Kankakee Valley Post, Volume 14, Number 38, DeMotte, Jasper County, 4 August 1944 — THE PASTOR’S COLUMN [ARTICLE]

THE PASTOR’S COLUMN

by REV. GEO. GOTSCH

Pastor of the St. John’s Lutheran Church of Union Township

The Fifth Chief Part of Luther’s Small Catechism treats of The Office of the Keys and Confession. An office is a duty to be performed. This implies also certain rights and privildeges, above all certain powers connected with the office. Jesus speaks of the Office of the Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven in our text for Sunday, Math. 16, 19, the duty, the right and priviledge,'yes, and the power to open and close heaven. This power unquestionably belongs to Christ who says, “All power is given unto Me in heaven and in earth” (Matth. 28:18). Being the Son of God, He has the power, the rights and privhedges over His kingdom. This power He has given to His Church on earth. He has the right to delegate this power on whomsoever He pleases. In our text Jesus speaks to Peter, “I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven, etc.” Shortly after, Matth. 18, Jesus spoke to the individual congregation, using the selfsame words in the plural number, “Whatsoever ye shall bind on eatrh shall be bound in heaven, and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” On that memorable Easter night Jesus said to His disciples, “Whosoever sins ye remit they are remitted unto them.” (John 20:23). This Office of the Keys is the power to preach the Word of God, to administer the Sacraments and especially to forgive and to retain sins. This power belongs to the Church, to every local Christian congregation, as w T e see from 1 Peter 2:9, Matth. 18:18, John 20:23 and other passages of Scriptures. How r thispporerw r er of the Office of the Keys is exercised, we shall see in our next sermon. Sunday School at 10:00 service at 10:45."