TOPIC 26 OF 47
The Authority and Power of the Church
Christ entrusts his Church with the keys of repentance and forgiveness.
THE MAIN TRUTH
Christ builds his Church through the public ministry of the Word, Baptism, and Holy Communion in the power of the Spirit.
The teaching
From the book · pages 79–81
Christ builds his Church through the public ministry of the Word, Baptism, and Holy Communion in the power of the Spirit. Christ Jesus gives his Church and her public ministers the authority to act in his name. This authority is called “the keys of the kingdom of heaven.” One key locks heaven to unrepentant sinners through the use of God’s Law. The other key opens heaven to repentant sinners through the Gospel of Jesus.
The Church has no authority other than the power of God’s Word to expose sin and to give new life in Christ. The locking key of the Law is used compassionately, for example, when a Christian who is trapped in public, unrepentant sin and who has resisted efforts at spiritual restoration is excluded from Holy Communion as an urgent, loving call to repentance.
The opening key of the Gospel is used when the Absolution— the forgiveness of sins in Christ—is declared to repentant sinners, whether publicly or privately. This key is also used to confirm baptized believers as members in communion with Christ’s Church.
Scripture foundations
All Scripture excerpts from this topic are presented below in the book’s order. Ellipses and bracketed explanations follow the manuscript. Select a reference to read the surrounding passage in the EHV.
Reading these passages together
The passages locate the Church’s authority in Christ’s Word. Correction seeks restoration, and Absolution gives repentant sinners the comfort of forgiveness in Jesus’ name.
11 Scripture excerpt groups
SCRIPTURE 01
Matthew 16:18-19 ↗
[Jesus:] “And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell will not overpower it. 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.”
Book page 80
SCRIPTURE 02
Mark 16:15; Matthew 28:19 Luke 22:19; Acts 6:4 ↗
“. . . preach the gospel . . .” “. . . gather disciples . . . by baptizing . . .” “Do this in remembrance of me.” “. . . we will devote ourselves to prayer and the ministry of the word.”
Book page 80
SCRIPTURE 03
Matthew 28:18; John 20:21-23 ↗
“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me” “Jesus said to them again, ‘Peace be with you! Just as the Father has sent me, I am also sending you.’ After saying this, he breathed on them and said, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit. Whenever you forgive people’s sins, they are forgiven. Whenever you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.’”
Book page 80
SCRIPTURE 04
Isaiah 55:10-11 ↗
“Just as the rain and the snow come down from the sky and do not return there unless they first water the earth, make it give birth, and cause it to sprout . . . in the same way my word that goes out of my mouth will not return to me empty. Rather, it will accomplish whatever I please, and it will succeed in the purpose for which I sent it.”
Book page 80
SCRIPTURE 05
Hebrews 4:12; 2 Corinthians 2:17 ↗
“For the word of God is living and active . . .” “. . . in Christ we speak with sincerity in the sight of God, as men from God.”
Book page 80
SCRIPTURE 06
Matthew 18:18 ↗
“Amen I tell you: Whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”
Book page 81
SCRIPTURE 07
1 Corinthians 5:1,4-5,13; Matthew 18:17 ↗
“It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you . . . In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when you are gathered together, and my spirit is there, along with the power of our Lord Jesus, hand such a man over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that the spirit may be saved on the day of the Lord Jesus . . . ‘Remove the wicked man from among yourselves’” “. . . treat him as an unbeliever. . .”
Book page 81
SCRIPTURE 08
2 Corinthians 2:10-11; Galatians 6:1; James 5:20 ↗
“If you forgive anyone anything, I do too. To be sure, if I have forgiven anything, I have forgiven it in the presence of Christ for your sake, so that Satan would not take advantage of us. We are certainly not unaware of his schemes.” “. . . restore such a person in a spirit of humility . . .” “. . . [you] will save his soul from death . . .”
Book page 81
SCRIPTURE 09
James 5:15-16 ↗
“If he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. So confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, in order that you may be healed.”
Book page 81
SCRIPTURE 10
Romans 12:5 ↗
“. . . we are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another.”
Book page 81
SCRIPTURE 11
2 Corinthians 4:5; 10:8 ↗
“Indeed, we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake.” “…our authority, which the Lord has given for building you up and not for tearing you down…”
Book page 81
Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture passages are from the Holy Bible, Evangelical Heritage Version (EHV), copyright 2019 Wartburg Project, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission, as noted in the manuscript.
PERSONAL REFLECTION OR GROUP DISCUSSION
Reflect and pray
What authority does Christ give the Church, and what limits it?
How should the goal of restoration shape the correction of sin?
Why can a repentant believer take comfort in hearing Absolution?
A prayer
Lord Jesus, guide your Church to speak your truth with humility and mercy. Restore those caught in sin and comfort repentant hearts with your sure forgiveness. Amen.