Can we forgive the sins of others?
This article accompanies the video titled: Can we forgive the sins of others?
In one of my recent videos, Forgiveness, I made a comment that when you forgive someone who has offended you, that you are cleansing them of that sin and in effect liberating them from the darkness that comes with it. I was challenged on this statement by someone I respect and agreed to either prove it biblically (using the word of God) or retract. I actually like it when challenged like this. It is good. What follows is my response (proof).
There are three basic points I wish to make, as follows:
Jesus has power to forgive sins
He told us we had power to do it as well
We are commanded to forgive
1. Jesus forgives sins
Twice in the gospel, Jesus informs us he has the power to forgive sins. In Mark 2, he forgives the sins of a paralytic and says that is it so he “may know that the Son of Man (Jesus) has authority on earth to forgive sins.” Later in Luke 7, he says to a sinning women “Your sins are forgiven”, again claiming that authority. Full passages below.
In both cases, Jesus makes clear and definitive statements claiming the authority and then exorcising it. I don’t think we need to explore this point further.
2. We received authority to forgive sins
This is where the disbelief is found. It is understandable and even almost all Christians don’t believe it, but we do have direct commands from Jesus himself that we are to exorcise his authority.
In John 20, when Jesus came back to visit his followers (not just the apostles) after his resurrection, he stated “If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.” That is explicit and plain-spoken language. We are allowed to forgive people and if we do, it is valid.
There is another passage that mirrors this statement, again by Jesus when talking to his followers. It can be found in Matthew 16 “whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” In this statement, he is again telling us that we have permission to exorcise his power. Binding is preventing or forbidding and loosing is allowing or permitting. Sounds like forgiveness and unforgiveness, doesn’t it?
I know it is hard to believe, but Jesus does not lie. Keep reading for further evidence.
3. We forgive sins
We are explicitly told to forgive sins of others. Here follows several examples:
And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. - Matthew 6:12
Note: This is from the Model prayer by Jesus and states that we are to forgive others
Bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. - Colossians 3:13
Note: We are commanded to forgive each other
And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.” - Mark 11:25
o Note: You forgiving others is the same as the Father forgiving you
For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. - Matthew 6:14-15
Note: It again shows that you forgiving others is equated to the Father forgiving you
Note: See that you have choice and can choose to not forgive, but that there are consequences
Pay attention to yourselves! If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him, and if he sins against you seven times in the day, and turns to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him.” - Luke 17:3-4
Note: He does not say he forgives them their sins but says you forgive them
Note: We can sin against one another, not just against God
Note: Forgiveness is tied to repentance
For me, the evidence is clear that we are allowed to forgive and commanded to do so in some cases. Now, let’s look at some counter arguments.
Counter arguments
We don’t have the authority to forgive, only God does.
We already have seen that Jesus claimed the authority and exorcised it. I would also point you to Matthew 28:18 in which Jesus said “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.” That includes the power to forgive.
Also, have a look at 2 Peter 1:3 – “His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence,”. I would argue that forgiveness of sins is one of the “all things” granted to us by God. Further note that it is “through” Jesus.
I will say, however, that when I forgive sins, I do so in the name (authority) of Jesus and not based upon my own authority. I can’t point you to a specific passage that says it must be this way, but I can (and will in another article) point to many passages that state that our ability to exorcise God’s power is based upon the name above every name, that is Jesus, and our relationship to it.
People must repent first before receiving forgiveness
This is at first glance a strong argument, I must admit. We are taught that must confess our sins, repent and then receive forgiveness of sins. That is the process of cleansing, by the way, and it is consistent with 1 John 1:9 – “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” We also saw just above in Luke 17 that forgiveness is directly tied to repentance.
However, I would like to point out that there are numerous examples of people receiving forgiveness without repentance. See the aforementioned passages about the paralytic and the sinning woman. Neither asked for it or requested it. Also, the above passages in Mark 11, Matthew 6 and Colossians 3 make no mention of pre-requisites for forgiveness. I could cite many more.
