You could know that it happened without knowing how it happened. The first thing they think about is getting back to the tomb. Let me be honest here. (Photo by Fiona Morgan) After more than two weeks and worldwide headlines, revival services at Asbury University in central Kentucky came to an end recently. To have sin abide, therefore, is to remain estranged from God. Is it really possible for Christians to do greater works than Jesus? Peter and John run also. The context of John 20:23 is that Jesus was speaking to the disciples (v. 19). They have authority to interpret what they were told by Jesus. In 1969, after graduating from Talbot Theological Seminary, John came to Grace Community Church. All of our resources exist to guide you toward everlasting joy in Jesus Christ. CARM |P.O. Why two? They went out and fled from the tomb, for trembling and astonishment had gripped them; and they said nothing to anyone, for they were in a panic. Theyre trying to process something they never, ever, ever expected. So theyre walking on the road to Emmaus, a town seven miles from Jerusalemtalking to each other about all the things that had taken place. This is to demonstrate to us that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, so that we might believe that, and by believing have eternal life in His name.. Elders today do not have this ability to speak with inspiration. As we come to his account and as we go through this, well blend in a little from Matthew, Mark, and Luke at strategic points to help you get a better grip on it. And we ask that You would use us mightily for Your glory, in our Saviors name. One of the few translations that reflect key Greek nuances here is the New American Standard Bible: If you forgive the sins of any, their sins have been forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they have been retained (emphasis added throughout). Jesus words in John 20:23 were stated immediately after alluding to a tool in this process that that would be new to them: He breathed on them, and said to them, Receive the Holy Spirit (verse 22). Peter and John testify to an empty tomb. Will God take their decision into account? Fascinating scene simply recorded for us. Therefore, the NASB better reflects the fact that these individuals sins will have already been forgiven or retained by God before the apostles recognition of the same. I dont know just exactly what he believed fully, because the next verse says, As yet they didnt understand the Scripture, that He must rise again from the dead. So hes maybe like the man who said, Lord, I believe; help my unbelief. The point that I want you to notice is that they had no expectation that Jesus would rise: the women didnt, the leaders of the apostles didnt. Follow John MacArthur: Contact Information: Phone: 800-55-GRACE Fax: 661-295-5871 Email: [email protected] Mailing Address: PO Box 4000 . He was also a little more shy than Peter, and hes stooping, looked in, saw the linen wrappings lying theredidntt go in. How could they sustain it their whole life, die as martyrs for a fraud, a hoax? Christianity, Islam and Zoroastrianism: Which is the true religion and why? He was about to leave, and he was delegating to them authority to make some authoritative decision for the church. There are several interesting things to note about it. Clearly His body was there, and then it wasnt. 2010 2011 John MacArthur's Income. The first line of testimony for the resurrection of Christ is the empty tomb, the second is the angelic declaration, and the third is the testimony of the eyewitnesses. The same women who were at the foot of the cross were there on Friday when Joseph and Nicodemus were burying the body of Jesus. Is that level of authority exactly the same as the apostles? The soldiers fled the tomb. A Lighthouse Trails reader brought to our attention this week that John MacArthur is no longer appearing on the speaker line up for the NRB's convention, Proclaim 19.Editors at Lighthouse Trails called Grace to You (MacArthur's ministry) to confirm this and were told that due to illness, John MacArthur would not be speaking at Proclaim 19. He will see His offspring, and He will be eternally glorified and exalted. He was dead. Dec. 25, 2022. Christ also alluded to this in another Gospel. . Apr 14, 2019. What did Jesus mean when He said, If you love me keep my commandments? Scripture: John 20:1-23. No one was there; we dont know how it happened. In Matthew 18 Jesus appears to be addressing the church as a whole, whereas in John 20:23 he is addressing the apostles. Maybe she took a peek and realized that the body was not there. What is the correct interpretation of John 20:23? If Christians are forgiven of thier sins, then why do they have to give account their lives at Judgement (1 Peter 4:5-6)? Jesus shows physical evidence of His crucifixion, then gives the men a partial measure of the Holy Spirit. John 20:21-23 is a very confusing passage for the English reader, Jesus therefore said to them again, "Peace be with you; as the Father has sent Me, I also send you. Whatever you forbid on earth must be what is already forbidden in heaven (Amplified Bible). John MacArthur recently completed a three part series from 2 Corinthians 4:8-18. . JOIN Grace Community Church Sunday Service with John MacArthur, Live Stream February-26-2023. All rights reserved. Again, Earlythe first day of the week, as verse 2 says, when the sun had just risen. Both had entered the tombsaw the linen wrappings lying there, and the face-cloth which had been on His head, not lying with the linen wrappings, but rolled up in a place by itself. This is no grave robbery. The sun may have just arisen over the eastern desert. I love the honesty of that. 03/05/23. So the other disciple who had first come to the tomb second time he refers to his speed - then also entered, and he saw and believed.. Heres the evidence of an empty tomb: the absent guards, the absent guards; the stone removed; the body gone; and then the grave clothes neatly lying in place. That doctrine declares that the whole human race is sinful. He has frequently spoken out against the modern Charismatic. Only here in this Gospel in connection with sins. The Bible does mention appointing elders (Acts 14:23; Titus 