Did Jesus Give the Church the Power to Forgive Sins? (Episode 7)
Mar 31, 2026 • Pastor Ryan Johnson
In John 20:22–23, Jesus tells His disciples, “If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them.” But doesn’t Scripture teach that only God can forgive sins? In this episode of Curious Faith: Questions Answered, we explore what Jesus actually meant in this surprising passage. We’ll look at the context of Christ’s commission to His disciples, how the original language clarifies the meaning, and why the church has the authority to declare forgiveness through the Gospel—not create it. This episode helps us understand the difference between divine forgiveness and the church’s responsibility to proclaim it.
