The Power To Forgive Sin Series

The Power To Forgive Sin

by

Dr. Gale A. Ragan-Reid

(January 5, 2020)

“And again he entered into Capernaum after some days; and it was noised that he was in the house. And straightway many were gathered together, insomuch that there was no room to receive them, no, not so much as about the door: and he preached the word unto them. And they come unto him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four. And when they could not come nigh unto him for the press, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay.

When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee. But there was certain of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts,

Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only? And immediately when Jesus perceived in his spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, he said unto them, Why reason ye these things in your hearts?

Whether is it easier to say to the sick of the palsy, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and take up thy bed, and walk? But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (he saith to the sick of the palsy,)

I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house. And immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went forth before them all; insomuch that they were all amazed, and glorified God, saying, We never saw it on this fashion.” (Mark 2: 1-12 King James Version [KJV])

Greetings In The Holy Name Of Jesus Yahshuah,

My sisters and brothers, we all practice acts of forgiveness, one to another. We consider each forgiveness, one to another even in our system of law, the process of rehabilitation includes an apology, thereby instructions. given that guide sinners to eventually ask for forgiveness and receive forgiveness for their sinfulness—-acts of sin against their sisters and brothers that bring about harm, for even oneself for the soul is at risk of lost—-to lose one’s soul. Have you ever heard someone say you could lose your soul? We consider the gospel of the disciple Mark who said, “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?”[Mark 8: 36, King James Version (KJV)]. Howbeit, our forgiveness, one to another, does not enrage us to harshly judge in our intimacy with those we wronged as Jesus harshly judged by the Jewish priests who just could not accept him as the Son of God with power and authority to forgive sin, did so, back in the days when the story of Jesus, was written.

We read the gospel readings, evidence of witnesses that saw and heard the harsh responses from the Jewish priests about Jesus forgiving sin. We know the root of this consideration mostly concerned money—-paying the priests to ask God for forgiveness which included supplying the priests with all that was needed in the sacrificial ceremony to petition God, for forgiveness; possibly the sinners felt compelled to give all that the priest requested of them, so where did this faith act leave poor sinners who could not afford to get their sins forgiven. Obviously, deeply cast down in sin with no hope of ever receiving forgiveness for their sinful acts against God. Why did the Jewish priests hate Jesus, for the power he received from his Heavenly Father God Yahweh, to forgive sins? You would like to think the Son of God, the Son of man, who died for sins could have the power to forgive sins, but obviously the disbelief built a wall of contention that he could not be—- he just could not be the Son of God with such power to deliver forgiveness of sins, here on Earth, right now, as he spoke the Words, Thy sins are forgiven.[Mark 2: 5, KJV].

Most importantly, in casual settings in our relationships, one to another, we ask for forgiveness, time and time again, many times not even asking a priest in the succession of Christ Jesus Yahshuah, to forgive our sins, just only in the intimacy of oneself with another, to whom we feel we wronged. The priest’s forgiveness does not enter in our lives as divine intervention—-intercessory power, for the saving of our soul. Why do we now, harshly judge priests who have the power to forgive sins and do not include them in our acts of forgiveness? The process of instructions, not the same as the apology and receiving forgiveness in a system of law in our criminal and civil courts, is a holy process that considers the relationship you have with God [thelightison.org “1. Confess CONFESS YOUR SINS ALOUD TO THE PRIEST WHO LISTENS LOVINGLY ON BEHALF OF CHRIST AND THE CHURCH. 2. RECEIVE PENANCE. THE PRAYERS OF GOOD DEEDS THE PRIEST GIVES YOU, TO BEGIN HEALING RELATIONSHIPS HURT BY YOUR SINS. 3. ACT OF CONTRITION. A SIMPLE EXPRESSION TO GOD THAT YOU ARE SORRY FOR YOUR SINS AND THAT YOU RESOLVE TO LEAVE SIN BEHIND. 4. RECEIVE ABSOLUTION. THE WORDS THE PRIEST SPEAKS WHICH RECONCILE YOU TO GOD AND THE CHURCH. AN ACT OF CONTRITION. My God, I am sorry for my sins with all my heart. In choosing to do wrong and failing to do good, I have sinned against you whom I should love above all things. I firmly intend, with your help, to do penance, to sin no more, and to avoid whatever leads me to sin. Our Savior Jesus Christ suffered and died for us. In his Name, my God, have mercy.