Of The Holy Supper Of Our Lord Jesus Christ

Of The Holy Supper Of Our Lord Jesus Christ

28 Lord's Day

Question 75
How art thou admonished and assured in the Lord's Supper, that thou art a partaker of that one sacrifice of Christ, accomplished on the cross, and of all His benefits?

A. Thus: That Christ has commanded me and all believers, to eat of this broken bread, and to drink of this cup, in remembrance of Him, adding these promises:(1) first, that His body was offered and broken on the cross for me, and His blood shed for me, as certainly as I see with my eyes the bread of the Lord broken for me, and the cup communicated to me; and further, that He feeds and nourishes my soul to everlasting life, with His crucified body and shed blood, as assuredly as I receive from the hands of the minister, and taste with my mouth the bread and cup of the Lord, as certain signs of the body and blood of Christ.

(1) Matt 26:26 And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is My body.
Matt 26:27 And He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it;
Matt 26:28 For this is My blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.
Mark 14:22 And as they did eat, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and brake it, and gave to them, and said, Take, eat: this is My body.
Mark 14:23 And He took the cup, and when He had given thanks, He gave it to them: and they all drank of it.
Mark 14:24 And He said unto them, This is My blood of the new testament, which is shed for many.
Luke 22:19 And He took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is My body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of Me.
Luke 22:20 Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in My blood, which is shed for you.
1 Cor 10:16 The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?
1 Cor 10:17 For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread.
1 Cor 11:23 For I have received of the Lord that which also I
delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which He was betrayed took bread:
1 Cor 11:24 And when He had given thanks, He brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is My body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of Me.
1 Cor 11:25 After the same manner also He took the cup, when He had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in My blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of Me.

Question 76
What is it then to eat the crucified body, and drink the shed blood of Christ?

A. It is not only to embrace with believing heart all the sufferings and death of Christ and thereby to obtain the pardon of sin and life eternal;(1) but also, besides that, to become more and more united
to His sacred body, by the Holy Ghost, who dwells both in Christ and in us;(2) so that we, though Christ is in heaven(3) and we on earth, are notwithstanding "flesh of His flesh and bone of His bone"(4) and that we live, and are governed forever by one spirit, as members of the same body are by one soul.(5)

(1) John 6:35 And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to Me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on Me shall never thirst.
John 6:40 And this is the will of Him that sent Me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on Him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.
John 6:47 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on Me hath everlasting life.
John 6:48 I am that bread of life.
John 6:50 This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die.
John 6:51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is My flesh, which I will give for the life of the world
John 6:53 Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink His blood, ye have no life in you.
John 6:54 Whoso eateth My flesh, and drinketh My blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.

(2) John 6:55 For My flesh is meat indeed, and My blood is drink indeed.
John 6:56 He that eateth My flesh, and drinketh My blood, dwelleth in Me, and I in him.

(3) Acts 3:21 Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began.
Act 1:9 And when He had spoken these things, while they beheld, He was taken up; and a cloud received Him out of their sight.
Act 1:10 And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;
Act 1:11 Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven.
1 Cor 11:26 For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till He come.

(4) Eph 5:29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:
Eph 5:30 For we are members of His body, of His flesh, and of His bones.
Cor 5:31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.
Eph 5:32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.
1 Cor 6:15 Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid.
1 Cor 6:17 But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.
1 Cor 6:19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
1 John 3:24 And He that keepeth His commandments dwelleth in Him, and He in Him. And hereby we know that He abideth in us, by the Spirit which He hath given us.

(5) John 6:56 He that eateth My flesh, and drinketh My blood, dwelleth in Me, and I in him.
John 6:57 As the living Father hath sent Me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth Me, even he shall live by Me.
John 6:58 This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever.
Eph 4:15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into Him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
Eph 4:16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

Question 77
Where has Christ promised that He will as certainly feed and nourish believers with His body and bleed, as they eat of this broken bread, and drink of this cup?

