How do we know that Jesus has the authority to forgive sins?

The authority of Jesus to forgive sins is rooted in His dual nature—fully God and fully man. As the God-man mediator, He possesses the unique capability to forgive sins because He has made the ultimate sacrifice to satisfy God's justice on behalf of sinners. This was evidenced when Jesus told the woman in Luke 7, 'Thy sins are forgiven.' His power to forgive is not limited to His earthly ministry; even before He came into the world, He possessed this authority. Therefore, approaching Christ for forgiveness is the only sound response for those in need of salvation, emphasizing the belief that only God can forgive sin.