The authority to forgive is part of the preaching of the gospel. One of our chief themes relating to the proper use of authority is that we must be under authority in order to use authority. God’s servants are messengers or ambassadors carrying the gospel message and the authority of the King of Kings.

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, their sins have been forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they have been retained." John 20:22-23 (NASB)

Greek verb tenses in the New Testament writings are significant. In the phrase “their sins have been forgiven them,” the verb is in the perfect tense which signifies completed past action that continues to affect the present.

Our ability to forgive sins is a function of what Christ already accomplished on the cross.

If people believe our presentation of the gospel, their sins are forgiven, not because we personally forgive them, but because they believe our claim that Christ already has. Our presentation is our part in providing them with forgiveness.

When we forgive, it is only because Christ has already forgiven. When we do not forgive, it is because He has not forgiven. Our ministry and message have no validity unless they perfectly correspond to His.

Isaiah 61:1 was Jesus’ theme verse for His ministry here on earth. One of the main components of that ministry was the proclamation of freedom.

The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, Because the Lord has anointed me To bring good news to the afflicted; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to captives And freedom to prisoners;  Isaiah 61:1 (NASB95)

The gospel is a proclamation of deliverance from the penalty and oppression that sin produces.

It is an invitation which requires a response of repentance and faith. The gospel says that forgiveness of sins is available to all who believe in Christ and receive Him as Lord and Savior.

Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through Him forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, 39 and through Him everyone who believes is freed from all things, from which you could not be freed through the Law of Moses.  Acts 13:38–39 (NASB95) 

When we announce these words, we use Christ’s authority to declare forgiveness of sins and retention of sins – forgiveness to those who believe the gospel and retention of sins and damnation to those who do not.

“There is no judgment against anyone who believes in him. But anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in God’s one and only Son. 19 And the judgment is based on this fact: God’s light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil. 20 All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed. 21 But those who do what is right come to the light so others can see that they are doing what God wants.” John 3:18–21 (NLT) —

We also have a responsibility to forgive sins committed against us personally. When we do this, it is an acknowledgement that we are sinners, too, in deep need of God’s forgiveness. When we release others from whatever debt they may owe us, we both set them free from our judgment against them and liberate ourselves from self-condemnation.

If I refuse to forgive those who offend me, Jesus said that it interferes with my being forgiven by God. Simply put, we reap what we sow.

If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. 15 But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins. Matthew 6:14-15 (NLT)

It is important to understand, however, that if I refuse to forgive another person, my lack of obedience in this area does not stop God from forgiving that person. The one who sins against me can find forgiveness and freedom from God despite my smallness of heart. Otherwise, the gospel would be limited by the hardness of people’s hearts. Conversely, when we open our hearts to forgive someone, it opens wide God’s heart of mercy toward us.

Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.  Matthew 5:7 (NASB95) 

The Roman Catholic Church uses the opening verse in today’s meditation to authorize its priests to grant or retain absolution for sins in the confessional. This gives men the power of forgiveness in a way that was never intended by God because it places another mediator between us and God. The Bible is clear that there is only One Mediator, and His name is Jesus.

For there is only one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and people. He is the man Christ Jesus. 6 He gave his life to purchase freedom for everyone. This is the message that God gave to the world at the proper time. 7 And I have been chosen—this is the absolute truth—as a preacher and apostle to teach the Gentiles about faith and truth. 1 Timothy 2:5-7 (NLT)

One must wonder why a church supposedly representing God would teach people that they need another mediator to stand between them and God. The only logical conclusion is that it is done to manipulate and control. The gospel came to set the captive free, not imprison us under a religious system.

When we sin, the Bible teaches us that forgiveness comes from God alone.

Be gracious to me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness; According to the greatness of Your compassion blot out my transgressions. 2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity And cleanse me from my sin. 3 For I know my transgressions, And my sin is ever before me. 4 Against You, You only, I have sinned And done what is evil in Your sight, So that You are justified when You speak And blameless when You judge.  Psalm 51:1–4 (NASB95) 

However, God wants us to seek forgiveness from those here on earth we offend, too.

So if you are standing before the altar in the Temple, offering a sacrifice to God, and you suddenly remember that someone has something against you, 24 leave your sacrifice there beside the altar. Go and be reconciled to that person. Then come and offer your sacrifice to God. Matthew 5:23-24 (NLT)

Confessing our sins to another human being can have extremely beneficial effects but does not provide us with justification before God. Confession to others is part of our exposing our sins to the “light,” which God uses to help break us free from any residual power of sin in our lives.

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. 1 John 1:7 (NIV)

Such confession also opens the door for physical healing.

Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. James 5:16 (NIV)

Only God has the power to forgive sins, and this power hinges upon Jesus’ offering of Himself on Calvary.

Since God is just, He could not forgive us unless Someone had paid a perfect ransom price to satisfy his justice.

That is what Jesus did for us at Calvary. Now God is both just and the justifier of those who place their trust in His Son.

For all have sinned; all fall short of God's glorious standard. 24 Yet now God in his gracious kindness declares us not guilty. He has done this through Christ Jesus, who has freed us by taking away our sins. 25 For God sent Jesus to take the punishment for our sins and to satisfy God's anger against us. We are made right with God when we believe that Jesus shed his blood, sacrificing his life for us. God was being entirely fair and just when he did not punish those who sinned in former times. 26 And he is entirely fair and just in this present time when he declares sinners to be right in his sight because they believe in Jesus. Romans 3:23-26 (NLT)

In conclusion, it is important to realize that Christ died “once for all” to provide forgiveness and justification for all who come to him by faith.

For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified. 15 And the Holy Spirit also testifies to us; for after saying, 16 “This is the covenant that I will make with them After those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws upon their heart, And on their mind I will write them,” He then says, 17 “And their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.” 18 Now where there is forgiveness of these things, there is no longer any offering for sin.  Hebrews 10:14–18 (NASB95) 

Those who come to Christ will never be condemned for their sins. (John 5:24 and Romans 8:1)

Those who come to Christ are forgiven for all past, present, and future sins. Some believe this great truth gives us a license to sin. Nothing could be farther from the truth. Here is Paul’s response to such a suggestion.

Well then, should we keep on sinning so that God can show us more and more of his wonderful grace? 2 Of course not! Since we have died to sin, how can we continue to live in it? 3 Or have you forgotten that when we were joined with Christ Jesus in baptism, we joined him in his death? 4 For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives.  Romans 6:1–4 (NLT) — 

When Christ liberated us from the guilt and condemnation associated with sin, through the new birth he also changed our hearts and set us free from sin’s power to dominate us.

Now, at last, we are free to serve God from the heart, because it is what we want, not because it is a law. As the woman caught in adultery learned, once we experience God’s forgiveness, we are free to live for him.

Straightening up, Jesus said to her, “Woman, where are they? Did no one condemn you?” 11 She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “I do not condemn you, either. Go. From now on sin no more.”  John 8:10–11 (NASB95) — 

Questions for Further Study and Discussion

1. How are we to use the authority God has given to us to forgive sins?
2. Why is it so important for us to forgive those who have offended us?
3. Since Christ died for our sins “once for all,” is it still necessary for us to ask forgiveness when we sin?