The Catholic Sacrament of Reconciliation, also known as the Sacrament of Penance and the Sacrament of Confession, is the process by which a baptized Catholic receives forgiveness of sins committed after baptism. It “Continues Baptism’s work of conversion and forgiveness” (CCC 2042). This process includes the person confessing his sins to a priest. 
He makes the sign of the cross and offers the prayer through which the person is forgiven – by God. The priest says, “I absolve you from your sins, in the name of the Father, and of the Son and the Holy Spirit.” He then gives the person a penance, consisting of prayers or some works of mercy. The Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC), in Article 4, “The Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation,” refers to it by several titles.
- Sacrament of Conversion (CCC 1423)
- Sacrament of Penance (CCC 1423)
- Sacrament of Confession (CCC 1424)
- Sacrament of Forgiveness (CCC 1424)
The sacrament of reconciliation prepares Catholics to receive the Eucharist (CCC 1385, 1389). It is a necessary part of Catholicism that adherents must obey. Instead of going straight to Christ for the forgiveness of sins (John 14:14; Matt. 11:28), the Catholic Church teaches participating in sacraments instituted by priests under the authority of their “one true church.” So, grace is re-infused into a person’s soul (CCC 1999) which is obtained through a physical practice. Essentially, this restricts the Christian from coming straight to Christ as Jesus Himself said to do (Matt. 11:28).
“Christ instituted the sacrament of Penance for all sinful members of his Church: above all for those who, since Baptism, have fallen into grave sin, and have thus lost their baptismal grace and wounded ecclesial communion. It is to them that the sacrament of Penance offers a new possibility to convert and to recover the grace of justification. The Fathers of the Church present this sacrament as “the second plank [of salvation] after the shipwreck which is the loss of grace.” CCC 1446
I see nothing in Scripture that says that Jesus instituted a procedure by which an individual receives forgiveness of sins after his baptism. After discussions with hundreds of Catholics, I have yet to find a biblical warrant for this position.
Requirements for the sacrament of reconciliation
- Conversion to Christ (CCC 1425, 1426)
- Baptism (CCC 1427)
- Examining one’s self.
- A contrite heart that is repentant (CCC 1430, 1431, 1432)
- Confession of sins to a priest
- Performing the penance that the priest assigns.
Benefits of the Sacrament of Reconciliation
The following is a list of the benefits a Roman Catholic is supposed to receive by participating in this sacrament.
1496 The spiritual effects of the sacrament of Penance are:
– reconciliation with God by which the penitent recovers grace;
– reconciliation with the Church;
– remission of the eternal punishment incurred by mortal sins;
– remission, at least in part, of temporal punishments resulting from sin;
– peace and serenity of conscience, and spiritual consolation;
– an increase of spiritual strength for the Christian battle.
http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/para/1496.htm
Conclusion
Like so many practices in the Roman Catholic Church, the so-called sacrament of reconciliation is an unbiblical means by which a person receives forgiveness of sins. Instead of going to Christ and seeking the Lord Jesus and confessing our sins to him, the church takes his place and offers rituals to forgive the sins of which Christ had already died.
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