What does Ellen White write about...
Adventistische Schriften über: "How does Ellen White comment on John 20:23?"
Answer
Ellen White explains that John 20:23 transfers to the church the responsibility to deal faithfully with sin by naming it and calling sinners to repentance. This authority, however, does not mean that people may judge others, as that belongs to God alone; rather, the judgment of the church based on God’s Word is confirmed in heaven. When the church leads erring people to forgiveness through Christ, that forgiveness is also ratified in heaven.
The Church's Responsibility Toward Sinners
»“Whose sins you forgive, they are forgiven; ... and whose sins you retain, they are retained.” Christ gives no person here the freedom to judge others. That is God’s prerogative. But He transfers to the church, in its organized form, a responsibility for the individual members. Toward those who fall into sin, the church has the duty to warn, teach, and, if possible, restore. Deal faithfully with wrongdoing. Name sin by its proper name. Proclaim what God has said concerning lying, Sabbath‑breaking, stealing, and every other evil. If they persist in sin, the judgment you have proclaimed from God’s Word will be pronounced over them in heaven. ... But there is a brighter side. “Whose sins you forgive, they are forgiven.” This thought should be foregrounded. May the shepherds speak to the erring of the forgiving mercy of the Savior. ... Such forgiveness of sin is ratified in heaven.«
The Gift of the Holy Spirit as a Prerequisite
»“And when He had said this, He breathed upon them and said to them: Take the Holy Spirit: Whose sins you forgive, they are forgiven; and whose sins you retain, they are retained.” ... Christ breathed His Spirit upon them to impress upon them the fact that without the Holy Spirit they could not fulfill their official duties in connection with the church. The communication of the Spirit is the communication of Christ’s life. It fills the recipient with the attributes of Christ.«
Original Sources (English)
Stephan Krol
Founder of EGW Vision
Why I built EGW Vision
Hello, I am Stephan Krol. I started this Ellen White website to make the writings of Ellen G. White and the Adventist pioneers easier to access for everyone.
EGW Vision helps you find topics, statements, and quotes faster, especially when many original sources are not yet fully available in your language. The tool searches semantically, groups relevant content by topic, and presents matching results as clearly as possible in your language.
My hope is that this tool supports personal Bible study, strengthens trust in the original sources, and helps more people discover the message of these writings with clarity, depth, and joy.
