The Power To Forgive: Whose Sin Is It Anyway?

The ability to forgive sins is a topic that has been widely debated, especially among Christians. The Christian doctrine of forgiveness is that God has lifted the sentence of condemnation upon Christians for their sins through the death of Christ on their behalf and no longer counts them as guilty. This forgiveness is necessary because God is just and all humans are guilty of sin. God forgives sin because he is merciful, and this is a central theme in Scripture.

In John 20:23, Jesus told his disciples, If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained. This passage has been interpreted in different ways by various Christian denominations. Some believe that Jesus gave his followers, including all believers, the authority to forgive sins in his name. Others argue that this authority was only given to the apostles or an elite priesthood, such as Catholic priests, who can forgive sins through sacramental confession.

Ultimately, the question of whether humans have the ability to forgive sins depends on one's interpretation of religious texts and the role of God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit in bestowing this authority.

Does Jesus give the power to forgive sins?

There is a general consensus that God alone has the power to forgive sins. However, there is some debate as to whether Jesus, as the Son of God, has the authority to forgive sins and, in turn, whether he gave this power to his disciples.

In John 20:21-23, Jesus breathed on his disciples and said, "Receive ye the Holy Ghost: Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained." This passage has been interpreted in different ways. Some argue that Jesus gave his disciples the authority to forgive sins, while others claim that the disciples were only given the power to proclaim the forgiveness of sins, acting as spokespeople for God.

Those who believe that Jesus gave his disciples the authority to forgive sins often point to the Catholic Church's interpretation of this passage, which states that the disciples were given the power to forgive and retain sins sacramentally and healingly. This is also supported by the fact that Jesus gave Simon Peter the keys of binding and loosing, which can be interpreted as the power to forgive and retain sins.

On the other hand, some argue that the disciples were not given the power to forgive sins but rather the ability to discern whether someone's sins had already been forgiven by God based on their character and actions. This interpretation is supported by the original Greek language of the Bible, which uses tenses that emphasize that the sins in question "have already been forgiven" or "have already been retained."

Ultimately, it is essential to remember that God is the only one with the ultimate power to forgive sins, and anyone who proclaims the message of forgiveness is doing so on God's behalf.

What does the Bible say about who can forgive sins?

The Bible is clear that only God can truly forgive sins. As Mark 2:7 states, "Who can forgive sins but God alone?". However, there is also a role for Jesus and his disciples, as well as believers, in proclaiming or declaring the forgiveness of sins.

In John 20:21-23, Jesus breathed on his disciples and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone's sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven." This passage has been interpreted in different ways. Some argue that Jesus was giving his disciples the authority to forgive sins, while others believe that the disciples were only given the ability to proclaim or declare the forgiveness of sins, acting as spokespeople for God.

The proper translation of John 20:23 is crucial to understanding this passage. The New American Standard Bible (NASB) translates it as, "If you forgive the sins of any, their sins have been forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they have been retained." This translation emphasizes that the individuals' sins have already been forgiven or retained by God before the apostles' recognition of the same. The use of the perfect tense in the original Greek indicates that the action of forgiving or retaining sins has already occurred and has ongoing results.

Jesus' words in John 20:23 were spoken immediately after he breathed on his disciples and told them to receive the Holy Spirit (John 20:22). This symbolized their receiving of God's Spirit, which would enable them to make Spirit-led judgments. Christ's breathing on them was a sign that they would be inspired to either pardon or discipline people according to what had already been bound by God.

The same principle and Greek grammar are found in Matthew 18:18 and Matthew 16:19, where Jesus says, "Whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven." These passages underscore that God determines what is bound or loosed, rather than leaving such decisions to humans.

While God is the ultimate authority on forgiveness, Jesus and his disciples played a role in proclaiming or declaring that forgiveness. This is also true for believers today. We are called to "forgive our debtors" (Matthew 6:12) and to forgive those who sin against us (Matthew 6:14-15, 18:21-22). However, this type of forgiveness involves letting go of grudges and seeking reconciliation rather than completely erasing the sin. Only God has the power to truly forgive and cleanse sins.

