Summary of Christian Doctrine - Lesson 9 - "The Office of the Keys and Confession" - Study Sheet
A Summary of Christian Doctrine
An Adult Bible Study on the Basics of the Christian Faith
Lesson 9 — The Office of the Keys and Confession
What is the Office of the Keys?
The Office of the Keys is that special authority which Christ has given to His church on earth to forgive the sins of repentant sinners, but to withhold forgiveness from the unrepentant as long as they do not repent.
What are the three parts of this special power or authority?
1.) To preach the Gospel; 2.) To administer the Sacraments; 3.) To forgive and retain sins
Mark 16:15
He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation.”*
Matthew 28: 18-20
18. Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19. Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20. and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I will be with you always, to the very end of the age.”
John 20: 22-23
22. And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23. If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”
Why is this “power” called the Office of the Keys?
Matthew 16: 19
“I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”
To whom has Christ given this power? (See Matthew 16: 19 and John 20: 22-23)
I Peter 2: 9
“ But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
Matthew 18: 15-20
“If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. 16. But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses. 17. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector. 18. I tell you the truth, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. 19. Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. 20. For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.”
How does the local congregation administer the Office of the Keys?
I Corinthians 4:1
“So then, men ought to regard us as servants of Christ and as those entrusted with the secret things of God.”
Acts 20: 28
“Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood.”
2 Corinthians 2:10
“If you forgive anyone, I also forgive him. And what I have forgiven - if there was anything to forgive - I have forgiven in the sight of Christ for your sake,”
I Corinthians 14: 34-35
“ 34. women should remain silent in the churches. They are not allowed to speak, but must be in submission, as the Law says. 35. If they want to inquire about something, they should ask their own husbands at home; for it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in the church.”
What does the Bible teach about confession?
II Samuel 12: 13
“ Then David said to Nathan, ‘I have sinned against the Lord.’ Nathan replied, “The Lord has taken away your sin. You are not going to die.”
Luke 11:4
“Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation.”
Psalm 19: 12
“Who can discern his errors? Forgive my hidden faults.”
James 5: 16
“Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.”
Matthew 5: 23-24
“Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.”
Matthew 3: 5-6
“ People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.”
Matthew 9: 2
“ Some men brought to him a paralytic, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, ‘Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.’”
Why is Confession and Absolution normally not considered a Sacrament?
No visible means.
*Unless otherwise noted, Bible quotations are taken from the New International Version (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House) 1984.
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