Who can forgive?

[Resting in Christ]

Does Matthew 16:19 include the imputed power to forgive sin(s)?

Is there any evidence in the Bible that Christians can forgive sins?

Matthew 16:19 I will give 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.

[Guest LadyC]

we can forgive sins committed against us. only God can forgive sins committed against Him.

[nikki1]

Blessings, Resting In Christ

Yes, Christians can forgive sin. In fact, we are commanded by the Lord Jesus to forgive others if we want to be forgiven. These are just a couple of scriptures that come to mind concerning forgiveness toward others, but there are more.

Matthew 18:21,22

Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?" Jesus answered, "I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times."

Luke 6:35-38;42

But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. "Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." ... How can you say to your brother, 'Brother, let me take the speck out of your eye,' when you yourself fail to see the plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.

Nikki

[BibleSEO]

Blessings, Resting In Christ

Yes, Christians can forgive sin. In fact, we are commanded by the Lord Jesus to forgive others if we want to be forgiven. These are just a couple of scriptures that come to mind concerning forgiveness toward others, but there are more.

Matthew 18:21,22

Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?" Jesus answered, "I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times."

Luke 6:35-38;42

But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. "Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." ... How can you say to your brother, 'Brother, let me take the speck out of your eye,' when you yourself fail to see the plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.

Nikki

Very Well Said. Nikki. I agree Christians can and should forgive others.

[Guest yod]

Is there any evidence in the Bible that Christians can forgive sins?

If they don't, they have no forgiveness themselves.

Copyright

[logos7]

Does Matthew 16:19 include the imputed power to forgive sin(s)?

Is there any evidence in the Bible that Christians can forgive sins?

Matthew 16:19 I will give 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.

"(14) For if ye forgive men their trepasses, your Heavenly Father will also forgive you: (15) But if ye forgive not men their trepasses, neither will your Father forgive your trepasses." Matthew 6:14-15

These verses not only tell us we can forgive sin, but it tells us if we forgive other God is our Heavenly Father. But if we don't forgive others He is our Father and Judge (See James 2:8-13).

Ephesians 4:32

"And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you."

[Smalcald]

Two issues.

Forgiving someone who sins against you is a Christian imperative and it is really really hard, but that is what we are called to do.

Forgiving the sins of someone who has not sinned against you but sinned against God and others this would fit the verse from Matthew and is reserved for the Church not individuals in my opinion.

Update: Reserved for Christ, who may use His Church to proclaim that forgiveness.

[OneLight]

Does Matthew 16:19 include the imputed power to forgive sin(s)?

Is there any evidence in the Bible that Christians can forgive sins?

Matthew 16:19 I will give 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.

I agree with all that has been said so far, but personally, I need clarification. Are you asking if Christians are able to forgive sins, as in the Roman Catholic tradition of confession, where someone tells us their sins and we can forgive them as when we confess to Christ? Or are you asking if we can forgive sins that someone has done against us personally? Either way, do you feel that if we forgive sins that they need not confess to Christ and seek forgiveness from Him?

Don't mind me ... still sipping my first coffee.

[EricH]

In a roundabout way we do. We have been given the gospel to share. It is there that people will find forgiveness

[Guest shiloh357]

Does Matthew 16:19 include the imputed power to forgive sin(s)?

Is there any evidence in the Bible that Christians can forgive sins?

Matthew 16:19 I will give 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.

Culturally speaking, this was how Rabbis commisioned their disciples. This passage is not talking about "forgiveness" per se, but the authority to legislate, judiciate and teach, as that was the commone duties of a Rabbi. Jesus was commissioning His disciples to be the leaders of first community of believers.

As to the question about forgiveness. We can forgive those who sin against us, but we cannot absolve anyone of sin. That authority rests with God. Forgiveness extended by us does not absolve anyone of sin.