A. In the institution of the supper, which is thus expressed: "The Lord Jesus the same night in which He was betrayed, took bread, and when He had given thanks, He brake it, and said:Take, eat: this is My body, which is broken for you; this do in remembrance of Me.(1) After the same manner also He took the cup, when He had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in My blood;(2) this do ye, as often as ye drink it, in remembrance of Me. For, as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord's death till He come.(3) This promise is repeated by the holy apostle Paul, where he says "The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? For we, being many, are one bread and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread."(4)

(1) 1 Cor 11:23 For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which He was betrayed took bread:
Matt 26:26 And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is My body.
Mark 14:22 And as they did eat, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and brake it, and gave to them, and said, Take, eat: this is My body.
Luke 22:19 And He took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is My body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of Me.

(2) Exod 24:8 And Moses took the blood, and sprinkled it on the people, and said, Behold the blood of the covenant, which the LORD hath made with you concerning all these words.
Heb 9:20 Saying, This is the blood of the testament which God hath enjoined unto you.

(3) Exod 13:9 And it shall be for a sign unto thee upon thine hand, and for a memorial between thine eyes, that the LORD'S law may be in thy mouth: for with a strong hand hath the LORD brought thee out of Egypt.
1 Cor 11:26 For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till He come.

(4) 1 Cor 10:16 The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?
1 Cor 10:17 For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread.

29 Lord's Day

Question 78
Do then the bread and wine become the very body and blood of Christ?

A. Not at all: but as the water in baptism is not changed into the blood of Christ, neither is the washing away of sin itself, being only the sign and confirmation thereof appointed of God;(1) so the bread in the Lord's supper is not changed into the very body of Christ;(2) though agreeably to the nature and properties of sacraments,(3) it is called the body of Christ Jesus.

(1) 1 Cor 10:1 Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;
1 Cor 10:2 And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;
1 Cor 10:3 And did all eat the same spiritual meat;
1 Cor 10:4 And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.
1 Pet 3:21 The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:
John 6:35 And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to Me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on Me shall never thirst.
John 6:62 What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where He was before?
John 6:63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

(2) 1 Cor 10:16 The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?
1 Cor 11:20 When ye come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat the Lord's supper. 1 Cor.11:34 And if any man hunger, let him eat at home; that ye come not together unto condemnation. And the rest will I set in order when I come.

(3) Gen 17:10 This is My covenant, which ye shall keep, between Me and you and thy seed after thee; Every man child among you shall be circumcised.
Gen 17:11 And ye shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin; and it shall be a token of the covenant betwixt Me and you.
Gen 17:14 And the uncircumcised man child whose flesh of his foreskin is not circumcised, that soul shall be cut off from his people; he hath broken My covenant.
Exod 12:26 And it shall come to pass, when your children shall say unto you, What mean ye by this service?
Exod 12:27 That ye shall say, It is the sacrifice of the LORD'S passover, who passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt, when He smote the Egyptians, and delivered our houses. And the people bowed the head and worshipped.
Exod 12:43 And the LORD said unto Moses and Aaron, This is the ordinance of the passover: There shall no stranger eat thereof:
Exod 12:48 And when a stranger shall sojourn with thee, and will keep the passover to the LORD, let all his males be circumcised, and then let him come near and keep it; and he shall be as one that is born in the land: for no uncircumcised person shall eat thereof.

Question 79
Why then doth Christ call the bread "His body", and the cup "His blood", or "the new covenant in His blood"; and Paul the "communion of body and blood of Christ"?

A. Christ speaks thus, not without great reason, namely, not only thereby to teach us that as bread and wine support this temporal life, so His crucified body and shed blood are the true meat and drink whereby our souls are fed to eternal life;(1) but more especially by these visible signs and pledges to assure us that we are as really partakers of His true body and blood (by the operation of the Holy Ghost) as we receive by the mouths of our bodies these holy signs in remembrance of Him;(2) and that all His sufferings and obedience are as certainly ours, as if we had in our own persons suffered and made satisfaction for our sins to God.(3)

(1) John 6:51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is My flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.
John 6:55 For My flesh is meat indeed, and mMy blood is drink indeed.
John 6:56 He that eateth My flesh, and drinketh My blood, dwelleth in Me, and I in him.

