I was reading one day and came across John 20:19-23. This is when Jesus appears to His disciples after the resurrection.
Wow, I thought, "Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained." Do we have that kind of power?
I then thought about Jesus. He prayed, "Father, forgive them." Without Jesus praying none of us would have had a chance. I think when the ground shook and the sky darkened, it would have been the end, had Jesus not prayed, "Father, forgive."
Then Stephen prayed, "Lord, lay not this sin to their charge." Remember, Saul was standing there "consenting unto his death." Would Saul have become the Apostle Paul if Stephen had not prayed? I believe it was Stephen's prayer that gave Saul a chance. After meeting Jesus on the Damascus road, Saul got up blind. I believe his life would have been taken from him if Stephen had not prayed, "Lord, lay not this sin to their charge." Saul got a chance to accept Jesus, I don't think it would have been a chance without Stephen's prayer.
Then Paul himself prayed, "I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge."
Looks like a pattern to me. Something to think about.
But John 20:23, also says "whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained." (kept) If we don't forgive, if we hold on to someone's sins, then are we truly of Jesus. Yes, we are able to choose to remit or retain. But what would Jesus do? What should we do? Remit, Forgive. Jesus forgave us, otherwise we wouldn't have had a chance to be reconciled to God. Can you, who have been reconciled to God chance someone not being reconciled to God because you would not remit their sin, but chose to retain their sin? If we'd have been Stephen, would we have prayed "Lord, lay not this sin to their charge" or "Lord, get 'em". We have a will, God will not interfere with it. Just as Jesus had a free will. (He died as a man). He chose to forgive. Jesus felt every part of that cross and beating, just as we would have.
The Lord's Prayer Matthew 6:9-15.
9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy name. 10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as
it
is in heaven. 11 Give us this day our daily bread. 12 And forgive us
our debts, as we forgive our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and
the glory, for ever. Amen. 14 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your
heavenly Father will also forgive you: 15 But if ye forgive not men their
trespasses, neither will you Father forgive your trespasses.
Think about it.
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John 20:19-23 (back to where
you were)
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, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and said unto them, Peace
be
unto you. 20 And when he had so said, he showed unto them his hands
and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord. 21
Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father
has sent me, even so send I you. 22 And when he had said this, he breathed
on them, and said unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost: 23 Whose
soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever
sins
ye retain, they are retained.
Luke 23:34 (back to where you were)
"Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do."
Acts 7:58-60, 8:1-4, 9:1-15 (back
to where you were)
58 And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and
the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name
was Saul. 59 And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying,
Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. 60 And he kneeled down, and cried with a
loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. An when he had said
this, he fell asleep. 8:1 And Saul was consenting unto his death.
And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which
was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions
of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. 2 And devout men carried Stephen
to
his burial, and made great lamentation over him. 3 As for Saul, he
made havoc of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and
women committed them to prison. 4 Therefore they that were scattered
abroad went every where preaching the word. 9:1 And Saul, yet breathing
out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went
unto the high priest, 2 And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues,
that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might
bring them bound unto Jerusalem. 3 And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus:
and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: 4 And he
fell to the earth, an heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest
thou me? 5 And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus
whom thou persecutest:
it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.
6 And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to
do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, an
it shall be told thee what thou must do. 7. And the men which journeyed
with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man. 8 And Saul
arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man: but
they led him by the hand, and brought
him into Damascus. 9 And he
was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink. 10 And there
was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the
Lord in a vision, Ananias, And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord.
11 And the Lord said unto him , Arise, and go into the street which
is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for one called
Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prays, 12 And has seen in a vision a man
named Ananias coming in and putting his hand on him, that he might
receive his sight. 13 Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many
of this man, how much evil he has done to thy saints a Jerusalem: 14 And
here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy
name. 15 But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel
unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children
of Israel:
II Timothy 4:16 (back
to where you were)
At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook
me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge.