PRAYING FOR THE SALVATION OF THE UNCONSCIOUS SICK OR THE DISTANT SICK PERSON. (PART 2).

TEXT:

"If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death." (1st John 5 verses 16 to 17, King James Version).

Before we can safely discuss the feasibility of praying for the unconscious or the distant sick person, let's begin with how we came to possess the authority to forgive sins. As a matter of fact, as far back as in Jesus' days, there had been grave contention as to whether man and even Jesus Himself could forgive sins (see Mark 2 verses 1 to 12). But  glory to God, that the Lord Jesus has been able to establish beyond doubts, even through a convincing miracle "that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins" (Mark 2 verse 10).

     At His resurrection, the Lord Jesus empowered the Church, as His representative, to forgive the sins of men.

“If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven. If you don’t forgive them, they are not forgiven.” (John 20 verse 23, New Century Version)

       In line with this truth, the Scripture reading for today says that if we ask God to forgive someone his sins, He will do it because this is according to His Word and according to His will. It says  "If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death."

        But let it be noted that in line with John 20 verse 22, this can be done only upon having received the Holy Spirit. In other words, the Lord has given the Holy Spirit to His Church so that as His representative and vessel on earth, we can forgive others their sins. It's essential to emphasize that the Church can only forgive sins as long as it is abiding in the Holy Spirit. The Amplified Classics Version of John 20 verse 23 amplifies this truth saying,

"[Now having received the Holy Spirit, and being led and directed by Him] if you forgive the sins of anyone, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of anyone, they are retained." Therefore, no one can forgive sins when he is standing in the flesh, but in the Spirit. 

      Again, let it be emphasized that as His representative here on earth. forgiveness of sin is to be done by the Church in the Lord's name (see Luke 24 verse 47, Acts 10 verse 43, 1st John 2 verse 12). It's in the authority of His name that we can safely do it. The Scripture reading for today (1st John 5 verse 16) and particularly James 5 verses 13 to 16 shows how instrumental the believer or the Church is with respect to forgiveness of sins. As Christ's representatives here on earth, the Church having been first reconciled to God in Christ Jesus has been made "reconcilers". In other words, we are "life givers" to them that are lost. The Bible says that God through Christ "reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation." (2nd Corinthians 5 verses 18 to 19)

      Having established that forgiveness of sins is part of the ministry of the Church, in the forthcoming parts of the series we can safely begin to discuss the matter of praying for the forgiveness of the sins of the unconscious or distant sick person. This we shall do as the Lord tarries. In the next parts of the series, we shall endeavour to establish that though a person that is in a near death situation is unconscious or is far from your reach by reason of distance, it doesn't mean that the hope of receiving the forgiveness of sins at that critical moment is lost.

PRAYER:

Father, thank You for the privilege in Christ Jesus to forgive the sins of them that are lost, thereby reconciling them to You.