162 – Rights and Powers of the Church

RIGHTS AND POWERS OF THE CHURCH

  § 162. The rights and powers of the Church of Christ and of every local congregation are those of preaching the Gospel, the administration of the sacraments, especially the application of the keys of heaven, by loosing and binding in the name of God.

  Matthew 16:19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

  Matthew 18:15–18 Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican. Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

  Mark 16:15–16 And He said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

  John 20:22–23 And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost: whosesoever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them, and whosesoever sins ye retain, they are retained.

  I Corinthians 5:13 But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.

  See § 128 and texts.