(2) 1 Cor 10:16 The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?
1 Cor 10:17 For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread.
1 Cor 11:26 For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till He come.
1 Cor 11:27 Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.
1 Cor 11:28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.
Eph 5:30 For we are members of His body, of His flesh, and of His bones.

(3) Rom 5:9 Much more then, being now justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.
Rom 5:18 Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.
Rom 5:19 For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.
Rom 8:4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

30 Lord's Day

Question 80
What difference is there between the Lord's supper
and the popish mass?

A. The Lord's supper testifies to us, that we have a full pardon of all sin by the only sacrifice of Jesus Christ, which He Himself has once accomplished on the cross;(1) and, that we by the Holy Ghost are ingrafted into Christ,(2) who, according to His human nature is now not on earth, but in heaven, at the right hand of God His Father,(3) and will there be worshipped by us.(4) But the mass teaches, that the living and dead have not the pardon of sins through the sufferings of Christ, unless Christ is also daily offered for them by the priests; and further, that Christ is bodily under the form of bread and wine, and therefore is to be worshipped in them; so that the mass, at bottom, is nothing else than a denial of the one sacrifice and sufferings of Jesus Christ, and an accursed idolatry.(5)

(1) Heb 7:27 Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this He did once, when He offered up Himself.
Heb 9:12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by His own blood He entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.
Heb 9:26 For then must He often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath He appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.
Matt 26:28 For this is My blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.
Luke 22:19 And He took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is My body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of Me.
Luke 22:20 Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in My blood, which is shed for you.
2 Cor 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

(2) 1 Cor 12:13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.

(3) Heb 1:3 Who being the brightness of His glory, and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;
Heb 8:1 Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens.

(4) John 4:21 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe Me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father.
John 4:22 Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.
John 4:23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship Him.
Col 3:1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
Philip 3:20 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:
Luke 24:52 And they worshipped Him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy:
Luke 24:53 And were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. Amen.
Act 7:55 But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God,

(5) Isa 1:11 To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto Me? saith the LORD: I am full of the burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts; and I delight not in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he goats.
Isa 1:14 Your new moons and your appointed feasts My soul hateth: they are a trouble unto Me; I am weary to bear them.
Matt 15:9 But in vain they do worship Me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
Col 2:22 Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men?
Col 2:23 Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body: not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.
Jer 2:13 For My people have committed two evils; they have forsaken Me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water.

Question 81
For whom is the Lord's supper instituted?

A.For those who are truly sorrowful for their sins,(1) and yet trust that these are forgiven them for the sake of Christ; and that their remaining infirmities are covered by His passion and death; 2) and who also earnestly desire to have their faith more and more strengthened, and their lives more holy;(3) but hypocrites, and such as turn not to God with sincere hearts, eat and drink judgment to themselves.(4)

(1) Matt 5:3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the   kingdom of heaven.
Matt 5:6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
Luke 7:37 And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster box of ointment,
Luke 7:38 And stood at His feet behind Him weeping, and began   to wash His feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed His feet, and anointed them with the ointment.
Luke 15:18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,
Luke 15:19   And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants

(2) Psa 103:3 Who forgiveth all thine iniquities: who healeth all thy diseases,

(3) Psa 116:12 What shall I render unto the Lord for all His benefits toward me?
Psa 116:13 I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the Lord.
Psa 116:14 I will pay my vows unto the Lord now in the presence of all his people.

1 Pet 2:11 Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;

1 Pet 2:12 Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.

(4) 1 Cor 10:20 But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils.
1 Cor 11:28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.
Tit 1:16 They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.
Psa 50:15 And call upon Me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify Me.
Psa 50:16 But unto the wicked God saith, What hast thou to do to declare My statutes, or that thou shouldest take My covenant in thy mouth?

Question 82
Are they also to be admitted to this supper, who, by confession and life, declare themselves unbelieving and ungodly?

A. No; for by this, the covenant of God would be profaned and His wrath kindled against the whole congregation;(1) therefore it is the duty of the Christian church, according to the appointment of Christ and His apostles, to exclude such persons by the keys of the kingdom of heaven, till they show amendment of life.

