2010-2-21
Peace to You, Sins Retained & Sins Remitted
John 20:19 Then, the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, "Peace be with you."
Imagine the events unfolding Jesus had died the report had gone out that He was risen! Still the disciples were huddle in fear of the Jews who had killed Jesus. In the middle of the fear and uncertainty Jesus showed up in the midst. The first words He speaks is Peace be with you!
When the circumstance of life seems uncertain it is a good time for Jesus to show up. In time of uncertainty Jesus wants to minister to you.
Hebrews 13:5 Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." 6 So we may boldly say: "The LORD is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?"
His promise is to never leave us or forsake us! We can boldly say God is my Helper! God’s Word has instructed us to cast our every care on Him for He care for us! Jesus is on the scene even if you feel unaware of it. Jesus speaks peace in the mist of our fears and uncertainty.
John 16:33 "These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world."
Jesus’ overcoming gives us the victory! In Christ we may have peace! His word to us is be of good cheer! In the very midst of our trouble Jesus speaks to us to cheer up! Why? His victory is our victory!
1 John 5:4 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world; our faith. 5 Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?
Our overcoming, our peace is only when the object of our faith is in believing that Jesus is the Son of God! Indeed because we have made Him the Shepherd and Overseer of our soul, He will take care of us! Peace be unto you!
John 20:20 When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. 21 So Jesus said to them again, "Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you."
Imagine going from fear of the Jews to absolute joy the Christ is truly risen! How intimate Jesus was showing them his nailed scarred hands and side! Jesus spoke peace to them a second time! Out of the peace came the calling! Can we hear the precious call of the Savior? “As the Father has sent Me, I also send you”. It is imperative to learn to walk in this gift of peace! Jesus is the prince of peace!
John 14:27 "Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
Romans 5:1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
John 20:22 And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. "If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained."
Jesus breathed on them! It was an impartation from Jesus!
Romans 8:9 But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. 10 And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
If Christ is in you the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. Christ in you is the hope of glory! It is the essences of the New Covenant! It is the statement Jesus made to the disciples that I want to stop and consider. “If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them: if you retain the sins of any they are retained.”
Retaining and forgiving others sins is something the church does not talk about too often. To address what it does not mean is very important to avoid erroneous teaching. There was not a priesthood birthed starting with the 12 disciples that have the power to allow people to remain in their sin or to extend forgiveness.
1 Timothy 2:5 For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time,
There is only one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus. There is not another mediator not now not ever!
Hebrews 3:1 Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, Christ Jesus,
We have one High priest and we do not need another! Jesus is the Apostle and High Priest of our confession and we do not need another!
Hebrews 7:22 by so much more Jesus has become a surety of a better covenant. 23 Also there were many priests, because they were prevented by death from continuing. 24 But He, because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood. 25 Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.
If an earthly priesthood was going to continue there was no need for Jesus Christ! Jesus saves to the uttermost with an unchangeable priesthood. Jesus stands in the gap for you ever making intercession for you the believer.
John 20:22 And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. "If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained."
So what is the power to retain or the power to forgive?
Colossians 3:12 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.
When Jesus breathed on the disciples there was an impartation of the Holy Spirit. When one is born again they receive this impartation.
1 John 4:15 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.
It is the abiding that occurs at the confession of faith! When one is born again there is the supernatural abiding that brings you power not to retain but to forgive.
Jesus forgives the sinner! If any man confesses their sin Jesus is faithful and just to forgive them of their sin and to cleanse them from all unrighteousness.
Believers have the power to retain or to forgive sin. It is not the issue of the offender it is the issue of your heart. There are many who have been wounded and still retain the sin of those who hurt them.
There are sign posts that show you still retain the sin of another.
1. There is a rehearsal of the hurt rather in conversation or one's own thought life. The situation is often thought about in one’s heart. Sometimes out loud to others, but it could be just in your own reflections.
2. Nurturing of the wound. Wounds that have never been healed are because there is the infection of retaining sin.
3. Is there a name you hear that brings turmoil to your heart.. If you see them in public you go around the block, or down the aisle of the grocery store you don’t need just to avoid them. Yes, this is a sure sign of retaining sin.
The unrestrained thoughts of our heart and mind can be the greatest stumbling block to forgiveness.
1 Peter 1:13 Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
The stray thoughts that nurture the pain and hurts of the past can be girded up!
Matthew 5:44 "But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, 45 "that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 "For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?
One of the ways you can capture those stray thoughts is to begin to pray for and bless those who do you wrong. It not easy to start with; however if you will offer up an offering of blessing for the unlovely you set God free to bring a healing into your heart.
There have been times in my own life out of sheer obedience I begin to love my enemy and bless them. I told God, “I don’t feel like it but out of obedience to you I will”! I can’t put my finger on the time but after a season I found myself praying a heart felt prayer of blessing for them. It was then God was able to intervene on my behalf.
Our retaining sin of another may never affect the one that did us wrong; However without exception if we retain the sin of another they are retained by us and the very act of retaining brings turmoil to our own soul.
Romans 12:17 Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. 18 If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. 19 Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay," says the Lord. 20 Therefore "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head." 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us! Based upon the depth of forgiveness to me I can live loving the unlovely. Forgiveness is a choice of the heart. It's not just forgive and forget that person that hurt me. It is forgive and bless that one. Even if it begins with the simple of act of praying for their salvation or praying that God will bless them with revelation knowledge of the Messiah. Forgiveness is the lifestyle of wholeness for the believer.
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