Sermon Tone Analysis

Dear Congregation of our Lord Jesus Christ,

What is a key for?

Symbols of Keys - today to the most famous world cities, back then to king gates - The Freedom of the City is an honour bestowed by a municipality upon a valued member of the community, or upon a visiting celebrity or dignitary.

Arising from the medieval practice of granting respected citizens freedom from serfdom, the tradition still lives on in countries such as the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, Canada, South Africa and New Zealand – although today the title of "freeman" confers no special privileges.

The Freedom of the City can also be granted by municipal authorities to military units which have earned the city's trust; in this context, it is sometimes called the Freedom of Entry.

LEIDEN - Morspoort This allows them the freedom to parade through the city, and is an affirmation of the bond between the regiment and the citizenry.

Open

open

We must maintain this emphasis - keys are when they are put in the right hands are a good thing.

Sure if some narrow minded crochety kill-joy has the keys - goal is to keep as many poeopleout, unless they have his right awnswer and his practices Kingdomof God is Fortress to keep people out - then keys would be bad news.

But even though the way is narrow, and the gate and road are straight and few find it.

Still their is a good way and the gate is opened by these keys - Satan may put roadblocks , yet the Holy Spirit and the Word give you the strngth and guidance need to jump and overcome these hurddles.

But the overwhelming good news is there is a key that opens up the kingdom of heaven even now already on earth and we are to use it!

Interesting that QA 84 states the first key - proclamation of the Word will open and close, while QA 85on church disciplines says the eky will close , but even when this happens the goal and hopeis thatit will open the door again to fallen straying unrepentant brother or sister!

But it isthe opening that gets the first andlast word,

- even further back and the image used by Rabbis, keys over the shoulder -keys of learning - To whom do the keys beong - Christ ie.

Notice also a most ominous use of this key, not just for letting poeople in, buit also for shutting and locking out!

More speiccfically these are not just mystical keys for the kingdom of God, they are mystical keys that are to be used on earth to build and strengthen and protect the ever growing Church f Jesus Christ.

The keys are to be used in two ways - loosing sins - and also for binding retaining them

A. Whose Keys?

Authoritative Keys of Christ

A. Whose Keys: Authoritative Keys of Christ

context - gates of hell; city; , Mt. Hermon, tributary… Spring Banias - gate to underworld.

Christ choose this Northern most part of his ministry -to announce His Kingdom, Power and Glory.

another city Zion, Judah Ps78 church of Jesus Christ - Peter makes confession of who Jesus is as THE CHRIST, Son of the living God - by Caeasarea Philippi - literal gate of hades, gentile territory - CHRIST declaring freeing news - Peter’s confession and granting of keys not just for Peter - Christ is the conrerstone says

See it isn’t like Jesus was transferring his power to Peter directly.

The foundation isn’t peter, but all the protphers and apostles (Pl) - divinely inspired to establish CHurch Jesus work began!

Why in the book of Revelation how many foundations stones - 12 of them.

It was not the case in first century of Christianity that bishops and priest had diffrent roles, though some priest/bishops same word did have a geographic leadership , but always were also functioning as priest of local church wihtout heirarchy.

Further more this power given to all 12 in where Christ says to all the apostles - YOU plural.

Listen also to

The picture is not of St. Peter in heaven opening and shutting the gate based on your examination.

The picture is of true these representatives of Christ through the proclamation of the forgiveness of sins, the heart of the gospel, declaring salvation and eternal life and membership in Christ!

The apostles, authorized powers of attorney of Christ when He is gone, including later the Apostle Paul - inspired by the Holy Spirit - able to declare who is in and out based on acceptance or rejection of the gospel!

though absent, confirms their decision with decision as it were from God.

To a peculiar degree correspondence of their judgment on remitting or raining ones sins - spirit of discernment.

Today, we are not guaranteed that churches exercise these with error, misjudgment and uncharitableness, But none the less in so far as our hearts, and our leaders hearts are purified from sin, as he use the means of grace, act in the spirit of Christ, and according to the Word of God, and for Christ’s glory.

though absent, confirms their decision with decision as it were from God.

To a perculiar degree correspondence of theirjudgment on remitting or raining ones sins - spriti of discernment.

We are not guaranteeed that churches will won’t exercsise these with error, misjudgment and uncharitableness, But none the less in so far as our hearts, and our leaders hearts are purified from sin, as he use the means of grace, act in the spirit of Christ, and according to the Word of God, and for Christ’s glory.

The use of the keys of the kingdom are for us, now, even if not perfectly used!

But when used well, Christ in heaven confirms their use.

; Clarifies what was loosed or bound, shall have been bound in heaven - agrees with Christ’s judgment of salvation already made in heaven or not!

Maybe the last day that appeals revealed by Christ, but until then Christ has constituted his church for these keys to be usedon earth in your life and mine!

And while its true the Apostles have no successors - big mistake of some Pentecostal movements, and of the RCC .

And while its also true that the office of apostles has ceased, still Matthew 16Jesus is calling the church to use the key of the preaching of the Word to open and close, and in He is calling all Christians to privately exercise disicpline and then if that fails for the church, through its elders too as well.

Same principles apply.

Now lets be clear on what this power, authority symobilzed in the keys is and isn’t.

