LORD’S DAY 31
Q. 83. What are the keys of the kingdom of heaven?1
A. The preaching of the holy gospel, and Christian discipline,2 or excommunication out of the Christian church;3 by these two, the kingdom of heaven is opened to believers, and shut against unbelievers. The preaching of the holy gospel, and Christian discipline,2 or excommunication out of the Christian church;3 by these two, the kingdom of heaven is opened to believers, and shut against unbelievers.
- Mat. 16:19.
- John 20:23.
- Mat. 18:15-18.
Q. 84. How is the kingdom of heaven opened and shut by the preaching of the holy gospel?
A. Thus: when according to the command of Christ1 it is declared and publicly testified to all and every believer, that, whenever they receive the promise of the gospel by a true faith, all their sins are really forgiven them of God, for the sake of Christ’s merits;2 and on the contrary, when it is declared and testified to all unbelievers, and such as do not sincerely repent, that they stand exposed to the wrath of God and eternal condemnation, so long as they are unconverted;3 according to which testimony of the gospel God will judge them, both in this and in the life to come. Thus: when according to the command of Christ1 it is declared and publicly testified to all and every believer, that, whenever they receive the promise of the gospel by a true faith, all their sins are really forgiven them of God, for the sake of Christ’s merits;2 and on the contrary, when it is declared and testified to all unbelievers, and such as do not sincerely repent, that they stand exposed to the wrath of God and eternal condemnation, so long as they are unconverted;3 according to which testimony of the gospel God will judge them, both in this and in the life to come.
- Mat. 28:19.
- John 3:18, 36. Mark 16:16.
- 2 Thes. 1:7-9. John 20:21-23. Mat. 16:19. Rom. 2:2, 13‑17.
Q. 85. How is the kingdom of heaven shut and opened by Christian discipline?
A. Thus: when according to the command of Christ,1 those who under the name of Christians maintain doctrines, or practices inconsistent therewith,2 and will not, after having been often brotherly admonished, renounce their errors and wicked course of life, are complained of to the church,3 or to those who are thereunto appointed by the church;4 and if they despise their admonition, are by them forbidden the use of the sacraments;5 whereby they are excluded from the Christian church, and by God Himself from the kingdom of Christ; and when they promise and show real amendment, are again received as members of Christ and His church.6 Thus: when according to the command of Christ,1 those who under the name of Christians maintain doctrines, or practices inconsistent therewith,2 and will not, after having been often brotherly admonished, renounce their errors and wicked course of life, are complained of to the church,3 or to those who are thereunto appointed by the church;4 and if they despise their admonition, are by them forbidden the use of the sacraments;5 whereby they are excluded from the Christian church, and by God Himself from the kingdom of Christ; and when they promise and show real amendment, are again received as members of Christ and His church.6
- Mat. 18:15.
- 1 Cor. 5:11, 12.
- Mat. 18:15-18.
- Rom. 12:7-9. 1 Cor. 12:28. 1 Tim. 5:17. 2 Thes. 3:14.
- Mat. 18:17. 1 Cor. 5:3-5.
- 2 Cor. 2:6-8, 10, 11. Luke 15:18.
LORD’S DAY 31
The Keys of the Kingdom
1. What is meant by “the keys of the kingdom of heaven”?
It is the admonition and discipline the church is called to administer upon impenitent members. Matthew 16:19.
2. What are the keys of the kingdom of heaven?
There are two: the preaching of the holy gospel, and Christian discipline of excommunication out of the Christian church.
3. Why are the preaching and Christian discipline called the keys of the kingdom?
Because by them the kingdom of heaven is opened to believers and shut against unbelievers. John 20:23.
4. How is the kingdom opened by the preaching of the gospel?
When it is publicly testified to all believers that, when they receive the gospel by faith, all their sins are forgiven them for the sake of Christ’s merits. John 3:16-18, 36.
5. How is the kingdom of heaven shut by the preaching of the gospel?
When it is declared to all who do not sincerely repent, that they stand exposed to the wrath of God and eternal condemnation so long as they are unconverted. John 3:16-18, 36. II Thessalonians 1:7-9.
6. When is the key of Christian discipline applied?
When those who, under the name of Christians, maintain doctrines and practices inconsistent with that name. I Corinthians 5:12, 13; Titus 3:10, 11.
7. How do erring members become known to the church?
When, after having been often brotherly admonished, they are complained of to the elders of the church. Matthew 18:15-17.
8. What happens if the erring brother despises the admonition of the church?
He is forbidden the use of the sacraments, by which he is excluded from the Christian church, and by God from the kingdom of Christ. Matthew 18:17, 18; I Corinthians 5:3-5.
9. May excommunicated persons ever be readmitted into the church?
Only when they promise and show real amendment of life may they again be received as members of Christ and His church. II Corinthians 2:6-11.