In Lord's Day 30, true believers were invited to the Holy Supper. For them the kingdom of heaven is opened. Also spoken of are those who conduct themselves in doctrine and life in an unchristian and ungodly manner. Lord's Day 31 lets us see how they are excluded by the keys of the kingdom of heaven, while the door is opened for all true believers.

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

Keys of the kingdom of heaven

In the Bible, the kingdom of heaven is often compared to a city with gates. The Lord Jesus Himself said, "All power is given unto Me in heaven and in earth" (Matthew 28:18). Christ is the King of that city and possesses the keys of the kingdom of heaven. A key is needed to open or close a door. A key has a twofold function: it opens and it closes. The kingdom of God also has keys. That kingdom can also be opened and closed. This is not done by religious leaders, but by the preaching of the holy gospel and Christian discipline.

The name "keys of the kingdom of heaven" comes from the Bible: "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 shallt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven" (Matthew 16:19).

Bearers of the keys

The Lord spoke first to Peter about the keys of the kingdom of heaven and in Matthew 18:18 also to all the other disciples and office-bearers. They became bearers of the keys of the kingdom of God. Those bearers of the keys are now (not the pope, but) ministers, elders, missionaries, evangelists, and all those who are called by the Lord to preach the Word of God.

The keys of the kingdom of heaven point to the spiritual power which Christ gave to His office-bearers.

Two keys

The first key is the preaching. To believers it must be proclaimed that their sins are forgiven if they receive the promises of the gospel by a true faith. To unbelievers and unconverted ones is proclaimed that they stand exposed to the wrath of God as long as they are unconverted. Thus the preaching includes or excludes.

The second key is ecclesiastical discipline. This is applied when one adheres to a false doctrine or perseveres in a sinful lifestyle. With ecclesiatical discipline, the Lord has our salvation in view. Preaching and ecclesiastical discipline are the spiritual keys. By these keys, the kingdom of heaven will be opened for the believer and be shut for the unbeliever.

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 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 (a); according to which testimony of the gospel, God will judge them both in this and in the life to come.

(a) John 20:21-23, Matthew 16:19.

Gospel preaching

The first key is the preaching of the holy gospel. In it, the forgiveness of sins is openly declared for everyone who believes in Christ. It is a public proclamation. As we are by the law placed in the condition of an accused one, so the gospel reveals to us the acquittal for a person guilty and condemnable. The proclamation takes place according to the command of Christ, "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature" (Mark 16:15).

What is the promise in that preaching? Christ says to Nicodemus, "That whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have eternal life" (John 3:15).

The door opened

This means that all believers, who receive the promises of the gospel with a true faith, will obtain the forgiveness of sins. If a person truly believes in Christ, his sins are forgiven him. This preaching gives comfort. There is no condemnation to them who are in Christ Jesus. It is only by grace, for Christ's sake, that the door of the kingdom of heaven opens for them.

The door shut

However, this preaching also includes the proclamation that the door shall remain shut for unbelievers. God said to Isaiah, "Say ye to the righteous, that it shall be well with him: for they shall eat of the fruits of their doings. Woe unto the wicked! it shall be ill with him: for the reward of his hands shall be given him" (Isaiah 3:10,11). The wrath of God and eternal damnation rests on those who do not sincerely repent. It is Christ's own word, "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned" (Mark 16:16).

The preaching shuts in or out

Not to believe means to count the blood of Christ as an unclean thing. We hear this in every faithful preaching, for then is proclaimed and declared that the wrath of God rests upon us if we do not repent. The preaching tells us whether we are children of the kingdom of God, whether we will inherit that kingdom or not. Thus the preaching shuts us in or out. The Lord will give sentence on the basis of the testimony of the gospel. This applies to this life and the life to come.

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

(a) Matthew 18:15-17, 1 Corinthians 5:4, 5, 11, 2 Corinthians 2:6-8.

Discipline

The second key of the kingdom of heaven is Christian discipline or excommunication. By discipline we think of admonitions to save those who stray. Discipline is medicine. Excommunication takes place only when the sinner persists in his sin or false doctrine, and thus all repentance and improvement of life style is lacking with him.

This second key is applied when there is a report of someone within the Christian congregation having a false doctrine or committing a scandalous sin. With the ecclesiastical discipline, God ultimately has our salvation in view. It not only concerns the maintaining of God's law, the soundness of the preaching, and the purity of the sacraments, but also the salvation of the sinner. And, of course, it concerns the honor of God and the advancement of His church. This must even be in the foreground.

In private

The Lord Himself gave rules for ecclesiastical discipline. We read of them in Matthew 18. The procedure which the Lord points out is a loving, confrontational way. When we, as a member of the congregation, know of a false doctrine or offensive lifestyle of a fellow member, we first of all must speak with him or her in private. We must proceed in this prayerfully, with God's honor in view, perhaps also for a blessing for ourselves, and hopefully to the salvation of our fellow sinner. If that person does not listen to reason, then we must take another member of the congregation with us and talk to the guilty one again.

Under censure

When that person still does not give heed, the consistory shall be made aware of it, and they also shall first of all shall also repeatedly admonish the person in question. If this does not help, that person will officially be "placed under censure." This takes place in three steps.

First of all, this member may no longer partake in the sacraments and in elections. The name of the member will not yet be mentioned. If this does still not bring him to repentance, then public admonitions will follow, which means that the congregation is called upon to pray for the guilty one. At that time his or her name will be made known. If this also does not bring results, the last step of censure follows.

Excommunication

Finally, excommunication follows. The sinner is not only placed outside of the congregation by the people, but also excluded by the Lord from His Kingdom.

Prayer for salvation

Is the door then shut forever? Happily not! It is done for the salvation of that person. Prayer is to be made for this. That is the miracle of repentance, which must be evidenced by the fruits.

There are therefore two forms in regard to this: one for excommunication and one for re-admitting the excommunicated person. Concerning this, Paul said, "Therefore I beseech you that ye would confirm your love toward him" (2 Corinthians 2:8). There is a possibility to return!

Questions to go with Lesson 12 (Lord's Day 31)

1. What are the two keys in the kingdom of heaven? (Answer 83)
   
2. Who is the Possessor of the keys of this heavenly kingdom? Read Revelation 1:18b
   
3. What is the work of the key-bearers? Read Isaiah 3:10 and 11
   
4. a. Who became key-bearers in the New Testament? (Answer 83)
   b. Who are the key bearers now? (Answer 83)
   
5. What has to be publicly proclaimed in the preaching? (Answer 84)
   
6. a. By what is man declared guilty? (Answer 84)
   b. What points to acquittal? (Answer 84)
   
7. What happens to those who do not sincerely repent? (Answer 84)
   
8. Read Joshua 7. Who caused the curse upon the army of the Israelites? How did his life end?
   
9. What lesson does the Bible teach us in the punishment of someone who lives in sin? Read Matthew 18:15-17
   
10. Is it possible for someone who has been excommunicated from the congregation to return? If yes, when? And how? See 2 Corinthians 2:7. (Answer 85)