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NASB | John 20:22 And when He had said this, He breathed on them and *said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | John 20:22 And when He said this, He breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. [Acts 1:8; 2:1-3] |
Bible Question:
John 20:21-23 What are these verses talking about? Does this mean that the apostles were being given the power by the Holy Spirit to retain or forgive sins like the Catholic priests believe? And if not what does it mean that they were to retain or forgive sins? And how does this gell with the fact that a person can ask Jesus for forgiveness of any sin except the greatest sin? A bunch of questions I know but these verses kinda shook me... God Bless hat lady |
Bible Answer: Greetings Tam! The easiest way to understand this passage is to think of it in terms of the ministry of reconciliation as Paul describes it in 2 Cor. 5. 2Co 5:11 Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade men. What we are is plain to God, and I hope it is also plain to your conscience. 2Co 5:12 We are not trying to commend ourselves to you again, but are giving you an opportunity to take pride in us, so that you can answer those who take pride in what is seen rather than in what is in the heart. 2Co 5:13 If we are out of our mind, it is for the sake of God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. 2Co 5:14 For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. 2Co 5:15 And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again. 2Co 5:16 So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. 2Co 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! 2Co 5:18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 2Co 5:19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 2Co 5:20 We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God. 2Co 5:21 God made him who had no sin to be sin[1] for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. It is not so much that we have the individual right to forgive sins as it is that we each have the individual right to proclaim forgiveness of sins to all, since Christ died for all. So, I, with complete confidence, can kneel with someone at the altar and assure them of salvation if they will call on the name of the Lord. This ministry has been given to us to proclaim to the world. I hope this helps! Your Brother in Christ, Tim Moran |