It is important to say at the beginning of this lesson that this verse and its cross references in Matt. 18:18 and Jn. 20:23 are not about binding the devil or about the Catholic confessional. These verses are about the ability given to the disciples and Christians to establish rules, forgive iniquity, and make binding agreements that God will honor.

In Acts 15, the Jews held a council to determine what requirements, if any, should be laid upon the Gentile converts. The question came up whether they should be circumcised and whether they had to be under the law in order to be saved (Acts 15:1, 5). After deliberations, the council decided to only require the Gentiles to observe four things (Acts 15:20). This was "bound" by the council and, therefore, "bound" in heaven.

In Gal. 2:1- 9, Paul conferred with James, Cephas and John because there was a group that was trying to bring Paul and some of his preachers into bondage. After these men saw that the gospel to the Gentiles was committed to Paul, they shook hands and agreed that Paul and his men should go to the Gentiles; and James, Cephas, John, and their men should go to the Jews. This was a God-honored, binding agreement to protect "our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus," (v. 4).

In 1 Cor. 5:1-5, Paul urged the Corinthians to kick a fornicator out of their congregation. They would not forgive his sin. The congregation turned him over to Satan for the destruction of his flesh. However, during his punishment from the church (2 Cor. 2:6), he got right with the Lord and Paul and the church forgave him (2 Cor. 2:7-10). Thus his sin was remitted.

The basis for our authority to forgive anyone is the forgiveness that God gave us for the sake of Jesus Christ (Eph 4:30-32, Lk. 17:3-4). Christians don’t need a priest in a confessional to forgive sins since we are all "priests" once we are saved (1 Pet. 2:9).
When we preach the gospel to sinners, we have the privilege of telling them that all their sins will be forgiven once they trust Christ. Like Acts 13:38 says, "… through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins." Col. 1:14 adds, "In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins."

A sinner without Christ, on the other hand, cannot be forgiven by God, no matter who on earth forgives them. A priest cannot remit or absolve sin. Only God can forgive sins (Mk. 2:5-7). And He will only forgive your sins when you "believe on the Lord Jesus Christ." Like Jesus said in John 8:24, "I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins."

Hope this helps,

Pastor Welder