"The Shepherds Way" E.W.King: The Doctrine of the Keys

Ancient Antiochene Christianity…..

The Doctrine of the Keys

By Eric William King

The Office of the Keys is a phrase which refers to a special power that Jesus Christ gave to His church. Jesus first confirmed this gift to Apostle Peter (Matthew 16:19) and then latter to all His disciples (Matthew 18:18). It is a specific doctrine dealing with Church harmony and Church discipline. Yes…Church Discipline. I realize that this is not a “politically correct” topic….especially amongst today’s theologians and pastors.

Jesus gives counsel in Scripture about how to settle matters amongst fellow Christians. He also talks about the fact that those called to teach or preach in the church can readmit a person who has fallen into sin but needs absolution to keep the “church body” in harmony and the conscious clean and clear.

The Ancient Antiochene Church has had this office of keys operative in it since the time Christ gave it to His church. The Keys are a peculiar, special, unique, spiritual power given by Christ to the church. The question becomes; out of all the confusing “denominations” which one has “the Keys” operative?

If Jesus gave this authority to His church it must still have it. The power of the keys also gives proper authority to administer the sacraments. The hearing of the Gospel and the Holy Sacraments are given only through Christ’s Church…His body on earth.

Today many Christians in America have this disconnect with the congregation, sadly it is not taught that the Church should be so united in “doctrine”, “prayer”, and know that each person is a body part of ONE BODY…the body of Christ.

To Bind & Loose

The whole church should have absolution often to keep harmony and proper fellowship. This power cannot institute any new “traditions” into the church but is only the power to forgive the sins of those converted and to denounce and excommunicate those who refuse to leave and just cause troubles.

These are the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven "in mystery”, the Christian Church – the “Bride of Christ”. The Apostles pronounced collective forgiveness over their congregations (Acts 13:38-39; Acts 10:43) thus demonstrating the office of the keys. The churches job is to use the keys to open the door for all to come…all are invited into the Kingdom of God. St Peter used the keys and opened the door to 3000 listeners (Acts 2:41).

Another explanation of the keys would be the ability to “allow” or to “forbid”. The Christian Church is to forbid [bind] such things as false teachings in the church (Romans 16:17-18) Also a ban, or excommunication, is the process whereby impenitent sinners are excluded from Communion and other fellowship of the church.

The Bishops and Pastors are to use the keys as responsible stewards of the household of God. So again, does your church have these keys? If not why? One of the only large Christian groups that properly use these keys and understand the doctrine properly unto this day is the confessional Christian Lutheran Church (collectively).

We could say that the whole Gospel of Christ is an absolution. True forgiveness & absolution does not exist outside of the Gospel. Using the keys is simply a special form of administering the Gospel where a minister or other Christian forgives the sins of others. It is not a better nor more powerful kind of forgiveness, but it is a special application which gives reassurance and creates a clear conscious for the entire congregation. (Luke 7:47–48).

If the Christian Churches properly practiced the use of the keys there would be less worldliness and less false doctrine in today’s churches. Also, more Christians would have true assurance of the forgiveness of their sins. God’s word seems to indicate that the churches will get worse as we approach the Second Coming of our Lord – thus, it should not surprise us, all the denominational confusion in today’s world and their uncertainty of salvation.

“The Office of the Keys is the special authority which Christ has given to His Church on earth: to forgive the sins of the penitent sinners, but to retain the sins of the impenitent as long as they do not repent.” ~ St Martin Luther

So the true church is not a continuation of the claims of men but is instead the continuation and protection of the TRUE TEACHINGS of Scripture. Also, the Christian Church does not create the Scriptures (Word of God) but instead the Word of God creates the proper Church.

Please continue your Bible studies here at “The Shepherds Way” & “Nugget of Truth”.

Eric William King (May 3^rd 2020)

Also Read: "Connections to the Historical Church?"