My good friend Bill.
One of the incorrect statements often made by Catholics on this forum is that non-Catholics who hold the Bible in high regard feel free to interpret it in any way that suits their fancy. On the other hand, they (Catholics) brag that Catholics are protected from this “misuse” of Scripture by getting their information on the Bible from the Catholic Church. While I cannot speak for all Protestants, I can speak for myself. I would like to make this as clear to you as possible. I interpret Scripture by asking the Holy Spirit to guide me. I can check my interpretation of Scripture for errors by comparing it to Scripture. In other words, the Bible cannot contradict itself. So if I say that verse “x” means “y”, then I better be able to find verses to support my “y” and no verses to contradict my “y”. Jesus said “the Scriptures cannot be broken.” This bears repeating, the Scriptures cannot be broken.
Ok, now Bill, one of the central truths of the Bible is that only God can forgive sins against God. If there is any doubt in your mind about the accuracy of this statement then there is really no point in our continuing this discussion as much fun and entertaining as it may be. Jesus was sentenced to death by the Jewish leaders because he claimed to be able to forgive man’s sins against God. If Jesus were not God in the flesh, then the Jewish leaders would have been correct in their charge against him. If you or a church are teaching that someone other than God is able to forgive sins and use Scripture to back up the claim, they might I suggest that there is something wrong with your interpretation of those verses you use to support your claim? A bitter pill to swallow maybe, but this is what the Bible teaches.
In a previous response to you, I tongue and cheek forgave you for your sin of incorrect spelling and grammar. My forgiving you, nice as it is, is not the same as God forgiving you of your sins against Him. If I steal something from you, I have committed a sin against both you and God. I have taken something that rightfully belongs to you. I can apologize and or make restitution to you and you may or may not forgive me, which is your call. If you forgive me great, but unless I also confess this sin to God and ask His forgiveness, I have still broken God’s law and this needs to be addressed. But I can go to God and ask forgiveness and receive it from him regardless of what you do. True, the Bible teaches that true forgiveness can only be achieved by asking forgiveness (to God and the victim), repenting and making restitution to the victim. Notice that I’m not saying that a person can sin against his fellow man, ask God to forgive, then sin again with impunity. This is not what I’m saying so I ask that you do not make that charge.
If, on the other hand, you refuse to forgive me of a sin that that I have committed against you and I have asked God to forgive that sin and I have done everything possible to prove true repentance and you still refuse to forgive me for no good reason, then you now have a sin problem. You would be guilty of being stubborn, prideful, arrogant, un-loving, what ever. You, from God’s perspective hate me. This is what John 20:22-23 is teaching believers. Let God administer final justice, we my friend if we are true believers in Christ are to love one another, as Christ loved the church and gave his life for it.
Yours truly
Jon
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