Well, I understand the Point he was Making Robster, as comfirmed by Jiggyfly............. there is no forgivness outside of the Lord Jesus and the Work of the Cross.
Yet.......................
Jesus told us whosoever sins WE remit are remitted.
James said if anyone is sick, then in faith with some Oil, anointing them and they will not only be healed but their sins will be forgiven.
We can go on other peoples behalf.............and get them forgiven.
Jesus Is Lord
The Apostles Commissioned
[sup]
19[/sup] Then, the same day at evening, being the first
day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled,[sup]
[c][/sup] for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, “Peace
be with you.” [sup]
20[/sup] When He had said this, He showed them
His hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord.
[sup]
21[/sup] So Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” [sup]
22[/sup] And when He had said this, He breathed on
them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. [sup]
23[/sup] If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the
sins of any, they are retained.”
What I believe what we have here is our Lord after His resurrection, and He sends out the 12 apostles on their first mission to preach the Gospel, and if that person believes the Gospel then their sins are forgiven them and if they don't believe then their sins are not forgiven them. They were sent out to the Jews only, because later on Jesus makes Paul the apostle to the Gentiles' and for them to receive the Gospel.
Matthew 10:5-8
5 These twelve Jesus sent out and commanded them, saying: “Do not go into the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter a city of the Samaritans. [sup]6[/sup] But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. [sup]7[/sup] And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ [sup]8[/sup] Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead,[sup][c][/sup] cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.
Now if you look at these Scriptrues in Matthew, this is before our Lord Jesus died on the cross for our sins. So I believe that what we have here is our Lord Empowering the Apostles to do these things, now if you look at these Scriptures you do not see where the Lord gives them the power to forgive sins, because only God can forgive sins though the shed blood of His Son Jesus.
I think that it would be wrong for us as believers to think that we all have that same power given to us by the Lord Jesus, because if that was so then we ourselves as believers would not die in this life, because if that was ture then any other believer would have the power to raise us up from the dead again.