(1) 1 Cor 10:21 Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup   of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils.
1 Cor 11:30 For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.
11 Cor 1:31 For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.
Isa 1:11 To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto Me? saith the LORD: I am full of the burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts; and I delight not in the blood of bullocks, or    of lambs, or of he goats.
Isa 1:13 Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto me; the new moons and sabbaths, the calling of assemblies,   I cannot away with; it is iniquity, even the solemn meeting.
Jer 7:21 Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Put your burnt offerings unto your sacrifices, and eat flesh.
Psa 50:16 But unto the wicked God saith, What hast thou to do to declare My statutes, or that thou shouldest take My covenant in thy mouth?
Psa 50:22 Now consider this, ye that forget God, lest I tear you in pieces, and there be none to deliver.

(2) Matt 18:17 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.
Matt 18:18 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.

31 Lord's Day

Question 83
What are the keys of the kingdom of heaven?(1)

A. The preaching of the holy gospel, and Christian discipline,(2) or excommunication out of the Christian church;(3) by these two, the kingdom of heaven is opened to believers, and shut against unbelievers.

(1) Matt 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.

(2) John 20:23 Whose so ever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose so ever sins ye retain, they are retained.

(3) Matt 18:15 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,
Matt 18:16 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.
Matt 18:17 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.
Matt 18:18 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.

Question 84
How is the kingdom of heaven opened and shut by the preaching of the holy gospel?

A. Thus: when according to the command of Christ (1) it is declared and publicly testified to all and every believer, that, whenever they receive the promise of the gospel by a true faith,(2) all their sins are really forgiven them of God for the sake of Christ's merits; and on the contrary, when it is declared and testified to all unbelievers, and such as do not sincerely repent, that they stand exposed to the wrath of God, and eternal condemnation,(3) so long as they are unconverted:(4) according to which testimony of the gospel, God will judge them, both in this, and in the life to come.

(1) Matt 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
(2) John 3:18 He that believeth on Him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
John 3:36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
Mark 16:16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

(3) 2 Thes 1:7 And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels,
2 Thes 1:8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:
2 Thes 1:9 Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of His power.

(4) John 20:21 Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as My Father hath sent Me, even so send I you.
John 20:22 And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:
John 20:23 Whose so ever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose so ever sins ye retain, they are retained.
Matt 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.
Rom 2:2 But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things.
Rom 2:13 (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.
Rom 2:14 For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves:
Rom 2:15 Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;)
Rom 2:16 In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to My gospel.
Rom 2:17 Behold, thou art called a Jew, and restest in the law, and makest thy boast of God,

Question 85
How is the kingdom of heaven shut and opened by Christian discipline?

A. Thus: when according to the command of Christ,(1) those, who under the name of Christians, maintain doctrines or practices inconsistent therewith, (2) and will not, after having been often brotherly admonished, renounce their errors and wicked course of life, are complained of to the church or to those (3) who are thereunto appointed by the church;(4) and if they despise their admonition, are by them forbidden the use of the sacraments;(5) whereby they are excluded from the Christian church, and by God Himself from the kingdom of Christ; and when they promise and show real amendment, are again received as members of Christ and His church.(6

(1) Matt 18:15 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.

(2) 1 Cor 5:12 For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within?

(4) Rom 12:7 Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching;
Rom 12:8 Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.
Rom 12:9 Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.
1 Cor 12:28 And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.
1 Tim 5:7 And these things give in charge, that they may be blameless
2 Thes 3:14 And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed.

(5) Matt 18:17 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.
1 Cor 5:3 For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed,
1 Cor 5:4 In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ,
1 Cor 5:5 To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.

(6) 2 Cor 2:6 Sufficient to such a man is this punishment, which was inflicted of many.
2 Cor 2:7 So that contrariwise ye ought rather to forgive him, and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow.
2 Cor 2:8 Wherefore I beseech you that ye would confirm your love toward him.
2 Cor 2:10 To whom ye forgive any thing, I forgive also: for if I forgave any thing, to whom I forgave it, for your sakes forgave I it in the person of Christ;
2 Cor 2:11 Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.
Luke 15:18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,