John 20:23

John 20:23 – Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.

AMPLIFIED VERSION
John 20:23 – If you forgive the sins of anyone they are forgiven [because of their faith]; if you retain the sins of anyone, they are retained [and remain unforgiven because of their unbelief].

Only God has the authority and power to forgive sins.

Mark 2:10 – But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (he saith to the sick of the palsy,)

Mark 2:5-7 – When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee. But there were certain of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts, Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only?

Jesus was telling His apostles that, when they preached the gospel, they could declare someone’s sins as remitted or retained based on whether the message was accepted or rejected.

John 20:21 – Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.

John 3:18 – He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

Luke 24:46-47 – And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

This does not imply that the apostles themselves forgive sins; rather, they announce forgiveness based on people’s acceptance or rejection of the gospel.

Jesus was commissioning His apostles, as His representatives, to act on His behalf. This is similar to how ambassadors represent their country: they speak with authority, but their authority is derived from the leader or government they represent, not from themselves.

2 Corinthians 5:20 – Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.

📜AMBASSADORS
presbeuō (pres-byoo'-o)
From the base of G4245; to be a senior, that is, (by implication) act as a representative (figuratively preacher): - be an ambassador.

Forgiveness is granted to those who believe in Jesus and withheld from those who reject Him. Paul declares forgiveness based on belief in Jesus, not on his own authority.

Acts 13:38-39 – Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.

When they preached the gospel, they could confidently tell people who believed that their sins were forgiven, and they could also tell those who rejected the message that their sins were not forgiven and that they remained condemned. This idea is echoed in John, which says that those who believe in the Son have eternal life, but those who reject Him face God's judgment.

John 3:36 – He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.

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Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen.

- The Christian King