Question 84
Section 31: Lord’s Day 31
How is the kingdom of heaven opened and shut by the preaching of the holy gospel?
Thus: when according to the command of Christ,a 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;b 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,c so long as they are unconverted:— according to which testimony of the gospel, God will judge them, both in this, and the life to come.d
a. Matthew 28:19
Matthew 28:19
28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
28:19 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,
King James VersionBerean Standard Bible
b. John 3:18, 36; Mark 16:16
John 3:18; John 3:36
3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 3:36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
3:18 Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe has already been condemned, because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son. 3:36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life. Whoever rejects the Son will not see life. Instead, the wrath of God remains on him."
Mark 16:16
16:16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
16:16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.
King James VersionBerean Standard Bible
c. 2 Thessalonians 1:7–9
2 Thessalonians 1:7–9
1:7 And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, 1:8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: 1:9 Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;
1:7 and to grant relief to you who are oppressed and to us as well. This will take place when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels 1:8 in blazing fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. 1:9 They will suffer the penalty of eternal destruction, separated from the presence of the Lord and the glory of His might,
King James VersionBerean Standard Bible
d. John 20:21–23; Matthew 16:19; Romans 2:2, 13–17
John 20:21–23
20:21 Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. 20:22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost: 20:23 Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.
20:21 Again Jesus said to them, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent Me, so also I am sending you." 20:22 When He had said this, He breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit. 20:23 If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you withhold forgiveness from anyone, it is withheld."
Matthew 16:19
16:19 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 shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
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."
Romans 2:2; Romans 2:13–17
2:2 But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things. 2:13 (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified. 2:14 For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: 2:15 Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;) 2:16 In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel. 2:17 Behold, thou art called a Jew, and restest in the law, and makest thy boast of God,
2:2 And we know that God's judgment against those who do such things is based on truth. 2:13 For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but it is the doers of the law who will be declared righteous. 2:14 Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. 2:15 So they show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts either accusing or defending them 2:16 on the day when God will judge men's secrets through Christ Jesus, as proclaimed by my gospel. 2:17 Now you, if you call yourself a Jew; if you rely on the law and boast in God;
King James VersionBerean Standard Bible
