More About Kingdom Business

Then he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone’s sins, they are forgiven. If you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.” [John 20.22-23]

Here is an interesting viewpoint. This is John's record of some of what Jesus discussed with the disciples after His resurrection.

At this point, Jesus' work of salvation for the world had been completed and He was now on His way to heaven to 'finalize everything'. As He had stated prior to His crucifixion, that He would send the Holy Spirit (the Advocate), He now made good on that promise.

However, what John recorded Jesus said as He breathed the Holy Spirit upon them causes me great contemplation! Jesus said if we forgive anyone's sins, they are forgiven, and if we don't forgive them, then they are not forgiven. While it could be argued that we are not God and therefore forgiveness is not ours to give or withhold, that argument would totally ignore everything (yes everything) Jesus taught about the Kingdom of God and our having been brought into it! We are, in fact, to be engaged in Kingdom business! And Kingdom business is about people - and people need forgiveness! If we are truly stewards of the Kingdom, and the business of the Kingdom is people and their need for forgiveness, then our business is forgiveness! This sheds even more light on the parables Jesus told about a master leaving his business in others' hands and then returning to call them to account!

So, as stewards of the Kingdom, those we forgive are indeed forgiven just as if the Father Himself had forgiven them. That's more than a mind can handle at this point! However! There is a huge downside to this! Jesus also said those we do not forgive are not forgiven - and this then, makes us a judge. It is not ironic then that Jesus clearly told us to judge not, so that we would not be judged, because we would be judged by the same measure we judge! In other words, our receiving forgiveness is dependent upon giving forgiveness.

Amazing!

Father, never before have I seen so much Kingdom business as I have read the Bible. Help me to comprehend more and therefore be more useful to You in the work at hand!