The Forgiver of Sin

Trinity on Trial : Act V continued...

Proponents of the Trinity doctrines hold that if Jesus had no claim to equality with the Father, then he had no right to forgive sins. The most quoted text is:

"And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, ‘My son, your sins are forgiven.’

Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts, ‘Why does this man speak thus? It is blasphemy! Who can forgive sins but God alone?’

And immediately Jesus, perceiving in his spirit that they thus questioned within themselves, said to them, ‘Why do you question thus in your hearts? Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, "Your sins are forgiven," or to say, "Rise, take up your pallet and walk"?

But that you may know that the son of man has authority on earth to forgive sins’ - he said to the paralytic – ‘I say to you, rise, take up your pallet and go home.’

And he rose, and immediately took up the pallet and went out before them all; so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, ‘We never saw anything like this!’" (Mark 2:5-12)

In his parallel account, however, Matthew draws the great distinction between God and Jesus by stating unequivocally that Jesus belongs to the race of Adam:

"And behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, be of good cheer; thy sins are forgiven.

And behold, certain of the scribes said within themselves, This man blasphemeth.

And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts?
For which is easier, to say, Thy sins are forgiven; or to say, Arise, and walk?

But that ye may know that the Son of man hath authority on earth to forgive sins (then saith he to the sick of the palsy), Arise, and take up thy bed, and go up unto thy house.

And he arose, and departed to his house. But when the multitudes saw it, they were afraid, and glorified God, who had given such authority unto men." (Matthew 9:2-8)

Just as Jesus had been delegated his authority by God, so also the apostles were delegated their authority by Jesus.

"Jesus therefore said to them again, Peace be unto you: as the Father hath sent me, even so send I you. And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Spirit: whose soever sins ye forgive, they are forgiven unto them; whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained."

Jesus was anointed with full power and authority to speak and act in the name of YHWH. This delegation of authority conferred no divinity upon him, no change of status upon him, and no implication that he was anything other than a creature doing the will of the Creator. (See Isaiah 61:1, Luke 4:17).