We know from scripture that "ALL" Authority was given to Christ by God.
Matthew 9:5-7 Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? 6 But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the paralyzed man, “Get up, take your mat and go home.” 7 Then the man got up and went home.
We know that this Authority included the authority on earth to forgive sins.
John 17:18: As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world.
Christ sent his Apostles just like the Father sent him, which means they were sent with the AUTHORITY of God, the AUTHORITY TO FORGIVE SINS.
2 Corinthians 5:18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation:
John 20:21-23 Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” 22 And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven
So the Apostles where sent by Christ in the same manor Christ was sent by the Father…. with Authority and with that, the authority to forgive sin.
Matthew 28:19-20 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
It should be clear at this point that the Authority Christ established was not the Bible, but the Church which was founded by Christ, setup before scripture, and gave us the scriptures. They were not sent to write a book, they were sent to setup the Church and make disciples. They were sent with the power to forgive sins, and for them to do so, sins must be confessed to them, hence confession is directly from God setup by Christ. We know they were told that Christ would be with them to the very end of the age but we also know that they all died. This begs the question, was Christ lying?
Matthew 16:18-19 And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hell will not overcome it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”
We see that Peter was given a unique role in the Church, the Church was built on Peter and he was made the head of the apostles, there are other verses that point to this and things such as the fact he is always listed first among the Apostles but that is another topic. The point I'm making is the Church was built on Peter thus when Christ promised to be with them to the end of the age he was referring to the Church founded on Peter that he also promised the gates of hell would not prevail against.
Acts 1:20-26 “For,” said Peter, “it is written in the Book of Psalms: “‘May his place be deserted; let there be no one to dwell in it,’and, “‘May another take his place of leadership.’
21 Therefore it is necessary to choose one of the men who have been with us the whole time the Lord Jesus was living among us, 22 beginning from John’s baptism to the time when Jesus was taken up from us. For one of these must become a witness with us of his resurrection.”
23 So they nominated two men: Joseph called Barsabbas and Matthias. 24 Then they prayed, “Lord, you know everyone’s heart. Show us which of these two you have chosen 25 to take over this apostolic ministry, which Judas left to go where he belongs.” 26 Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the eleven apostles.
We can see from scriptures that when one of the Apostles died, another succeeded his position and assumed that Authority handed down by Christ. The Authority to forgive sin! So from all this we can conclude that the Church is the Authority Christ founded, one that he will be with until the end of the age and one the gates of hell will not prevail against. A church that has the successors of the Apostles, and have the Authority granted to them by Christ.
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