Introduction
I. The Church on the Offensive
A. The Gates of Hell (1 Cor. 15:54-55)
B. The Gift of Life
“For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom He will…Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears My word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life. Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son also to have life in Himself…Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear His voice and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.” (Jn. 5:21, 24-26, 28-29)
II. The Church and its Authority
And He gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints, for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,... (Eph. 4:11-12)
A. The Binding & Loosing (18:18)
B. The Bidding of the King (28:18-20)
Conclusion
“…the keys of the kingdom of heaven are committed…to shut that kingdom against the impenitent, both by the Word, and censures; and to open it unto penitent sinners, by the ministry of the Gospel;…” (WCF 30.2)