Forgiving Power

If you forgive the sins of any, their sins have been forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they have been retained. [John 20:23]

I think this is probably one of the most heretical things Jesus ever said. It was one of the last things He said before He “left.” This leads me to believe that it’s very important. If I forgive the sins of any, their sins are forgiven, and if I hold their sin against them, it is counted against them. Imagine the power of me forgiving Osama bin Laden. It is difficult to measure the impact. Think for a moment about the Apostle Paul. Before His encounter with Jesus, he traveled throughout the Middle East and Mediterranean having believers killed.

When they had driven him out of the city, they began stoning him; and the witnesses laid aside their robes at the feet of a young man named Saul. They went on stoning Stephen as he called on the Lord and said, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!" Then falling on his knees, he cried out with a loud voice, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them!" Having said this, he fell asleep. [Acts 7:58-60]

Stephen was murdered because he worked miracles and preached a message contrary to the established “church” of his time, and Saul was the one overseeing his execution. Just before Jesus died, He said, “Forgive them for they don’t know what they’re doing.” Stephen said essentially the same thing in the hearing of the main accomplice to his murderer. Later, Saul met Jesus, and eventually became Paul, the idol of American Christians…uh…I mean the most well known of the early believers and one of the greatest encouragers of believers throughout the Common Era.

What if Saul’s conversion happened because of the forgiveness of one believer, Stephen? What would happen if Christians, instead of criticizing EVERYONE, went throughout their communities forgiving people?