Sondag 31
Vraag 83: Wat is die sleutels van die koninkryk van die hemel? Antwoord: Die verkondiging van die heilige evangelie¹ en die Christelike tug². Deur hierdie twee word die koninkryk van die hemel vir die gelowiges oopgesluit en vir die ongelowiges toegesluit³.
Skrifverwysings: 1: Matteus 16:19; Johannes 20:23 2: Matteus 18:15-18 3: Jesaja 22:22; Handelinge 5:1-5
Vraag 84: Hoe word die koninkryk van die hemel deur die verkondiging van die heilige evangelie oop- en toegesluit? Antwoord: So: volgens die bevel van Christus word aan alle gelowiges verkondig en openlik getuig dat God hulle, so dikwels as hulle die belofte van die evangelie met ‘n ware geloof aanneem, waarlik al hulle sondes vergewe het ter wille van die verdienste van Christus¹. Aan alle ongelowiges en huigelaars daarenteen word verkondig dat die toorn van God en die ewige verdoemenis op hulle bly solank hulle hulle nie bekeer nie². Volgens hierdie getuienis van die evangelie sal God sowel in hierdie as in die toekomstige lewe oordeel³.
Skrifverwysings: 1: Johannes 20:21-23 2: Matteus 16:19 3: Johannes 3:36
Vraag 85: Hoe word die koninkryk van die hemel deur die Christelike tug toegesluit en weer oopgesluit? Antwoord: So: volgens die bevel van Christus word dié wat hulle as Christene deur ‘n onchristelike leer of lewe skuldig maak en wat, nadat hulle herhaaldelik broederlik vermaan is, nie van hulle dwalinge of ondeugde wil afsien nie, aan die gemeente of aan diegene wat deur die gemeente daarvoor aangewys is, bekend gemaak¹, en as hulle nie op hulle vermaning ag slaan nie, word hulle deur hulle die sakramente geweier² en uit die Christelike gemeente, en dus deur God self uit die koninkryk van Christus, uitgesluit³. As hulle egter werklik beloftes van verandering toon en hulle bekeer, word hulle weer as lede van Christus en sy gemeente aanvaar⁴.
Skrifverwysings: 1: Matteus 18:15-17 2: 1 Korintiërs 5:3-5, 11 3: 2 Tessalonisense 3:14-15 4: Lukas 15:20-24; 2 Korintiërs 2:6-8
Lord’s Day 31
Question 83: What are the keys of the kingdom of heaven? Answer: The preaching of the holy gospel¹ and Christian discipline.² By these two the kingdom of heaven is opened to believers and shut against unbelievers.³
Scripture References: 1: Matthew 16:19; John 20:23 2: Matthew 18:15-18 3: Isaiah 22:22; Acts 5:1-5
Question 84: How is the kingdom of heaven opened and shut by the preaching of the holy gospel? Answer: According to the command of Christ: to believers, one and all, it is proclaimed and publicly testified that, as often as they accept the promise of the gospel with true faith, all their sins are truly forgiven them by God for the sake of Christ’s merits.¹ To all unbelievers and hypocrites, on the other hand, it is proclaimed that the wrath of God and eternal condemnation rest upon them as long as they do not repent.² According to this testimony of the gospel, God will judge both in this life and in the life to come.³
Scripture References: 1: John 20:21-23 2: Matthew 16:19 3: John 3:36
Question 85: How is the kingdom of heaven shut and opened by Christian discipline? Answer: According to the command of Christ: those who, though called Christians, show themselves to be unchristian in doctrine or life are first repeatedly admonished in a brotherly manner. If they do not give up their errors or evil ways, they are reported to the church, that is, to the elders.¹ If they do not heed their admonitions, they are forbidden the use of the sacraments,² and they are excluded from the Christian church and by God Himself from the kingdom of Christ.³ They are again received as members of Christ and of the church when they promise and show real amendment.⁴
Scripture References: 1: Matthew 18:15-17 2: 1 Corinthians 5:3-5, 11 3: 2 Thessalonians 3:14-15 4: Luke 15:20-24; 2 Corinthians 2:6-8