Lesson 2703

(Lesson 2703)(05-18-19) John 20:21-23
    “Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost: Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.”

    For today’s lesson we will revisit a part of yesterday’s quote. I said I would try to explain why there seems to be some discrepancy in the text of the above part of that quote, so here we go.
    There is scripture in some of the other gospels whereby one might erroneously be made to think that Jesus gave the apostles power over sin. For example, Matthew 16:18-19,  “And I say also unto thee, That thou are Peter and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” However, NOTHING could be further from the truth.
     I don’t believe that text meant Jesus intended the apostles would have power over the sins of mankind, not by any means. But rather, Jesus intended that the apostles would have power over the makup and administration of His church. They were given “the keys to the kingdom” in order that through the church that they would create, lost souls could have access to the amazing, saving grace of God.
    My belief is based on the fact that Jesus said in John 14:6, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no NO MAN COMETH UNTO THE FATHER, BUT BY ME” If any mortal man could forgive sins, or bring someone to the Father, then, as seen in that quote, Jesus would have been caught in a lie. I know that beyond all doubt that Jesus did NOT lie, as is verified by other abundant New Testament text, Jesus is, and always has been, the ONLY means by which sins can be remitted and souls can be saved. ~
NOTE: If there are any questions I would be happy to try to back up my theory further with more scripture.