This verse is open to a serious misinterpretation that the Apostle’s had the right by private absolution to save or not save people. There is no Biblical argument or support for this. J.C. Ryle wrote, “…whatever men may assert about private ministerial absolution, there is not a single precedent for it in God’s Word.” It is the preaching of the Gospel that is the point of these verses. The Apostles and the church proclaim a message of forgiveness in the Gospel and all that hear and believe will be saved and all the do not believe will not be saved. This is the power of the Gospel and the Holy Spirit at work in the ministry of the church. We are responsible to proclaim, but the Spirit, he is responsible to do the saving work.
