Question 85
Section 31: Lord’s Day 31
How is the kingdom of heaven shut and opened by Christian discipline?
Thus: when according to the command of Christ,a those, who under the name of Christians, maintain doctrines, or practices inconsistent therewith,b and will not, after having been often brotherly admonished, renounce their errors and wicked course of life, are complained of to the church,c or to those, who are thereunto appointed by the church:d 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;e and when they promise and show real amendment, are again received as members of Christ and his church.f
a. Matthew 18:15
Matthew 18:15
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.
18:15 If your brother sins against you, go and confront him privately. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over.
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b. 1 Corinthians 5:12
1 Corinthians 5:12
5:12 For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within?
5:12 What business of mine is it to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside?
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c. Matthew 18:15–18
Matthew 18:15–18
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. 18:18 Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
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. 18:18 Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.
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d. Romans 12:7–9; 1 Corinthians 12:28; 1 Timothy 5:17; 2 Thessalonians 3:14
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.
1 Timothy 5:17
5:17 Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.
5:17 Elders who lead effectively are worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching.
2 Thessalonians 3:14
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.
3:14 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.
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e. Matthew 18:17; 1 Corinthians 5:3–5
Matthew 18:17
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.
18:17 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.
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f. 2 Corinthians 2:6–8, 10–11; Luke 15:18
2 Corinthians 2:6–8; 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. 2:8 Wherefore I beseech you that ye would confirm your love toward him. 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. 2:8 Therefore I urge you to reaffirm your love for him. 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.
Luke 15:18
15:18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,
15:18 I will get up and go back to my father and say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.
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