Does John 20:23 mean a sinner can be forgiven after death?

This passage basically states if you forgive the sins of any they are forgiven them. A Christian minister suggested to me,according to this passage, that if you forgive an unsaved sinner who has died then their sins will be forgiven and therefore be sinless before God. This doesn't ring true as I have always believed that post death comes judgment (Heb 9:27; 2 Cor 5:10) but it was inappropriate  to confront him at the time on this. He has already labelled me as a fundamentalist presumably because of my literal interpretation of scripture. However he is an elderly,knowledgeable  ordained minister and I am just a lay person.

John 20:23

ESV - ²³ If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.

Clarify • Share • Report • Asked December 09 2019 • ainsley chalmers