Why do some insist that only God can forgive sins?

Question

Jesus taught his 12 disciples that, if they forgave sins, then the sins would be forgiven, but that if they did not forgive sins, then the sins would not be forgiven.

Jesus also taught that, if we forgive sins committed against us, then our Father in heaven will forgive us our sins.

Why then do some still teach that only God can forgive sins?

To clarify:

John 20:22 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 retain the sins of any, they are retained.”

Answer 1

Because they haven't read their Bible as well as you have :o).

Maybe what they mean is that, ultimately, sins committed are committed against God and that he has the final say in everything.

Answer 2

I don't think it is a matter that the STILL teach this. In the RCatholic faith, priests can hear confessions, recommend means of penace, and then tell the sinner "go and sin no more". It was the Christian denominations that came after the Reformation that declared that man could deal directly with God.

In the Jewish faith, sins are divided in two groups, sins against people or a person, and sins against God. God only forgives the latter sins. Man must gain forgiveness from those he sinned against in the initial set of sins.

Answer 3

Christianity does not teach that only God can forgive sins. But, when it comes to eternal salvation, only God can judge whether a person's sins are covered by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ or not. His forgiveness gives you a right standing for entrance into heaven.....the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin. The forgiveness that's given by people for sins comitted against them just releases the forgiver from their own sin of unforgiveness against another and allows the sinner fellowship with them once again. It hasn't anything to do with your salvation or getting into heaven. But the soul that forgives offenses done against them exemplifies one characteristic of God and is a better person for it.

Answer 4

Because only God can forgive sins committed against Himself and all sins are committed against God. Man can forgive man for sinning against him, but man cannot forgive man for sinning against God.

Answer 5

Let's see, you are referring to John 20:23...but you are failing to read all of the context. Notice the verse before it...

" 22And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:
23Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained. "

A couple key points here.....
1. Jesus breathed on them and had them receive the Holy Ghost. This was a special event not done to anyone else than them.
2. Find one verse, just one, that shows the Apostles forgiving sins. You will not find it, so they...the ones who were there, did not understand it the way you, or the Roman Catholic Church does.
3. Jesus was giving them discernment to judge those who said they were follweres of Jesus. If they proclaimed so, and the Disiples believed it, then they were. If they claimed it and the Disiples did not believe it, they were still in their sins.

How was that possible....through verse 22 where Jesus breathed His divine breath on them and gave them the Holy Spirit.

Answer 6

Beloved do not sin, but if anyone does sin we have an advocate Jesus Christ who is faithful and just and will forgive us our sin and remove all unrighteousness.

Of course we have the power to forgive people who do us wrong and say they are sorry.

Answer 7

Could you give one example from the Scriptures where an apostle forgave someone's sins?
If you are referring to the bound and loose thing,

Mat 18:18 Truly I say to you, Whatever you bind on the earth will be, having been bound in Heaven. And whatever you loose on the earth will be, having been loosed in Heaven.

This is not concerning sin, but doctrinal issues, ordering the affairs of the Church, and Church discipline. To quote Albert Barnes:

"These words were spoken to the apostles. Jesus had before addressed the same words to Peter, Mat_16:19. He employs them here to signify that they all had the same power; that in ordering the affairs of the church he did not intend to give Peter any supremacy or any exclusive right to regulate it. The meaning of this verse is, whatever you shall do in the discipline of the church shall be approved by God or bound in heaven. This promise, therefore, cannot be understood as extending to all Christians or ministers, for all others but the apostles may err."

We forgive each other for restoration, not salvation or damnation, we do not have that power. You need to remember when Jesus was speaking, it was before the cross, before He paid the penalty for all the sins of all His people. The forgiveness of our sins is not dependent on us, but solely on Christ who did the work completely.

Rom 6:10 For in that He died, He died to sin once for all; but in that He lives, He lives to God.

Heb 7:27 who has no need, as do the high priests, to offer sacrifices day by day, first for His own sins, then for those of the people. For He did this once for all, offering up Himself.

Heb 10:10 by which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

And, of course, the term "all" does not mean all humans, but for all types of people, and for all time.

Answer 8

sin is sin whether u sin against God or man . if u ask God to forgive or your fellow man its still only God that forgives
the sin , and you made peace with your fellow man and God is happy .

Answer 9

Mere Christianity.

Answer 10

it just means we need to freely forgive people when they sin against us,in order to get forgiven ourselves.we should not hold grudges.