If only God can forgive sins, was he just telling them a lie?
2007-02-07 13:00:43 · 15 answers · asked by Midge 7 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
When the Holy Spirit came down onto the Apostles during Pentecost, they were given the power to forgive sins. THEY THEMSELVES did not forgive sins. The Holy Spirit, working throught to Apostles, forgave sins.
P.S. The Holy Spirit is part of the Trinity, so this can happen.
2007-02-07 13:10:50 · answer #1 · answered by secret frog 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Jesus was not talking about the disciples acting like priest, and offering God's forgiveness to other people for the sins they had committed.
He is talking about when others sin against, you are to forgive them. If you do not, you will never be released from the consequences of those sins. It is seen often in families where the "sins" of the father are repeated by the son. An abusive parent produces an abusive child. Had the child been able to forgive that parent's sins, the children could have been free and broken the cycle of sin.
2007-02-07 21:09:18 · answer #2 · answered by dewcoons 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Jesus gave authority to the apostles to forgive sins. Since God can do anything, he chose to give the apostles this power. The apostles were also given the power to pass this on to certain other believers.
2007-02-07 21:26:13 · answer #3 · answered by A_Person 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
He was telling them that He had given them the power to absolve sin on earth. This is why Apostolic Succession is so important. This is the power give down by the laying on of hand from the original disciples to those bishops who came after them. And those bishops to the next and so on down to today. This is why a Priest in the line of Apostolic Succession has the power to hear confession and absolve sin for God. Actually the Priest give the absolution in God's name but also on behave of the entire congregation whom the penitent has also sinned against. This is because sin separates and absolution reunites the penitent with God and his fellow Christians.
This does not mean that everyone must go to a priest or their sin is not forgiven, God can do it directly too. But Jesus did give this power to His disciples who passed it down as I said above.
2007-02-07 21:15:10 · answer #4 · answered by tonks_op 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well you can sin against God. And you can sin against people. God will forgive you of your sins against Himself. But how can God forgive you in place of another whom you have sinned against? That's between you and the person. Jesus was saying to His apostles that they shall forgive people who sin against them.
Also I don't think your quote there is accurate. Maybe talking about this verse?
Mark 11:25
"And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins."
2007-02-07 21:18:52 · answer #5 · answered by Alien51 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
its a good question.
There is two ways to look at it:
A - believers can offer the forgiveness of christ to those who are not apart of the religion.
or
B - he may have meant that when you forgive someone - for instance if johnny hits you and you say "i forgive you johnny" that means Johnny shouldnt bare guilt any more. I dont think they are being told that God's ability to absolve sins is granted to them - but merely that by forgiving other humans we can help create a better world... and honestly if u dont forgive someone doesnt it have an affect on you until you do come to terms with the issue and forgive them?
Hope that helps- i can clarify if needs be.
2007-02-07 21:09:54 · answer #6 · answered by max power 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
: )God forgives our sins. We can talk to Him directly. Jesus gave Apostles authority to forgive sins. And when we ask forgiveness, we are forgiven by God.
2007-02-07 21:11:26 · answer #7 · answered by SeeTheLight 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, people must forgive each other for God to forgive them. If people do not forgive each other, then God will ignore them. "14 “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." Matthew 6:14-15. God can and has forgiven ALL sin. But the price was losing His Son.
2007-02-07 21:10:45 · answer #8 · answered by Alexial Jastire 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If one forgives sins in the name of Jesus, they are forgiven.
2007-02-07 21:03:53 · answer #9 · answered by Molly 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Jesus gave special power to the apostles such as healing the sick, raising the dead, whatever. Apostles were part of Jesus' inner circle who actually livedand walked with him. Nowhere does the Bible say these 'gifts' were passed on by the apostles or Himself to anyone else.
2007-02-07 21:05:39 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