What are we to make of this seeming discrepancy? Here is what I make of it. I believe God has laid down some rules for us to follow such as:
If they repent, you must forgive as this is the same rule God follows
No matter how many times they do it, you must forgive again if they repent
As for forgiveness without confession or repentance, you have choice
If you want forgiveness for your sins, inequities, trespasses or debts, then you must be willing to do the same for others – the rules, measure, judgement you apply to others apply to you
As I said, this is how I view the matter. I am always weary of adding to the Word. I think attaching a requirement or stipulation to forgiveness without hard biblical evidence of the requirement is a common mistake that leads to the doctrine of men being taught as the doctrine of God.
I will also say that experientially, when I have been prompted by God to forgive sins, He has never put any stipulations on it. He just told me to do it and I did it, no questions asked, and He seemed pleased with it. Take that for what it is worth.
Only the apostles were given the authority
This counter argument accepts authority was given but tries to limit the scope of to whom. You also might see it as only certain priests or positional authorities have this right. This argument is a subset of the argument that only the apostles received power (such as the gifts of the Holy Spirit) and authority from Jesus and that it died out when they died out.
This argument is, to be blunt about it, stupid. It is purely doctrine of men, violates scripture and violates what we see with our eyes every day. We already saw that Jesus commanded all his disciples (followers), not apostles, to exorcise his power to forgive sins. And even if he did only command his apostles, nowhere in the bible does it say it only applied to them, and in fact, there is multiple evidence in the bible of non-apostles exorcising the power of God.
This teaching obviously does not come from God. Think about it: would God want you to use the powers he gives you to do good? Or would he want you to ignore them and not use them? Why would he say he gives you the power to heal, cast our demeans, perform miracles, etc. and then tell you it is not meant for you but some other guy? To me, it sounds like darkness infiltrating our church to weaken it and make it ineffective in spiritual warfare.
All over the world, every day, believers like me are exorcising these powers (glory to God!!!). Even if you don’t believe in the bible and even if you don’t believe what you read, just open your eyes and believe what you see!
There are other arguments, but I don’t want to write a book with this and feel it is already getting too long. I will stop here. If you have a concern or question, feel free to reach out to me.
I encourage you to watch the video for a more thorough discussion of this topic.
Referenced bible passages
Mark 2:1-12
2 And when he returned to Capernaum after some days, it was reported that he was at home. 2 And many were gathered together, so that there was no more room, not even at the door. And he was preaching the word to them. 3 And they came, bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men. 4 And when they could not get near him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him, and when they had made an opening, they let down the bed on which the paralytic lay. 5 And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” 6 Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts, 7 “Why does this man speak like that? He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?” 8 And immediately Jesus, perceiving in his spirit that they thus questioned within themselves, said to them, “Why do you question these things in your hearts? 9 Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise, take up your bed and walk’? 10 But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he said to the paralytic— 11 “I say to you, rise, pick up your bed, and go home.” 12 And he rose and immediately picked up his bed and went out before them all, so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, “We never saw anything like this!”
Luke 7:36-50
36 One of the Pharisees asked him to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee's house and reclined at table. 37 And behold, a woman of the city, who was a sinner, when she learned that he was reclining at table in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster flask of ointment, 38 and standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head and kissed his feet and anointed them with the ointment. 39 Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, for she is a sinner.” 40 And Jesus answering said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” And he answered, “Say it, Teacher.”
41 “A certain moneylender had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 42 When they could not pay, he cancelled the debt of both. Now which of them will love him more?” 43 Simon answered, “The one, I suppose, for whom he cancelled the larger debt.” And he said to him, “You have judged rightly.” 44 Then turning toward the woman he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45 You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not ceased to kiss my feet. 46 You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. 47 Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.” 48 And he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” 49 Then those who were at table with him began to say among themselves, “Who is this, who even forgives sins?” 50 And he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”
John 20:19-23
19 On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them 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 Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending 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 withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.”