The Key Power of Gospel Preaching
Minister: | Rev. Ronald Van Overloop |
Date: | 9/24/2017 AM |
Text: | Matthew 16; Lord's Day 31 |
Psalters: | 421, 329, 182, 172 |
- The idea of the key.
- Jesus uses a figure of speech: a walled city or house with gates which are locked and unlocked by keys.
- The reality is the presence of two opposed kingdoms.
- The church is “of heaven” and it exists in the spiritual kingdom of Satan which hates it (enmity) (Gen. 3:15; John 17:14).
- The spiritual keys are the authority and power to determine what shall have a place within the walls of the church.
- Jesus is the Head of the church, its King and the Door (John 10:9) and He holds the keys (Isa. 22:22; Rev. 1:18; 3:7,8).
- Only He knows who are the citizens of the kingdom: given to Him in election and the ones for whom He died.
- Christ exercises the keys through the instrumentality of the Apostles and the elders (Matt. 18:18; John 20:23; Heb. 13:17).
- The key of the faithful preaching of the pure doctrines of the gospel.
- The primary task of the elders is to watch over the spiritual well-being of the souls of the congregation.
- They are to feed the flock with the Word (Acts 20:28), and they are to send the preacher (Rom. 10; Acts 13:1-3).
- The keys exercise a spiritual (not a physical) power by simply and clearly pronouncing what the Bible teaches.
- Preaching is the authoritative proclamation of the truth of God’s Word.
- The power of this key is the Spirit’s use of the preaching of the pure doctrines of the gospel to open and shut His kingdom.
- God begins, continues, and perfects His work of grace by means of the preaching of the gospel (Canons V - 14).
- Christ makes known to all who hear that the door of the kingdom is open to all who believe and shut to those who do not.
- In this world the church must be as a fortress.
- The primary task of the elders is to watch over the spiritual well-being of the souls of the congregation.