The Keys of the Kingdom (Lord's Day 31)

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

Matthew 16:15–19 CSB

“But you,” he asked them, “who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Jesus responded, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but my Father in heaven. And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overpower it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will have been loosed in heaven.”

Matthew, Volumes 1 & 2 To Guard the Church

In times past, certain popes claimed that Jesus gave them the right to determine who could and who could not enter heaven. They claimed the authority to declare people anathema—condemned to hell. During one tragic era before the Reformation, three rival popes each condemned the other two and all their followers, so that everyone in Europe had been condemned to hell by someone who claimed to be pope!

“Sa Mateo 16:13–20, itinuro ni Jesus na ang mga susing ito ay ginagamit para patunayan na tama ang ipinapahayag nating mga paniniwala tungkol sa gospel. Sa passage na ‘to, sinabi ni Jesus na tama ang mga sinabi ni Pedro tungkol sa kanya, at ipinangako na si Jesus mismo ang magtatatag ng kanyang iglesya. At para sa pagtatatag ng church na ito, ibinigay ni Jesus kay Pedro at sa mga apostol ang “mga susi ng kaharian ng langit” (v. 19). Ano’ng ginagawa ng mga susing ito? Ang mga susing ito ay nagbabawal at nagpapahintulot dito sa lupa kung anuman ang ipinagbabawal at ipinahihintulot sa langit. Hindi na natin ginagamit ang ganitong mga salita ngayon, kaya baka hindi mo masyadong maintindihan ang ibig sabihin. Pero isipin mo na ganito—na ang mga susing ito ay katulad ng authority ng isang embassy (na maaaring nasa ibang bansa) na ipatupad ang mga batas at kagustuhan ng kanilang sariling gobyerno.” (Jonathan Leeman, Balik Tayo sa Church)

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

The preaching of the holy gospel and church discipline. By these two the kingdom of heaven is opened to believers and closed to unbelievers.

Tanong 83. Ano ang mga susi sa kaharian ng langit?

Ang pagpapahayag ng banal na ebanghelyo at disiplinang pang-iglesya. Sa pamamagitan ng dalawang ito nabubuksan ang kaharian ng langit sa mga mananampalataya at isinasarado sa mga hindi mananampalataya.

Matthew 18:18–20 CSB

Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will have been loosed in heaven. Again, truly I tell you, if two of you on earth agree about any matter that you pray for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, I am there among them.”

“Itinuro ni Jesus sa Mateo 18:15–20 na ang mga susing ito ay ginagamit para makilala ang mga totoong naniniwala sa gospel. Ibinigay ni Cristo ang mga susi ng kaharian sa mga local church bilang pamantayan para tanggalin sa kapatiran ang mga taong ang pamumuhay ay salungat sa gospel na sinasabi nilang pinaniniwalaan nila. Kung iisipin mo, katulad ito ng authority ng embassy na ipahayag kung sino ang kanilang mamamayan at sino ang hindi. Sa madaling salita, ang mga church ang nagtataglay ngayon ng mga susi ng kaharian ng langit na nagbibigay ng authority na patunayan kung ano at sino—Ano ang tamang gospel na dapat paniwalaan at ipahayag? Sino ang totoong mga mananampalataya ng gospel na ito.” (Jonathan Leeman)

The Commentary of Dr. Zacharias Ursinus on the Heidelberg Catechism I. What Is the Power of the Keys Given to the Church, and What Are the Parts Thereof?

The keys of the kingdom of heaven are, therefore, the power to open and shut, to bind and loose; and are so called from the efficacy of this power. For the church opens and shuts, binds and looses by the word of God and in the name of Christ, in whose stead ministers act; and the Holy Ghost works effectually by his word, according to the promise of Christ

John 20:21–23 ESV

Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.”

Historic Creeds and Confessions Article XXIX

The marks by which the true Church is known are these: If the pure doctrine of the gospel is preached therein; if it maintains the pure administration of the sacraments as instituted by Christ; if church discipline is exercised in chastening of sin; in short, if all things are managed according to the pure Word of God, all things contrary thereto rejected, and Jesus Christ acknowledged as the only Head of the Church. Hereby the true Church may certainly be known, from which no man has a right to separate himself.

Question 84. How is the kingdom of heaven opened and closed by the preaching of the gospel?

According to the command of Christ, the kingdom of heaven is opened when it is proclaimed and publicly testified to each and every believer that God has really forgiven all their sins for the sake of Christ’s merits, as often as they by true faith accept the promise of the gospel. The kingdom of heaven is closed when it is proclaimed and testified to all unbelievers and hypocrites that the wrath of God and eternal condemnation rest on them as long as they do not repent. According to this testimony of the gospel, God will judge both in this life and in the life to come.

Tanong 84. Paano nabubuksan at nasasarhan ang kaharian ng langit sa pamamagitan ng pagpapahayag ng ebanghelyo?