What is the meaning of forgiveness?

Forgiveness is a conscious, deliberate decision to release feelings of resentment or vengeance toward a person or group who has harmed you, regardless of whether they actually deserve your forgiveness. It is important to note that forgiveness does not mean forgetting, condoning, excusing, or denying the seriousness of an offense. Instead, it brings peace of mind to the forgiver and frees them from corrosive anger.

In the context of "do we have the ability to forgive sins," the discussion revolves around the interpretation of specific Bible verses, such as John 20:21-23 and Mark 2:7. While some believe that Jesus gave his disciples the authority to forgive sins, others argue that the disciples were only given the ability to proclaim or recognise forgiveness based on an individual's response to the gospel. Ultimately, the consensus is that only God has the power to truly forgive sins.

What is the theological background to forgiveness?

Theological Background to Forgiveness:

The Christian doctrine of forgiveness is that God has lifted the sentence of condemnation upon Christians for their sins through the death of Christ on their behalf and no longer counts them as guilty. Forgiveness is necessary because God is just and all humans are guilty of sin. God, being the judge, became the one who was judged for the guilt of men; the guilt was punished justly, but the guilty received forgiveness instead of punishment. Christ submitted to his Father’s will joyfully and willingly. This forgiveness is central to the Christian proclamation and should lead all those who have received it to rejoice and praise God for his mercy and grace.

At least two topics are crucial background for understanding forgiveness. Firstly, because God is the one who forgives, we need to appreciate who God is. And secondly, because sin is what God forgives, we need to reflect on humanity’s guilt before the Lord. These two themes are intimately related.

Who is God? Scripture most emphasizes that God is just. God "will render to a man according to his work" (Psalm 62:12). Scripture also emphasizes that God is merciful. God is "merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love" (Psalm 103:8). As we consider below, both God’s justice and his mercy are foundational for the doctrine of forgiveness.

Also foundational is the reality of human guilt. When Christians speak of "sin", they imply that God is the one they've ultimately offended. To sin against God renders a person guilty. This is a legal or judicial idea. To be guilty is to stand condemned under God’s just judgment. Because all are sinners, all are “accountable to God” (Romans 3:19). Adam’s first sin provoked God’s “judgment” which “brought condemnation” for the human race (Romans 5:16). Since God is just, sin brings us under his judgment.

Forgiveness, then, is also legal or judicial. It means that God lifts his sentence of condemnation for our sins and no longer holds us guilty for them. We stand in need of forgiveness because God is just, and we have hope of forgiveness because God is merciful.

In John 20:23, Jesus told the disciples, "If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained". This passage has been interpreted in different ways, with some believing that Jesus gave the disciples the authority to forgive sins, and others believing that the disciples were given the authority to proclaim the forgiveness of sins, but not to forgive sins on their own authority.

How does forgiveness shape the church's ministry?

Forgiveness shapes the church's ministry in several ways. Firstly, it underscores the centrality of the gospel message in the church's preaching and teaching. As seen in Acts, the apostles' public ministry centred on proclaiming the death, resurrection, and exaltation of Christ, calling people to repent and be baptised for the forgiveness of their sins. This proclamation of forgiveness through Christ is at the heart of the gospel and the church's mission to make disciples of all nations.

Secondly, forgiveness highlights the authority given to believers in Christ. While only God can truly forgive sins, Jesus gave his followers, including the apostles, the authority to forgive sins in his name. This doesn't mean that believers have an innate ability to forgive sins independently but that they do so as agents of God and with his authorisation. This authority is part of believers' partnership with Christ in fulfilling his mission on earth.

Thirdly, forgiveness shapes the church's ministry by emphasising the need for Spirit-led judgments. While God determines what is bound or loosed, the apostles, filled with the Holy Spirit, were able to make judgments that aligned with God's will. This included both pardoning and disciplining people according to what God had already bound or loosed.

Lastly, forgiveness reminds the church of its role in restorative church discipline. Believers are called to proclaim God's forgiveness to other believers who confess their sins and participate in the process of reconciliation. This involves removing relational barriers and providing easier access for people to seek God for their salvation.

Frequently asked questions