Is the Pope the 'keeper of the keys?' What exactly are these keys, that we see crossed on papal insignia? The Heidelberg Catechism teaches us quite clearly what Jesus meant when he said to Peter, in Matthew 16:19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”Q 83. What are the keys of the kingdom of heaven?A. The preaching of the holy gospel and church discipline. By these two the kingdom of heaven is opened to believers and closed to unbelievers.Q 84 How is the kingdom of heaven opened and closed by the preaching of the gospel?A. 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 comeIn this simple lesson we look at 'The Keys of the Kingdom.'Read the notes by CLICKING THIS LINK.
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