The Dispute with the Catholics – Indulgences – The Relics of the Saints
The lecture discusses the concept of “indulgences” as understood in some teachings, and clarifies from a Coptic Orthodox perspective that forgiveness of sins is not based on formal practices or time calculations, but on true sincere repentance.
✝️ Correcting the Concept
His Holiness Pope Shenouda III اشاره that the idea of indulgences linked to recitations or visiting certain places, calculated in days or years, is spiritually inaccurate, as forgiveness cannot be measured by time scales.
📖 The Position of the Saints
The teaching confirms that all saints felt their sins and asked for forgiveness, and none of them considered that he had “surpluses” of merits to give to others. Everyone stands before God as a sinner in need of His mercy.
🙏 True Intercession
Intercession does not come from a “balance” of saints or their merits, but from their prayers for us, which is completely different from the concept of transferring merits or indulgences.
🔥 Repentance as the Basis of Forgiveness
The teaching confirms that forgiveness only comes through sincere repentance, not through repeating prayers or performing religious visits without real change in the heart.
⚖️ The Danger of Formality
Even if a person repeats prayers many times, it does not benefit him if he does not leave his sin. Forgiveness is not bought by actions, but received through change of life.
⛪ Clear Evangelical Teaching
The teaching is based on the sayings of the Holy Bible that confirm repentance as an essential condition for salvation, and that lack of repentance leads to destruction.
🧭 Spiritual Conclusion
Forgiveness is a divine gift granted to the repentant person, and it cannot be reduced to calculations or external practices, but it is a living relationship with God based on repentance and confession.
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