What Did Jesus Mean? - Part 2: When Sin Is Retained

In Part 2 of this message, Pastor Steve builds on Jesus’ words in John 20:23 to answer a challenging question: what does it mean when sin is “retained”?

This message clarifies that the church does not have the authority to forgive or condemn on its own, but to faithfully declare what God has already determined through His Word. Walking through Matthew 18, we see that retaining sin is not about rejection, but restoration, calling people back when there is persistent, unrepentant sin.

With both clarity and care, this message shows how the church is called to uphold truth, pursue holiness, and reflect the heart of God. Because in the end, we are not holding sin over people, we are revealing whether sin is still holding them.