AWAKE, ARISE, AND TRIUMPH
Thursday – April 1, 2021, Nisan 19, 5781
REMITTING SIN
Greetings precious children of God and welcome back to The Three Minute Word blog. We are pleased and blessed by those who utilize these teachings as a daily study of the Word of God. Now, I would ask that each one take a moment and share this teaching and all of these teachings as widely as possible to expend our reach with these Truths. The featured picture today is of Donna and me on Quill Hill in Rangeley Maine this past summer. This is one of our favorite pictures. Today between 7 and 9 am central time (8 – 10 eastern) I will be undergoing a left total hip replacement in San Antonio, Texas. Pray, command a ring of the fire of God about me, command (decree) supernatural wisdom for my surgeon, and decree a supernaturally rapid recovery. No adlibing dear ones, thank you.
As you will recall Jesus has been resurrected from the dead (physical and spiritual) and fully restored as the second person of Triune Co-equal God. As we will see shortly Jesus has a glorified immortal physical body of flesh and bone. This physical part is important for Him to convey authority back to those in covenant with God, and function as our High Priest at the Mercy Seat of Heaven. His Spirit part is restored as He has been for eternity. Mary Magdalene has seen the risen Savior and told the disciples. Now, He is present among them having entered without the use of the doors which were locked or windows. As we saw back in verse 19 His first words to these, I suppose startled disciples is “Peace be unto you”. With the exception of Adam mankind has not had the capacity to experience the peace of God. Peace, the capacity for peace is a part of our spirit man and he has been dead until now. These disciples are the first to experience salvation, a quickening a reuniting of the spirit man with God (Holy Spirit). As we read our primary text for today, we see Jesus repeat the command of “Peace be unto you”. And then He breaths on them and says “Receive ye the Holy Ghost”. Jesus was the first salvation, now these in their order. Let’s read our text aloud, yes, out loud.
John 20:21-23 (KJV)
21 Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.
22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:
23 Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.
Today I will be discussing the 23rd verse about which some of you may find controversial as they did in that day at another time. Notice that everything in the 21st and 22nd verses are a command from our risen Lord. Of course, any of us can ignore or refuse a command and I suspect all of us have (put very gently). Jesus through the Holy Spirit has been telling us from the moment of our salvation to walk in peace. Likely many times up until the moment of our acceptance of salvation Jesus by way of the Holy Spirit was saying to each of us “receive ye the Holy Ghost”. Now let’s move into verse twenty-three. I don’t remember ever hearing this verse preached or taught. However, here it is in red letters, our Master, our Lord is saying it. Let’s take heed. Look at this verse in the New Living Translation and Amplified Bible.
John 20:23 (NLT)
23 If you forgive anyone’s sins, they are forgiven. If you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”
John 20:23 (AMP)
23 [Now having received the Holy Spirit, and being led and directed by Him] if you forgive the sins of anyone, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of anyone, they are retained.
It seems clear that we can choose to forgive another’s sins or not. This is not pointing to any particular circumstance. For example, it is not pointing only to sins committed against us, but all sins. Forgiving one’s sins does not save them, cause them to be born again but takes the judgment of that particular sin off the table. We see an example of this when Stephen was being stoned.
Acts 7:60 (KJV)
60 And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
We see this with the man Christ Jesus on the Cross.
Luke 23:34 (KJV)
34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.
Here is an example in the Ministry of Jesus as an Anointed man in the earth. An Anointed man just like you and me.
Matthew 9:1-8 (KJV)
1 And he entered into a ship, and passed over, and came into his own city.
2 And, behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy; Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee.
3 And, behold, certain of the scribes said within themselves, This man blasphemeth.
4 And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts?
5 For whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and walk?
6 But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house.
7 And he arose, and departed to his house.
8 But when the multitudes saw it, they marvelled, and glorified God, which had given such power unto men.
Remember, the works that He did we are to do also (John 14:12).
Lord willing, I will pick up right here next Monday.
2 Chronicles 20:20b (KJV)
20 … Believe in the LORD your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper.
Until our next publication, as your Bible Teacher and a Prophetic Voice in your life I speak this blessing over each and every one of you, receive it, believe it, and speak over yourself and your family by faith in Jesus name!
Numbers 6:24-26 (AMP)
24 The Lord bless you and watch, guard, and keep you;
25 The Lord make His face to shine upon and enlighten you and be gracious (kind, merciful, and giving favor) to you;
26 The Lord lift up His [approving] countenance upon you and give you peace (tranquility of heart and life continually).
By: Dr. David Wood, Author, Bible Teacher, and Prophetic Voice
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