Paul B Thomas This post has already been read 247 times!
For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds (Hebrews 12;1) The controversial Christ. Christ is controversial. Contra ‘ against’ diction ‘verse’ a verse against a verse. Things that say one thing yet mean another, like a parable, an earthly story with a heavenly meaning, hence the contradiction.
Consider Christ, himself a parable. An earthly man with a heavenly nature, An earthly mother yet a heavenly father. An earthly birth yet a heavenly beginning he spoke in two worlds, One moment he talked as God the next as man. one moment he forgave sins (Luke 7;48) and the next he says only God can forgive sins. (Luke 5;21) yet we see that scriptures that offer contradictory appearances will also offer definite explanations. scriptures are not in isolation for if we seek truth we shall find it. Ephesians 4;32 tells us ‘And be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you’ (NKJV). The key, yes its true ONLY GOD can forgive sins. and if Jesus is said to forgive sins, and he does, this can only mean one thing. Jesus is Emmanuel the God, that is with us and in us. He alone and he only forgives sins. He alone in heaven can forgive sins and he alone on earth can forgive sins (Luke 5;21-24).
This account in Luke 5 reminds us that the Pharisees also had a problem with Jesus, for they knew him only as a man and not God himself. hence the contradictions that they found. ‘Just then some men came carrying a paralyzed man on a mat. They tried to bring him inside to set him before Jesus, but they could not find a way through the crowd. So they went up on the roof and lowered him on his mat through the tiles into the middle of the crowd, right in front of Jesus. When Jesus saw their faith, He said, “Friend, your sins are forgiven.” But the scribes and Pharisees began thinking to themselves, “Who is this man who speaks blasphemy? Who can forgive sins but God alone?”
Knowing what they were thinking, Jesus replied, “Why are you thinking these things in your hearts? Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk?’ But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on the earth to forgive sins…” He said to the paralytic, “I tell you, get up, pick up your mat, and go home.” (Luke 5:19-23).
Yes he who resides in heaven, and abides in us on earth has power both in heaven and earth to forgive sins. Only GOD can do that!
Paul