It is not like temporal power of this world - it is not like the power Christ received after He died, rose, ascended - king in new way of heaven and earth - throne of David everlasting throne all authority.

No this is the authority of speaking, convincing for Christ about His Word and His Gospel: - declarative power.

Ministerial power.

It doesn’t work by force, it isn’t involved in civil or political affiars - Remember Christ being asked to give such civil judgment and he says:

2:13-14

But when it comes to spiritual matters of Christ’s church, real authority to open and close the kingdom through declaration!

This power though great, does not reside in the person - weak vessel, but only in the power of Word of Christ commissioned to speak on Christ behalf and apply to people ...

Nature of the authority is such that it is like a company getting incorporated, need certain bylaws, certain officers to carry them out.

So too Christ did with the apostles, and by extension to us His church.

But how are we to use these two keys?

The Function of the Keys.

Really just one the Word of God - but it is used both publicly in the preaching of God’s Word, but also personally and individually in the discipline of the Church.

And in both functions - two purposes - one is to authoritatively shut off passage in tot he kingdom, and the other glorious one to throw wide open the door to people in such a way that it can never be shut once they are entering in!

The Function of the Keys.

Really just one the Word of God - but it is used both publicly in the preaching of God’s Word, but also personally and individually in the discipline of the Church.

And in both functions - two purposes - one is to authrotitively shut off passage in tothe kingdom, adn the other glroius one to throw wide open the door to peole in such a way that it can never be shut once they are enetering in!

B. The Function of the Public Preaching of God’s Word - the purpose of a key is to either confer privileges or withhold privileges in a state or society!

Now listen to the awesome but limited power of the keys used in preaching in Christ’s church.

Not preaching my ideas, opinions, Not called to give my theolgoical assements and truths.

Called

A. Loosing

B. The Function of the Public Preaching of God’s Word - the purpose of a key is to either confer privelleges or wihthold privelegs in a state or society!

Now listen to the awesome but limited power of the keys used in preaching in Christ’s church.

Not preaching my ideas, opinions, Not called to give my theolgoical assements and truths.

Called an amabassador for Christ, as if he is making His appeal to you and the world through me.

CAlled to preach his gospel - Steward entrusted with something, the gospel of Jesus, once hidden mystery now fully revealed in Chrst - the hope of glroy - You come to church you have a right to hear the gospel as God has sent it.

Your eternal life or your eternal dmanation depends on the manner in which receive or reject this revelation of MERCY.

What a reposnibility - last week saw that the table like the Word has a message of death and curse as well as a message of life and salvation.

Well Paul goes on to ask:

CAlled to preach his gospel - Steward entrusted with something, the gospel of Jesus, once hidden mystery now fully revealed in Chrst - the hope of glroy - You come to church you have a right to hear the gospel as God has sent it.

Your eternal life or your eternal damnation depends on the manner in which receive or reject this revelation of MERCY.

What a reposnibility - last week saw that the table like the Word has a message of death and curse as well as a message of life and salvation.

Well Paul goes on to ask:

If I am faihtful I’m free from the blood of all men, but if I’m a faithless messneger twist s the word and makes the gospel unclear, blood of hearers souls dying mpentitnt- God will require that of me - Ezekiel Watchman.

Converesely, if I am faithful and you have the pure preaching of the Word from hear, it is as if Christ by His SPirit is speaking these very words into your life, in to our situation right now!

But if that awesome, almost crushing responsbility to preach Christ’s Word is upon me, is it not also tand awesome responsiblity for you?

To you who hear the actual oracles of God from frail human lips.

No wonder Jesus says: Take heed!

Did you hear how the catechism put it- every time the gospel is preached, the gate of heaven is flung open and -enter enter enter ; Everytime Word received with faith, participating in the Kkngdom its open to you!

But listen everytime this gospel is preached and someone turn saway in unbleief - slammed shut, left in misery suffering, despicable helplessness of sins, My repsonoiblity, elders responbility that thios first key the publci praching of God’s word - happens here.

That the two fold purpose - of warm free invitation with all its promises and blessings most appealiingly extenedd, but that also dire warning of the sin of unbelief is osunded with compassion yet somberness from ths pulpit.

But that is done genreally, and universally in our public teaching.

But the second key is an extension of the Word more personally into your life and friendships here!

C. The Function of the Personal Discipline of God’s Word

B. The Personal Discipline of God’s Word

This second key is the one no one likes to use.

Like Discovery Channels Dirty Jobs - filming some o f the messiest jobs peole do for al iving, goose down plucker, poisonous spider venom collector, sewage worker, elevatro shaft cleaner, mold remover.

Yet followers of Jesus and members f his church, not jsut the leaders but all of us, have a dirty job part of our assigment.

We must learn to handle sinful situation in the lives of other people.

And the intersting thing about those TV shows is that it actually takes a great deal of knoelsge and skill both to et those jobs done, but also not to get hurt in the process.

The key of God’s word, in rabbinical terms of Jesus day for losing = approving behaviour, ideas; binding - prohibiting,, banning.

While this is done from the pulpit in general.

Private ministry of the Word one to one - the goal is repentance , the goal is forigvenss and walking in new way = when disicpline of the Word whether self-disicpline, privately one to one or in a later step of official church discipline this what’s at stake.