WHO HAS THE POWER TO FORGIVE SINS?   BY STEVE FINNELL

ONLY GOD CAN FORGIVE SINS

Luke 5:20-24 Seeing their faith, He said. "Friend, your sins are forgiven you." 21 The scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, "Who is this man who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone?" 22 But Jesus, aware of their reasoning, answered and said to them, "Why are you reasoning in your hearts? 23 Which is easier, to say, 'Your sins have been forgiven you,' or to say, 'Get up and walk'? 24 But, so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins,"---He said to the paralytic---"I say to you get up, and pick up your stretcher and go home."

Jesus did not disagree with the Pharisees when they said, "only God can forgive sins." The problem was the scribes and Pharisees did not realized that Jesus was God in the flesh.

The scribes and Pharisees were correct in saying that anyone, but God, who claims the authority to forgive sins is committing blasphemies. What about the men today who claim that they have the authority to grant absolution? Would that not be included the blasphemies category?

No preacher, priest, evangelist, pastor nor any other man can forgive sinners nor saints for the sins they commit against God.

NOTE: There is no mention of the office of Christian priest under the New Covenant. That is man-made position.

JESUS IS THE ONLY PRIEST MEN NEED!

Hebrews 7:23-25 The former priests, on the one hand, existed in greater number because the were prevented by death from continuing , 24 but Jesus, on the other hand, because He continues forever, holds His priesthood permanently. Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.

No man-made priest is able to save anyone. Jesus is THE PRIEST.

Romans 8:34 who is the one who condemns" Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercede for us.

Jesus is the priest who is at the right hand of God.

1 Timothy 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,

There is one mediator between man and God. No preacher, priest, not the Virgin Mary, no apostle, no pastor, nor any saint dead or alive is standing between man and God. Only God forgives sin and Jesus Christ is the only mediator between men and God.

1 John 1:5-9 ....God is light.....9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

There is nothing in these verses that indicates we are to confess are sins to anyone other than God.

It says, He (GOD), will forgive our sins. There is nothing about absolution from a priest, preacher, pastor etc.

Those who are already Christians can confess to  God and have their sins forgiven.

JESUS IS THE PRIEST FOR ALL CHRISTIANS---THE ONLY PRIEST MEN NEED!

ONLY GOD CAN FORGIVE SINS!