Then Peter pointed their minds to the heavenly sanctuary where Christ our High Priest was interceding on our behalf, and said "Repent, that your sins may be blotted out", but not once did Peter presume to forgive anyone's sins, as the current pope Francis assays to do. Let's read:
Acts 3:19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord. 20 And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you: 21 Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.
Acts 2:37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? 38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
It is a fearful fact, that millions of sincere Christians who have turned to the Vatican and local priests for absolution from their sins, have the long record of their deeds still remaining on the books in heaven, for if our trust is in mortal man for forgiveness of sins, guess what, none of our sins have ever been forgiven, and will stand to witness against us when our names are called in the heavenly courts. These are the inherent dangers of looking to an earthly, priestly ministry for forgiveness of sins, and if radical changes in our approach are not made soon, we shall all likewise perish.
We therefore end with a passage of scripture which directs our focus to Christ in the heavens, now making intercession for all those who by faith, enter within the veil. And it is the will of God that we avail ourselves of the direct access to the heavenly sanctuary, which God has provided through Christ alone. Let's read:
1st Timothy 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; 6 Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.
May The Lord add His blessing to the study and practice of His every word. God bless!