How can Priests/Pastors forgive sins?

[JoeP222w]

Jhn 20:23

“If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”

[Albert Barnes Commentary on the Bible]:

Whose soever sins ... - See the notes at Mat_16:19; Mat_18:18. It is worthy of remark here that Jesus confers the same power on all the apostles. He gives to no one of them any special authority. If Peter, as the Papists pretend, had been appointed to any special authority, it is wonderful that the Saviour did not here hint at any such pre-eminence. This passage conclusively proves that they were invested with equal power in organizing and governing the church. The authority which he had given Peter to preach the gospel first to the Jews and the Gentiles, does not militate against this. See the notes at Mat_16:18-19. This authority given them was full proof that they were inspired. The meaning of the passage is not that man can forgive sins that belongs only to God Isa_43:23 but that they should be inspired; that in founding the church, and in declaring the will of God, they should be taught by the Holy Spirit to declare on what terms, to what characters, and to what temper of mind God would extend forgiveness of sins. It was not authority to forgive individuals, but to establish in all the churches the terms and conditions on which men might be pardoned, with a promise that God would confirm all that they taught; that all might have assurance of forgiveness who would comply with those terms; and that those who did not comply should not be forgiven, but that their sins should be retained. This commission is as far as possible from the authority which the Roman Catholic claims of remitting sin and of pronouncing pardon.

 

[TuxAme]

John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne;
And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,
And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.-

Us .. who believe on him.. so dont know what priests your talking about .. must be usurpers

Exodus 19:5-6 reads, Now therefore, if you will obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my own possession among all peoples; for all the earth is mine, and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel.”

Would you dare to call the Levitical priests "usurpers"? Because while God in the Old Covenant (like Peter and John in the New) referred to all under the Covenant as a Kingdom of Priests, that didn't subtract from the fact that He established a ministerial priesthood through Aaron and his sons to offer sacrifice to Him.

 

[JoeP222w]

If the person appears to be repentant, says so, comes clean with his guilt, and agrees to amend his life, he is provisionally absolved of his sins in God's name. Yes, we cannot be certain that the person is what he purports to be, in which case God will handle it in the afterlife.

Since man's heart is desperately wicked, any man can fool any other man. Man cannot know another man's heart.

There is also a works based righteousness in your comment "agrees to amend his life". Can any amount of work make one right before God? By no means. Am I saying that if someone has stolen something from someone that they should not repay them? No I am not saying that. But that is not making amends to make oneself righteous before God.

You also wrote "he is provisionally absolved". I see no concept of this ("provisional") in the Bible. God's forgiveness, true forgiveness, is efficacious. It is not reserved for a future forgiveness. You can know forgiveness now, today, by repenting of sin and trusting in Jesus Christ right now. You don't have to wait for forgiveness in the afterlife.

"God will handle it in the afterlife". Indeed He will. So are you giving them a false sense of assurance when you declare them forgiven when they merely "appear" to repent? God is the one who justifies and forgives, not man.

 

[FireDragon76]

What Albion has stated doesn't necessarily contradict the evangelical faith.

Absolution is simply the declaration to those who have faith that the grace of God belongs to them, also. Grace is not simply theoretical.

 

[Not David]

Since man's heart is desperately wicked, any man can fool any other man. Man cannot know another man's heart.

There is also a works based righteousness in your comment "agrees to amend his life". Can any amount of work make one right before God? By no means. Am I saying that if someone has stolen something from someone that they should not repay them? No I am not saying that. But that is not making amends to make oneself righteous before God.

You also wrote "he is provisionally absolved". I see no concept of this ("provisional") in the Bible. God's forgiveness, true forgiveness, is efficacious. It is not reserved for a future forgiveness. You can know forgiveness now, today, by repenting of sin and trusting in Jesus Christ right now. You don't have to wait for forgiveness in the afterlife.

"God will handle it in the afterlife". Indeed He will. So are you giving them a false sense of assurance when you declare them forgiven when they merely "appear" to repent? God is the one who justifies and forgives, not man.

Salvation is by faith plus works.
If you are Protestant, at least you will say faith produces works.

 

[Albion]

You can have a direct relationship with Jesus Christ, the only mediator between man and God. I don't see anywhere in the Bible mentioning an "authorized representative" in explicit or implicit manner, apart from Jesus Christ to forgive sins.

Read Matthew 9, Matthew 16, Matthew 18, and John 20.

 

[Phil 1:21]

Salvation is by faith plus works.

8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:8-10

 

[AnticipateHisComing]

It's a little confusing to me to understand the process. Can someone explain this?

You will get two sides here for an answer.
1) Only Jesus forgives.
2) Scripture says some in the church can forgive.

They are both correct.
1) Only Jesus atones for the eternal consequences of our sin.
2) There are earthly consequences of sin. Pastors and elders can forgive these as James writes.

James 5:13 Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. 14 Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. 16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.

 

[JoeP222w]

Salvation is by faith plus works.

No. Completely unbiblical.

Ephesians 2:8-10 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, (9) not a result of works, so that no one may boast. (10) For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

If you are Protestant, at least you will say faith produces works.

Faith is from God. Salvation is from God alone. Works are a demonstration of being saved, not a requirement or pre-requisite for salvation. Works are a demonstration of obedience after justification (by God alone).

 

[Not David]

8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:8-10

It doesn't say faith alone.
James 2:24 New International Version (NIV)
24 You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone.

 

[JoeP222w]

Read Matthew 9, Matthew 16, Matthew 18, and John 20.

Need far more specificity than that. And proper exegesis and contextual understanding.

 

[Phil 1:21]

Salvation is by faith plus works.

8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:8-10

"...not by works..."

 

[JoeP222w]

It doesn't say faith alone.
James 2:24 New International Version (NIV)
24 You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone.

Taking a verse out of context leads to a proof texting.

 

[Not David]

"...not by works..."

Yes, no Christian believes one is saved by works only.

 

[Albion]

It doesn't say faith alone.

Does it name anything else in addition to Faith?

 

[Not David]

Taking a verse out of context leads to a proof texting.

I could say the same for you.

 

[Not David]

Does it name anything else in addition to Faith?

It does in James tho.

 

[Albion]

Yes, no Christian believes one is saved by works only.

Technically, that wouldn't be correct to say now that the Catholic Church has begun insisting that even a person who has never heard of Jesus or the Bible can be saved so long as he is true to whatever non-Christian religion he belongs to.

 

[Albion]

Need far more specificity than that. And proper exegesis and contextual understanding.

But I don't notice even the start of a rebuttal to those verses in your reply. I wonder why.

We have established that the Bible does testify to the idea of men being authorized to declare God's forgiveness. Perhaps this would be a good time for you to go to a search engine and seek out the many commentaries that are available if you want more. Please don't ask me to paste and copy all that are available to you.

 

[Not David]

Technically, that wouldn't be correct to say now that the Catholic Church has begun insisting that even a person who has never heard of Jesus or the Bible can be saved so long as he is true to whatever non-Christian religion he belongs to.

Well, I'm not Catholic so I can't give a justification for that.