Today we’re going to look at a few topics that may seem controversial, but stick with us to the end before deciding. We will look at two items: first, forgiving or retaining sins, and second, doing the same works that Jesus did as the “Son of Man” on earth. First let’s look at forgiving sins and the words of Jesus in John’s gospel:
John 20:23 NASB95 If you forgive the sins of any, their sins have been forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they have been retained.
John 20:23 AMPC If you forgive the sins of anyone they are forgiven [because of their faith]; if you retain the sins of anyone, they are retained [and remain unforgiven because of their unbelief].
Take note that Jesus was saying “you forgive the sins of any” and then their sins have been forgiven. In the KJV “forgive” is replaced with “remit,” which means the same thing (Webster’s 1828 dictionary). As I understand this verse, we perform the first part (forgive) and God does the second part (have been forgiven them). According to Mark 2:7, only God can forgive sins. This is a remarkable promise made by Jesus, right after He breathed on the disciples and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” Also notice that there is no qualifier or exclusion between our performance and God’s forgiving. For example, the verse doesn’t state: if you forgive the sins of any, then MAYBE their sins have been forgiven them (by God). Nor does it state: if you forgive the sins of a BELIEVER, then God will only forgive a believer’s sins.
There are similar statements made by Jesus in Matthew 16:19 and Matthew 18:18. In the first verse (Matthew 16:19) Jesus gave you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven. In the second verse (Matthew 18:18) Jesus said, “Truly I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven.” Taking these verses at face value, we can bind (forbid) and loose (permit) on earth and the same will be done in heaven. This authority of the believer given to us by God is truly astounding!
Second, let’s look at doing the same works that Jesus did as the “Son of Man.” In John 14:12 Jesus said that if we believe in Him, we will do the same works He did (and even greater works). The Bible doesn’t define the meaning of “Son of Man” but it probably refers to the perfect human form of Jesus on earth. Jesus was fully man and not Lord while on the earth. One of the miracles performed by Jesus as the Son of Man is the healing of the paralytic in Matthew 9:
Matthew 9:2 NASB95 And they brought to Him a paralytic lying on a bed. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralytic, “Take courage, son; your sins are forgiven.”
Matthew 9:6 NASB95 “But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins” – then He said to the paralytic, “Get up, pick up your bed and go home.”
Matthew 9:8 NASB95 But when the crowds saw this, they were awestruck, and glorified God, who had given such authority to men.
Reviewing these selected verses from Matthew’s account of the miracle (see also Mark 2:5 and Luke 5:20) we see the progression: Jesus tells the paralytic his sins are forgiven, Jesus tells the scribes and the crowd the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins, and finally the crowd glorifies God who had given this authority to men. What a glorious miracle and an awesome promise for believers. If we are truly able to do the same works as Jesus did as a human on the earth, then we should be able to forgive sins and heal others (empowered by God). William Barclay wrote that the experts in law believed a man could not be cured unless he was first forgiven. The paralytic was obviously cured and was able to get up and walk, therefore he had to have been forgiven first. And that means Jesus’ claim to have authority on earth to forgive sins must be true.
So the next time you encounter someone who is incapacitated or unable to ask forgiveness for their sins (due to an overpowering evil spirit), remember that believers have been given the authority on earth to forgive sins and heal sickness like Jesus the Son of Man did.
God is love. So above all else, let love be the beautiful prize for which you run (1 Corinthians 13:13 TPT). Jesus is Lord.