Confession and Absolution?

Did Jesus give the Apostles and by extension Bishop's and Priest the power to 'loose' sins? Only Christ can forgive sin but as the Roman and Orthodox Churches teach the Priest is conferred this power by Christ Himself “20 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples therefore were glad when they saw the Lord. 21 Jesus therefore said to them again, “Peace be to you. As the Father has sent me, even so I send you.” 22 When he had said this, he breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit! 23 If you forgive anyone’s sins, they have been forgiven them. If you retain anyone’s sins, they have been retained.” John 20:20-23. If God alone has the power to forgive sins why confess to the priest? I think firstly because Scripture requires it “Confess your offenses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The insistent prayer of a righteous person is powerfully effective.” James 5:16. James thinks it proper that within the Church we confess our sins! As you confess in your heart (to Christ) and verbally to the Presbyter not only are you confessing to God but also allowing your spiritual leader to confer on you the verbal fact Christ has forgiven your sins. Not only do we have James but also we are told in Acts that early Christians confessed “Many of those who had believed came, confessing, and declaring their deeds.” Acts 19:18. Paul says in Romans 15:15-16 “But I write the more boldly to you in part, as reminding you, because of the grace that was given to me by God, 16 that I should be a servant of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles, serving as a priest the Good News of God, that the offering up of Gentiles might be made acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.” One of the jobs of the Priest in the Old Covenant was to hear confession. Paul compares himself to a priest of the Gospel. Jesus, in the Gospels, tells sinners after forgiving them of their sin “Your sins are forgiven you” could it be we need this verbal enforcement? We are the body of Christ on earth and the Priest represents this when as Christ did he verbally reaffirms your forgiveness. 2 Corinthians 5:18-19 “But all things are of God, who reconciled us to himself through Jesus Christ, and gave to us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself, not reckoning to them their trespasses, and having committed to us the word of reconciliation.” The word of reconciliation not the act of forgiving but being a Messenger of Christ. In 2 Corinthians 2:10 “And to whom you forgive anything, I also forgive; for if indeed I have forgiven anything, the one who I have forgiven, I have do so for your sakes in the presence of Christ.” Public confession is also humbling and is a good way for your Presbyter to hold you accountable to your walk. As we read Scripture as a whole we see a common thread of the Doctrine... Jesus gives the Apostles the ability to 'loosen' sins, in the book of Acts we see Christians confessing sins, Paul says he is a Priest of the Gospel, James exhorts us to confess our sins to another and pray for each other. 

From the Book of Common Prayer: 

Concerning the Rite:

The ministry of reconciliation, which has been committed by Christ to his Church, is exercised through the care each Christian has for others, through the common prayer of Christians assmbled for public worship, and through the priesthood of the Church and its ministers declaring absolution.

The Reconciliation of a Penitent is available for all who desire it. Confessions may be heard anytime and anywhere.

Priest:

Our Lord Jesus Christ, who has left power to his Church to absolve all sinners who truly repent and believe in him, of his great mercy forgive you all your offenses; and by his authority committed to me, I absolve you from all your sins: In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

The Lord has put away all your sins. 

Abide in peace, and pray for me, a sinner. 

Lay Christian Declaration of Forgiveness:

Our Lord Jesus Christ, who offered himself to be sacrificed for us to the Father, forgives your sins by the grace of the Holy Spirit. Amen. 

God be praised for the mysteries of Confession and Absolution!

Christus nos liberavit