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A. Whosoever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whosoever sins ye retain, they are retained.  John 20:20-24

Jesus said that the believer could remit sins. Just how do we remit sins?

The answer is found in the ministry of those who went about preaching the gospel and actually remitted sin’s. Let’s start at the beginning with Jesus command to preach the gospel. “And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.” (Luke 24:46-48).

Did the apostle’s obey Jesus and where were sins remitted? At Jerusalem, the day salvation (God) came to the upper room sins were remitted. “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost” (God). (Acts 2:37-39).

That day three thousand got saved, as we say. Sins were remitted through water baptism in Jesus name, the only way of saving souls in the New Testament church. Folks who were baptised into the name were considered to be “Christian.” When a Jew for example got baptised he was no longer considered by his natural family to be part of his family, he was viewed as one who was dead. His baptism indicated that he had become a member of the family of Jesus or “people of the way,” later called “Christians”

Just as circumcision made a Jew, a Jew, Baptism made a Jew or a Gentile, a Christian. Baptism is New Testament circumcision!

The word “Remit” or “remission” means “to send away.” This power had the apostles through the act of baptism. It is God alone who has all power to save and transform a life, the apostles had authority by Jesus to baptise into his name. “Jesus” forgives, we just baptise! We perform the baptismal duty to make disciples but it is God who makes them his! (Mark 16:15,16 and Matt 28:19).

This post is taken from PaulbThomas.net