John 20:23 (KJV)"Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained."
Acts 10:41-43 "He was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses whom God had already chosen—by us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead. All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”
Yes, they shall receive forgiveness THROUGH HIS NAME. Meaning, they will be forgiven in the name of Christ. Who dares speak in the name of Christ? Only he who does so not from his own will, but who is granted such authority to do so. And who is that? Any Christian? No, for one Christian may forgive sins, while another retains them, making the promise of Christ a logical contradiction. Only one who speaks for Christ, annointed with the specific authority to do so, can remit or forgive sins.