The Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven (2)

And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven (Matt. 16:19). Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven (Matt. 18:18). Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained (John 20:23).

Last time we saw that Christ gives to His church the two keys of preaching and discipline by which the church declaratively binds sins upon unbelievers and looses the sins of believers.

This official declaratory work of the church (key power), of course, is only rightly performed in true churches. A church only binds sin and looses sin in heaven (Matt. 16:19; 18:18) if its preaching and discipline is according to God’s Word. As the righteous Lord, Jesus Christ does not simply rubber stamp the unjust discipline of apostate churches. Nor does He bless their false gospel in the loosing of sins, for forgiveness is by faith alone in Christ alone and not through the works of the law (Gal. 1:6-9; 2:21; 3:10; 5:4). Nor does Jesus remit the sins of the impenitent at the word of a priest in the confessional through a few paternosters and hail Marys. During His earthly ministry, Christ condemned the scribes and Pharisees for their abuse of the keys of the kingdom of heaven (Matt. 23:13). When the Jews excommunicated the man born blind (John 9:22, 34), Jesus immediately came to him (35-38), bringing him to the green pastures, as one of His elect sheep (10:3-5, 9-11). Similarly, the discipline of the apostate church of Rome is worthless. Luther understood this and so he threw the papal bull of excommunication into a fire. Christ embraces His people who are cast out by false churches.

Are the keys rightly administered in your church? Is salvation by the grace of God alone preached and not salvation even in part by the free will of man? Is "all the counsel of God" taught (Acts 20:27)? Is discipline administered according to the Word for God’s glory, the holiness of the church and the salvation of the sinner? The keys of the kingdom are so important because it is by these means alone that the kingdom of heaven is officially opened and shut. Moreover, these two keys are the first and third marks (or distinguishing characteristics) of a true church (Belgic Confession 29). These keys are the worst keys to lose, for a church which loses the keys has lost its candlestick (Rev. 2:5) and has become a synagogue of Satan (2:9; 3:9).

For more on the keys, see Heidelberg Catechism, Q. & A. 83-85, on page 3, or ask us for two free pamphlets: Prof. Hoeksema, "The Marks of the True Church," and Prof. Cammenga, "Zeal for God’s House: Motivation for Christian Discipline" (www.cprf.co.uk/pamphlets.htm#church). Rev. Stewart

The Heidelberg Catechism (1563) on the keys of the kingdom

Q. 83. What are the keys of the kingdom of heaven?

Answer. The preaching of the holy gospel and Christian discipline, or excommunication out of the Christian church; by these two, the kingdom of heaven is opened to believers, and shut against unbelievers.

Q. 84. How is the kingdom of heaven opened and shut by the preaching of the holy gospel?

Answer. Thus: when according to the command of Christ, 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; 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: according to which testimony of the gospel, God will judge them, both in this, and in the life to come.

Q. 85. How is the kingdom of heaven shut and opened by Christian discipline?

Answer. Thus: when according to the command of Christ, those, who under the name of Christians, maintain doctrines, or practices inconsistent therewith, and will not, after having been often brotherly admonished, renounce their errors and wicked course of life, are complained of to the church, or to those, who are thereunto appointed by the church; and if they despise their admonition, are by them forbidden the use of the sacraments; 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.

Spreading the News: (1) Would you like multiple free copies of the News to pass on to others (a 2nd class stamp covers about 10 copies of the News)? (2) Do you know others who would like to receive the News by post or e-mail? Then send us their address, please. (3) Our thanks to all who have written to let us know their appreciation for the News and/or sent donations.