By: Robert Serreyn

Question? What does John 20:23 mean?

(John 20:23) Whosesoever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whosesoever sins ye retain, they are retained.

Answer:

The Catholic Church has GRABBED HOLD of this verse and CLAIM that this verse GIVES their priest the POWER and AUTHORITY from God’s Word to forgive sins.

The answer to John 20:23 is as follows:

– Whosesoever sins ye remit they are remitted unto them = Preach the Gospel and those who believe are saved.

– whosesoever sins ye retain, they are retained = Those that REJECT Christ are lost in their sins.

A EXCELLENT and a GREAT companion verse to John 20:23 is Chapter 12 Verse 48:

(John 12:48) He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.

– The Word is in reference to the Word Of God.

(Hebrews 4:12) For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

– The Last Day is in reference to the Great White Throne Judgement.

(Revelation 20:11 – 15) And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. (12) And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. (13) And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. (14) And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. (15) And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

The MOST IMPORTANT thing to know IS Jesus Christ as savior, just simply believe that Jesus Christ went to the cross and DIED and shed his blood, was BURIED and three days later RESURRECTED from the dead to pay for your sins.

-Christ DIED for you – Romans 5:8

-Christ PAID your sins in full – 2 Corinthians 5:21,1 Peter 2:24

-BELIEVE (Trust In Completely) in Christ ALONE as the complete payment of sin for salvation – John 3:16, Acts 16:31, Ephesians 2:8,9

“For the wages(payment) of sin is death (eternal torment in hell); but the GIFT(salvation) of God is eternal life THROUGH Jesus Christ our Lord”. Romans 6:23

IT IS THAT SIMPLE – THE GOSPEL TRUTH