December 7, 2023
Misunderstandings
“If you forgive the sins of any, their sins have been forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they have been retained.” John 20:23 (NASB)
Often, I have conversations with members of the Catholic Church. After spending a few minutes with the majority I find many do not know the reasons why they believe what they believe. They simply believe what they have been taught without ever opening the Bible to authenticate or refute it. It is taught by a priest who is the expert (in their opinion) and trust it. Often in closing some joke, “Well we can sin and we can go back and get absolution from our priest. Can you?” I am quite sure you know the answer to this one.
“If you forgive the sins of any, their sins have been forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they have been retained.” Two words appear in this verse which need to be clarified first. The first is the word, “forgive or forgiven.” The second is the word “retain or retained.” “Forgive” is the Greek word, “aphiēmi. meaning to send away, leave alone, permit, or abandon. This means to release from legal or moral obligation or consequence; to cancel; remit, or pardon.” Secondly, “Retain” is the Greek word, “krateō; to be strong, rule: arrested, attained, clinging, holding back, holding fast, laid hold.” [1] When a person accepts Jesus as Savior, they are retained by God’s power. They are forgiven. “The power to forgive sin belongs only to God, but Jesus claimed to have this power and right (Mark 2:5–7). What he commits to the disciples and to us is the power and privilege of giving assurance of the forgiveness of sins by God by correctly announcing the terms of forgiveness. There is no proof that he actually transferred to the apostles or their successors the power in and of themselves to forgive sins. In Matt. 16:19 and 18:18 we have a similar use of the rabbinical metaphor of binding and loosing by proclaiming and teaching. Jesus put into the hands of Peter and of all believers the keys of the Kingdom which we should use to open the door for those who wish to enter.”[2] MacArthur offers some insight as well: “This verse has been misinterpreted by Roman Catholics to mean that the Roman Catholic Church has had the apostles' authority to forgive sins passed down to it. But Scripture teaches that God alone can forgive sins (Mark 2:7; cf. Dan. 9:0). Nor does the New Testament record any instances of the apostles (or anyone else) absolving people of their sins. Further, this promise was not made to the apostles alone, since others were also present (Luke 24:33). What Christ was saying is that any Christian can declare that those who genuinely repent and believe the gospel will have their sins forgiven by God. On the other hand, they can warn that those who reject Jesus Christ will die in their sins (8:24; Heb. 10:26-27).”[3] Jesus gave the apostles (and the church) the privilege of announcing heaven’s terms on how a person can receive forgiveness. If one believes in Jesus, then a Christian has the right to announce his forgiveness. If a person rejects Jesus’ sacrifice, then a Christian can announce that that person is not forgiven.
We all understand God forgives. His Son paid the price for it. He is the only One who can. We can only pray that those who don’t know Christ will accept His perfect gift one day. Then their sins will be truly “forgiven of them” because they trusted in Christ!
[1] Thomas, R. L. (1998). In Foundation Publications, Inc.
[2] Robertson, A. T. (1933). (Jn 20:23). Broadman Press.
[3] (John MacArthur, 2006). 382.