The Key Power Of The Word

Minister:
Date: PM
Text: Matthew 16:19; Lord's Day 31
Psalters: 418, 351, 133, 182
Preparatory to the Lord's Supper
  1. The concept.
    1. This language pictures the kingdom as a walled city with gates.
      1. The gates can be locked and opened by means of keys.
      2. The reality is a spiritual kingdom (of heaven, not earthly or physical), so the keys are spiritual.
    2. The keys are the authority and power to determine what has a place within the walls of the church on earth.
  2. Jesus holds the keys.
    1. He is the King (Isaiah 22:22 with Rev. 1:18 and 3:7,8), and He is the Door (John 10:9).
      1. Only Christ knows who are the citizens of the kingdom and who are not.
      2. As King He has the authority to determine the character of the kingdom and to give that character to whom He will.
    2. Jesus exercises the keys through humans: Peter (Matthew 16:19); the church (18:18); the disciples (John 20:23).
      1. The apostles passed along this authority to elders whom they ordained when they instituted a church.
      2. The Bible is clear that the elders have authority to be watchmen.
      3. When the elders do this work, it is obvious that the work is Christ?s, being done through the church.
  3. The exercise of the key of the faithful preaching of the pure doctrines of salvation as found in God?s Word.
    1. A primary task of elders is to feed the flock with the Word (Acts 20:28) and to send the preacher (Rom. 10; Acts 13:1-3)
    2. Preaching is the authoritative proclamation of the truth of God?s Word according to the command of Christ.
      1. The nature of the preaching is that it is something which must be believed and obeyed.
      2. The preaching is the voice of the King and Head of the Church Himself calling His people unto Himself.
    3. The contents of the preaching is the gospel found in the Scriptures.
  4. The power of this key is that it opens and shuts the kingdom of heaven.
    1. Because the key is spiritual (not physical), so its power is spiritual: simply proclaiming what God?s Word teaches.
      1. While God alone forgives and condemns, the church makes the declaration of who is and is not forgiven.
      2. Christ?s Spirit works the experience of being drawn irresistibly by their Lord as they hear Him.
      3. Others, without the Spirit of Christ, are offended by the Word.
    2. While in the world the church must be as a fortress, for Satan knows his time is short and he is fierce.
      1. We need a strong gate (faithful preaching) and good guard (faithful elders and preachers).
      2. You, the members, must faithfully attend where the Word is most faithfully preached.