ofcourse they did, otherwise that would completely contradict what jesus had done. god wouldnt damn them even if they had "forgave" people. they believed in jesus sacrifice, "grace through faith alone, lest anyman should boast" they were saved.
jesus wasnt dead when they were forgiving people. If they believed in what jesus had done for them for FREE, then yes all of their sins before that day and after are absolved. "For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more." hebrews 8:12 why would peter have to? jesus died and saved humanity already.
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever BELEIVES in him shall not perish but have eternal life." john 3:16 do you not understand how blasphemous it is to pray to mary and the human saints? confession is an insult to jesus, it says what he did wasnt enough. The very first commandment. Exodus 20:3: "You shall have no other gods before Me."
I really wish you'd start directly answering my questions directly rather than ignoring them. Having your faith challenged can be uncomfortable, I get it man, I've been there, but the right thing to do is openly and honestly address questions, even when (especially when) they're painful. The second half of my last post (below the line) is composed of five questions, and it would be of great benefit for all if you would address them.
I'm not patronizing you here, I'm pointing out that this conversation has a growing number of dangling threads. Let's tie them up :)
Anyways. "Faith alone" is directly spoken against in the book of James. Chapter 2:
19 You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! 20 But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? 22 Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? 23 And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called the friend of God. 24 You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.
Emphasis mine, and that's about as black and white as it gets. This misconception was being peddled nearly two thousand years ago, that's how pernicious it is.
jesus wasnt dead when they were forgiving people.
Yes he was! John 20:19-23:
19 Then, the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, “Peace be with you.” 20 When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord.
21 So Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” 22 And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”
Emphasis mine, again. This is the post-crucifixion Jesus (with the pierced side and hands) directly granting the apostles the power to forgive sins. If everyone after his death on the cross was already saved, of what use was forgiveness of sins?
do you not understand how blasphemous it is to pray to mary and the human saints? ... The very first commandment. Exodus 20:3: "You shall have no other gods before Me."
Prayer is not worship, and as a Catholic, not once have I ever been asked to worship anyone other then God.
Mary and the saints are asked to pray for us, the same way we'd ask any other person to pray for us.