During the ministry of Jesus, He revealed His Mercy. He
opened blind eyes and deaf ears, raised the dead, fed the hungry, made the lame
to walk, cleansed lepers, cast out demons, AND FORGAVE SINS.
This time period appears to be a separate dispensation from
that of the Law and of Grace. Rather, it is a transition from the Law to Grace,
from God’s Divine Attribute of Justice/Judgment to God's Divine Attribute of
Mercy – revealing mercy through His Name Jesus.
A notable verse is Matthew 9:2-8. Jesus as the Son of man, a
human (but without sin), with all the fullness of God in Him, forgave a
paralytic man’s sins.
"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." - Matthew 9:2
KJV
Some of the scribes thought Jesus was blaspheming, because
only God can forgive sins, not recognizing that Jesus is God robed in flesh.
"And, behold, certain of the scribes said within
themselves, This man blasphemeth." - Matthew 9:3 KJV
Because Jesus is God, He knew what they were thinking.
"And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, Wherefore think
ye evil in your hearts? For whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven
thee; or to say, Arise, and walk?" - Matthew 9:4-5 KJV
Jesus revealed next that He had given MAN authority to
forgive sins.
"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. And he arose, and departed to his
house." - Matthew 9:6-7 KJV [my emphasis]
"BUT WHEN THE MULTITUDES SAW IT, THEY MARVELED, AND
GLORIFIED GOD, WHICH HAD GIVEN SUCH POWER UNTO MEN." - Matthew 9:8 KJV [my
emphasis]
Jesus declared this power and authority to forgive sins to
His disciples in the great commission as recorded by John. “Remit” is another
word for “forgive.” “Remission” is another word for “forgiveness.”
In the following verses, Jesus is sending out His disciples
(As in Mark, “go ye.”) He speaks of receiving the Holy Ghost, and of remission
of sins, which we see to be by water baptism in Jesus name in Luke (Luke
24:46-49) and in Acts (Acts 2:38).
"Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as
my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. And when he had said this, he
breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost: WHOSE SOEVER
SINS YE REMIT, THEY ARE REMITTED UNTO THEM; AND WHOSE SOEVER SINS YE RETAIN,
THEY ARE RETAINED." - John 20:21-23 KJV [my emphasis]
Although Jesus’ disciples were already baptizing in Jesus
name during His ministry, the remission of sins fully took effect after
Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection.
On the Day of Pentecost, when the church began, Peter
preached how a person may have their sins remitted/forgiven.
"Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be BAPTIZED
every one of you IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST FOR THE REMISSION OF SINS, and ye
shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." - Acts 2:38 KJV [my emphasis]
The Son of man (body of Christ) – the church – fulfills its
part of the gospel when it water baptizes people in Jesus name for the
remission of sins.
God fulfills His part of the gospel when He baptizes people
with His Spirit.
God has given the church power to forgive/remit sins. (And
the church is given the choice whether they baptize a person or not - whether
they forgive their sins or not. “Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted
unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.”) The church is
to reveal mercy, as Jesus did.
The new birth: Water and Spirit, mother and Father. The
mother (the church) water baptizes, the Father (Jesus) Spirit baptizes, and a
soul is born again.
"And (Jesus) said unto them, Thus it is written, and
thus it behooved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:
“And that repentance and remission of sins should be
preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And ye are
witnesses of these things.
“And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but
tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on
high." - Luke 24:46-49 KJV
"And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and
began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance...
“Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every
one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall
receive the gift of the Holy Ghost...
“Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and
the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. And they
continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking
of bread, and in prayers." - Acts 2:4, 38, 41-42 KJV
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