Explain about forgiving sins. John 20:23, “Whosoever sins ye forgive, . . . whosoever sins ye retain,” etc.
P. Christ gave His apostles and ministers, as He did His prophets, the authority to proclaim His terms to a world of sinners. If the sinner complied with that Word, it could be said, “Thy sins are forgiven.” If he would not comply, it could be said, “Thy sins are retained.” 1 John 1:7, 9; Mark 16:15, 16. So Jeremiah was set to establish and pull down kingdoms (Jer. 1:10), but the prophet did it by declaring the terms on which nations could be established, neglecting which they would fall (Jer. 18:7–10). The two cases are parallel.