Sundays at Home

This page has the Sunday Sermon, notes for the sermon, and links for songs used during children’s music time each week. Scroll down to the bottom for the children’s info.

 

Is Rome Right?

John 20:22-23
Sunday, April 26, 2020
Pastor Jojo Ma

 
 

Sermon Notes

For a PDF of the worship song lyrics for today, please follow this link.

For a PDF of the notes for today’s sermon, please follow this link.

Is Rome Right?
John 20:22-23

21 Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you." 22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld."

22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit."

Jesus is opening up the new creation. This is a new season in redemptive history. By the words of Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit, God’s Kingdom is going to advance and multiply as Christians proclaim the gospel and make disciples to the ends of the earth.

23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.

The way of salvation is narrow, not many find it. Rome errs on other significant matters, namely how it understands salvation itself and the sufficiency of Scrpture.

Rome has a different gospel, a false gospel, a works-based gospel. So in this sense, the Roman Catholic Church, as an institution and as a religious organization, is a false church.

We must stand our ground and proclaim the gospel that Jesus and the apostles taught: Salvation by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone by the Scriptures alone to God’s glory alone.

23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.

Scripture teaches that only God can forgive sin.

1 Pet 2:9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.

Rev 1:6 To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever.

No apostle ever claimed this authority and there are no examples in the New Testament of an apostle granting forgiveness of sins. None.

Acts 10:42-43 And he commanded us to preach to the people…everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.

The New Testament teaches only God can forgive sin, the New Testament teaches the priesthood of all believers, and in the New Testament we never see the apostles absolving anyone’s sins.

23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.

John Piper: “When you tell people about what I have done, speaking my word, about my work, in the power of my Spirit, I am the one speaking through you, so that if anyone believes your word, I forgive their sins. And if any does not believe your words, I don’t forgive them. And since you are my voice speaking my truth, I speak of you forgiving them, and you withholding forgiveness.”

Lk 24:47 repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations. 

23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.

If you have children, or an unbelieving spouse, make use of this time to talk about forgiveness of sins through repentant faith in Christ.