1. Understanding John 20.23
“If you forgive the sins of any, their sins have been forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they have been retained.”

2. QUESTIONS: What did Jesus do in v. 22?
Is this giving of the Spirit unique to this moment and audience?
Or, is it the Spirit’s work promised in ?
Or, was it a private Pentecost for the apostles?
Do vv apply to all believers or to apostles only?
What is the purpose of Jesus’ actions in v. 22?

3. Recall that vv. 20-23 are framed in the context of Jesus’ resurrection:
the disciples’ struggle with it
the confidence it should produce
the testimony it demands
its implications on their lives

4. VV. 20-23 ARE AN OVERVIEW OF THE GREATER WORK
1. Gospel message
(proof of resurrection)
2. Commission to take the message
(as the Father has sent Me, I also send you)
3. Equipping with the Spirit
4. Incredible implications of the message

5. Verse 23 (with word meanings in bold):
“If you forgive (release, send away, let go of) the sins of any, their sins have been forgiven (are being removed from) them. If you retain (hold on to) the sins of any, they have been (remain in their possession).”

6. The contextual flow to v. 23:
They do not believe He is alive
Jesus proves His resurrection
He commissions them as He was commissioned
He implores them to receive the Holy Spirit’s equipping ministry
Explains the purpose for their commission

7. Verse 23 paraphrased:
If you declare to others the Spirit-empowered testimony entrusted to you which is able to separate a man from his sins, by faith his sins are released.

8. Demonstrated…
Acts 26.18: “…to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God, in order that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me.”

9. The same testimony assures if one rejects it, his sins will remain with him.
John 8.24: “I said therefore to you, that you shall die in your sins; for unless you believe that I am He, you shall die in your sins.”
John 9.41: Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no sin; but since you say, ‘We see,’ your sin remains.”
John 12.46: “I have come as light into the world, that everyone who believes in Me may not remain in darkness.”

10. “AS THE FATHER HAS SENT ME…
Jesus came to explain the Father, 1.18.
Key to Jesus’ testimony of the Father is their relationship.
No one knows the Father like Jesus does.
Jesus is an eye-witness of the Father.
Jesus didn’t just tell them about the Father, He showed them the Father.

11. “I ALSO SEND YOU.” Their ministry is to explain Jesus to the world.
Key to their testimony is their relationship with Him.
No humans on earth knew Jesus as they did.
They are eye-witnesses of Jesus’ person and work.
They didn’t just tell of Jesus, they showed Jesus to the world via the Spirit’s equipping and their eye-witness testimony ( ).

12. THOMAS DEMONSTRATES VERSE 23 WORKING IN REAL LIFE.
Thomas’ absence shows that the emphasis was not on the event, but the commission. Jesus confirmed the apostles testimony and Thomas believed. The same was true of Paul. All of these were eye-witnesses; a requirement expressed by Peter.
Acts :
“It is therefore necessary that of the men who have accompanied us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us--beginning with the baptism of John, until the day that He was taken up from us--one of these should become a witness with us of His resurrection.”

13. Example of the Church’s work to unbelievers:
Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ, and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation.
Therefore, we (Paul & Timothy) are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were entreating through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him Cor

14. Questions & Answers Q. What did Jesus do in v. 22?
A. He commissioned the apostles, in the power of the Spirit, to begin the Church’s greater work.

15. Questions & Answers
Q. Is this giving of the Spirit something unique to this moment and audience?
A. The message of this text is not a specific gifting of the Spirit to a select few in a room. The message is that Jesus implored them to receive the Spirit’s equipping ministry for the work He was calling them to do. This was immediately extended to Thomas and later to Paul. The whole Church would receive this spiritual equipping for the greater work, building on the foundation laid with the apostles.

16. Questions & Answers Q. Is it the Spirit’s work promised in 7.37-39?
A. A form of it, yes. In as much as the Spirit is the living water that will flow from all true believers to accomplish the greater work.
Q. Was it a private Pentecost for the apostles?
A. No. The Spirit works in more than one way however, each is a means to the same end.

17. Questions & Answers
Q. Do vv apply to all believers or to apostles only?
A. The apostles were a limited number of men gifted to the Church (Eph. 4.11), foundational for the Church (Eph. 2.20), validated by specific signs (Acts 2.43; 2 Cor ) to whom this commission was first spoken. But the Church, with the same Spirit continues the same work when we build on the apostle’s/Bible’s teaching.

18. Questions & Answers Q. What is the purpose of Jesus’ actions in v. 22?
A. Short answer: to lay the foundation of the Church to do the greater work.
A. Long answer: [Jesus] gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ. Eph. 4.11ff

19. THE GREAT COMMISSION IN JOHN
1. Gospel message
(showed them his wounds; proof of resurrection)
2. Commission to take the message
(as the Father has sent Me, I also send you)
3. Equipping with the Spirit
4. Incredible implications of the message

20. What are the implications?
The apostles, and subsequently the Church, were given the power to proclaim the gospel which provides both forgiveness for those who repent and believe, and the warning that forgiveness is not available to the unrepentant and unbelieving.

21. What are the implications?
As the Church, we share the apostle’s commission to make disciples through explaining the gospel; teaching them what Jesus taught, and baptize (identifying) them in the name of the Father, Son, and Spirit. When we do, we tell them with God’s very words that their sins are forgiven, and their sins really are forgiven!
Likewise, if someone rejects Jesus or claims faith but it is void of Christ’s lordship of their lives (a works-less, dead faith), the same testimony will warn them that their sins remain unforgiven.

22. AS A CHRISTIAN, WHAT RESULTS FROM MY RESPONSE TO THIS COMMISSION?