1:5), and that the disciples of Jesus had special authority (Matt. Its promised in Psalm16: He will not allow His Holy One to see corruption, but show Him the path of life. Genesis 1:26-31. . An example of the application of this authority is found in Acts when the Council of Jerusalem made authoritative decision for the Gentile Christians scattered across areas where Paul had planted churches. Every miracle, teaching, and reaction John writes has one clearpurposeto prove that Jesus is the Word, the Messiah, and the Son of God. By David J. Stewart | January 2008 . The apostles had miraculous knowledge and the ability to speak with inspiration. Words are not required to be saved. In John's Gospel, Jesus talks about sin as unbelief, the unwillingness or incapacity to grasp the truth of God manifested in him. Ill do this quickly. No Comments. It is a creative miracle. He had been buried on Friday. And we really dont need to know how a miracle happened, but there were eyewitnesses. We talk about it; we sing about it; we celebrate it. Theyre back at the Jewish supreme court trying to explain what happened. Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just exactly as the women also had said; but they didnt see Him so sad O foolish men, slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken!. The two were running together. Mary Magdalene gets to the tomb just to fill in the blank spins around when she sees the stone is rolled away. Nevertheless, we dont have divine authority to both forgive and cleanse anyones sinsonly God can do that. "Remember me" to Jesus (Luke 23:42). And now He is in charge of His own resurrection. And thats exactly what she says. Everyone knew the body was there. Peter and John never refer to them when they get there. After graduating from Talbot Theological Seminary, John came to Grace Community Church in 1969. All you need to see is the Person who was dead, and there were many witnesses. They dont know how the stone was rolled away. Shes assuming that Jesus is still dead, but taken taken. Here you then have the second line of testimony. Site design and hosting by . Christs breathing on them was symbolic of their receiving Gods Spirit. John 20:20 The Hands of the Risen Christ J. Mike Minnix. They knew He raised Lazarus from the dead, and they werent dealing with the Messianic disaster that the Jewish believers were dealing with. In order to answer this question, I would like to consider a parallel passage that deal with this question. They run. Series: The Battle for the Beginning. The composite of all four is the total story of the resurrection. The composite testimony of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John is the full, revealed, inspired picture of the resurrection. ; and 2Corinthians 2:15-16. And then the church began at the very beginning to meet on the first day to commemorate the resurrection. So she ran and came to Simon Peter and the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and said to them, Theyve taken away the Lord out of the tomb, we do not know where they have laid Him. So Peter and the other disciple went forth, and they were going to the tomb. Note: this post has updated by adding extra links in the Further Reading and Viewing section at the bottom of the post. And verse 23 represents the fruit of Gods Spirit, that is, they will be inspired to either pardon or discipline people according to what has already been bound by God. John Piper Apr 12, 2009. If Jesus was God, why did He say "The Father is greater than I" in John 14:28. (6) The publishing of the forgiveness of sins by faith in Christ, and the setting forth and proclaiming the wrath of God in retaining the sins of the unbelievers, is the sum of the preaching of the gospel. But she got there first. 1 In the first book, O a Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began b to do and teach, 2 until the day when c he was taken up, after he d had given commands e through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. John 20:23 appears to give the ability to forgive sins to Christians. The Sanhedrin testifies to an empty tomb, and comes up with a ridiculous concoction to explain it away. If only God can forgive sins, then how can you explain John 20:23, which seems to contradict this? The ridiculous notion of critics through history that the disciples were so committed to the resurrection of Jesus that they fabricated is completely contrary to the testimony of Scripture. It happened because God willed it to happen, and by His supernatural power it happened. As you think about those elements that weve just look at, let me just identify them. That is yet to come. Mark says its very early, and the sun had risen. So the body was wrapped, and the head was wrapped separately. 2023-24 . Hes been in the ministry for more than 20 years, serving several congregations on the U.S. east coast and in Texas. Look at Luke24, Luke24. And when its daybreak, as Mark says, the sun has risen. As Luke says, it is early dawn. As Matthew says, it began to dawn. And as John says, theres still a dusky darkness. What about Ananias? And they died because they preached Jesus crucified and risen; and if they faked His resurrection, that would have been absolutely the most idiotic thing they could have ever done. Lets take a look. Since hes the author of this gospel he puts it in twice. John 20:23 - If you forgive anyone's sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven." Answer: I certainly can see how this passage could cause concern for you. The leaders of the local church have the authority and even the responsibility to Expel the wicked man from among you in extreme cases. JOHN MACARTHUR is the pastor-teacher of Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, California; president of The Master's College and Seminary; and featured teacher for the Grace to You media ministry. For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people's bones and all uncleanness. Certainly give the apostles more credit than that. Never miss a post! The majority of Bible translations use similar wording here, making it sound like God has given the ministry of the Church the authority to forgive or retain sins.
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