Ayon sa utos ni Cristo, ang kaharian ng langit ay nabubuksan kapag ito ay ipinapahayag at hayagang pinatototohanan sa bawat isa at sa lahat ng mga mananampalataya na tunay ngang pinatawad ng Diyos ang lahat ng kanilang mga kasalanan dahil sa kabutihan ni Cristo at tuwing tinatanggap nila ang pangako ng ebanghelyo sa pamamagitan ng tunay na pananampalataya. Ang kaharian ng langit ay sinasarhan kapag ito ay ipinapahayag at pinatototohanan sa mga di mananampalataya at mga hipokrito na ang poot ng Diyos at ang walang hanggang sumpa ay nananatili sa kanila hanggat hindi sila nagsisisi. Ayon sa patotoo ng ebanghelyong ito, parehong hahatulan ng Diyos ang mananampalataya at di mananapalataya sa buhay na ito at pati na rin sa darating.

John 3:33–36 ESV

Whoever receives his testimony sets his seal to this, that God is true. For he whom God has sent utters the words of God, for he gives the Spirit without measure. The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hand. Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.

Ano ang implications nito sa preaching at evangelism?

Question 85. How is the kingdom of heaven closed and opened by church discipline?

According to the command of Christ, people who call themselves Christians but show themselves to be un-Christian in doctrine or life are first repeatedly admonished in a brotherly manner. If they do not give up their errors or wickedness, they are reported to the church, that is, to the elders. If they do not heed also their admonitions, they are forbidden the use of the sacraments, and they are excluded by the elders from the Christian congregation, and by God himself from the kingdom of Christ. They are again received as members of Christ and of the church when they promise and show real amendment.

Tanong 85. Paanong ang kaharian ng Diyos ay nabubuksan at nasasarhan ng disiplinang pang-iglesya?

Ayon sa utos ni Cristo, ang mga taong nagsasabing sila’y Cristiano ngunit ipinamamalas na hindi maka-Cristiano ang kanilang pinaniniwalaan o pamumuhay ay una sa lahat paulit-ulit munang pinagsasabihan sa pamaraang pang-magkapatid. Kung hindi nila tatalikdan ang kanilang kamalian o kasamaan ay ipapaalam ito sa iglesya, na ang ibig sabihin ay sa mga matatanda ng iglesya. Kung hindi pa rin nila papakinggan ang kanilang mga payo, sila’y pagbabawalan na tumanggap ng mga sakramento at sila’y ititiwalag ng mga matatanda sa samahan ng mga Cristiano at ng Diyos mismo sa kaharian ni Cristo. Sila ay muling tatanggapin bilang kaanib ni Cristo at ng iglesia kapag sila’y nangako at nagpakita ng tunay na pagbabago.

Matthew 18:15–17 ESV

“If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.

1 Corinthians 5:3–5 ESV

For though absent in body, I am present in spirit; and as if present, I have already pronounced judgment on the one who did such a thing. When you are assembled in the name of the Lord Jesus and my spirit is present, with the power of our Lord Jesus, you are to deliver this man to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord.

1 Corinthians 5:11–13 ESV

But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler—not even to eat with such a one. For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge? God judges those outside. “Purge the evil person from among you.”

2 Thessalonians 3:14–15 ESV

If anyone does not obey what we say in this letter, take note of that person, and have nothing to do with him, that he may be ashamed. Do not regard him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother.

2 Corinthians 2:6–11 ESV

For such a one, this punishment by the majority is enough, so you should rather turn to forgive and comfort him, or he may be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. So I beg you to reaffirm your love for him. For this is why I wrote, that I might test you and know whether you are obedient in everything. Anyone whom you forgive, I also forgive. Indeed, what I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, has been for your sake in the presence of Christ, so that we would not be outwitted by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his designs.

May biblical, God-given authority ang church na mag-disiplina. Pero talaga bang maituturing itong pagmamahal?

Pag-ibig para sa makasalanan, para makita niyang kailangang pagsisihan ang kanyang kasalanan

Pag-ibig para sa ibang mga church members, para hindi sila malito at maligaw katulad nung nagkakasala

Pag-ibig para sa mga hindi Cristiano na nakakasalamuha ng church, para makita nila na ang church ay hindi katulad ng mundo

Pag-ibig para kay Cristo, para maitaas natin ang kanyang pangalan sa ating mga buhay (Jonathan Leeman)

“If a faithful church makes use of the keys, those who are guilty can easily find another church that will accept them. And the painful fact is that the other church will often receive people who are fleeing from discipline as if they are poor victims, rather than culprits. There is an urgent need for all churches that are striving to be faithful to the Bible to take care that they do not undermine each other's discipline.” (G. I. Williamson)

Matthew 18:18–20 ESV

Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”

Matthew, Volumes 1 & 2 Accepting the Mantle of Leadership

Finally, Jesus promises that when two or three gather to pursue the lost to win them, “there am I with [you]” (18:20). The process of seeking reconciliation can be painful. But we do not despair, for the Lord is with us as we work to win our brothers and to guard the purity of the church.