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    Question 94

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    Section 4: Of the Lord’s Supper

    How is the Kingdom of Heaven opened and shut by Ecclesiastical Discipline?

    When according to the Commandments of Christ, they who in Name are Christians, but in their Doctrine and life shewa themselves Aliens from Christ, after they have been some time admonished, will not depart from their Error, Heresies, or Wickedness, are made known unto the Church; and if neither then they obey the Churches Admonition, are by the same Church kept from the Sacrament, and shut out by Authority received from Christ, from the Congregationb or Church, and by God himself out of the Kingdom of Heaven. And again, if they profess and declare an amendment of life, nothing to the contrary being to be proved upon strict scrutiny and search, are again toc be received in Love & Tenderness as Members of Christ and his Church.

    How is the Kingdom of Heaven opened and shut by Ecclesiastical Discipline?

    When according to the Commandments of Christ, they who in Name are Christians, but in their Doctrine and life showa themselves Aliens from Christ, after they have been some time admonished, will not depart from their Error, Heresies, or Wickedness, are made known unto the Church; and if neither then they obey the Churches Admonition, are by the same Church kept from the Sacrament, and shut out by Authority received from Christ, from the Congregationb or Church, and by God himself out of the Kingdom of Heaven. And again, if they profess and declare an amendment of life, nothing to the contrary being to be proved upon strict scrutiny and search, are again toc be received in Love & Tenderness as Members of Christ and his Church.

    1. a. Romans 12:7–9; 1 Corinthians 12:28

      Romans 12:7–9

      12:7 Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; 12:8 Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness. 12:9 Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.

      12:7 if it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; 12:8 if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is giving, let him give generously; if it is leading, let him lead with diligence; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully. 12:9 Love must be sincere. Detest what is evil; cling to what is good.

      1 Corinthians 12:28

      12:28 And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.

      12:28 And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, and those with gifts of healing, helping, administration, and various tongues.

      King James VersionBerean Standard Bible

    2. b. Matthew 18:15–17; 1 Corinthians 5:3–5; 2 Thessalonians 3:14–15

      Matthew 18:15–17

      18:15 Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. 18:16 But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. 18:17 And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.

      18:15 If your brother sins against you, go and confront him privately. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. 18:16 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.' 18:17 If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, regard him as you would a pagan or a tax collector.

      1 Corinthians 5:3–5

      5:3 For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed, 5:4 In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, 5:5 To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.

      5:3 Although I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit, and I have already pronounced judgment on the one who did this, just as if I were present. 5:4 When you are assembled in the name of our Lord Jesus and I am with you in spirit, along with the power of the Lord Jesus, 5:5 hand this man over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved on the Day of the Lord.

      2 Thessalonians 3:14–15

      3:14 And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed. 3:15 Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.

      3:14 Take note of anyone who does not obey the instructions we have given in this letter. Do not associate with him, so that he may be ashamed. 3:15 Yet do not regard him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother.

      King James VersionBerean Standard Bible

    3. c. 2 Corinthians 2:6–7,10–11

      2 Corinthians 2:6–7; 2 Corinthians 2:10–11

      2:6 Sufficient to such a man is this punishment, which was inflicted of many. 2:7 So that contrariwise ye ought rather to forgive him, and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow. 2:10 To whom ye forgive any thing, I forgive also: for if I forgave any thing, to whom I forgave it, for your sakes forgave I it in the person of Christ; 2:11 Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.

      2:6 The punishment imposed on him by the majority is sufficient for him. 2:7 So instead, you ought to forgive and comfort him, so that he will not be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. 2:10 If you forgive anyone, I also forgive him. And if I have forgiven anything, I have forgiven it in the presence of Christ for your sake, 2:11 in order that Satan should not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes.

      King James VersionBerean Standard Bible

    Diff style

    Changes from Heidelberg Catechism (1563), Question 85

    Heidelberg Catechism (1563), Question 85

    How is the Kingdom of Heaven opened and shut and opened by Christian Ecclesiastical Discipline?

    Thus: When according to the command Commandments of Christ, those, they who under the in Name of are Christians, maintain doctrines, or practices inconsistent therewith, but in their Doctrine and life shew themselves Aliens from Christ, after they have been some time admonished, will not after having been often brotherly admonished, renounce depart from their errors and wicked course of life, are complained of to the church, to those, who Error, Heresies, or Wickedness, are thereunto appointed by made known unto the Church; and if neither then they despise their obey the Churches Admonition, are by them forbid the use of the sacraments; whereby they are excluded same Church kept from the Christian Sacrament, and shut out by Authority received from Christ, from the Congregation or Church, and by God himself from out of the Kingdom of Christ; Heaven. And when again, if they promise profess and show real declare an amendment of life, nothing to the contrary being to be proved upon strict scrutiny and search, are again to be received in Love & Tenderness as Members of Christ and his Church.

    Heidelberg Catechism (1563), Question 85

    How is the kingdom of heaven shut and opened by Christian discipline?

    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 forbid 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.

    An Orthodox Catechism (1680), Question 94

    How is the Kingdom of Heaven opened and shut by Ecclesiastical Discipline?

    When according to the Commandments of Christ, they who in Name are Christians, but in their Doctrine and life shew themselves Aliens from Christ, after they have been some time admonished, will not depart from their Error, Heresies, or Wickedness, are made known unto the Church; and if neither then they obey the Churches Admonition, are by the same Church kept from the Sacrament, and shut out by Authority received from Christ, from the Congregation or Church, and by God himself out of the Kingdom of Heaven. And again, if they profess and declare an amendment of life, nothing to the contrary being to be proved upon strict scrutiny and search, are again to be received in Love & Tenderness as Members of Christ and his Church.

    Commentaries (3)