Title: Jesus Unifying Heaven and Earth
Also, God's people must hate the sins that God hates. There must be grievances over sin. But the church of God is getting sick. The urgency of sin is fading away. Even if they commit a crime, they don't take it seriously. When they rebuke their sins, they say, “Have you not sinned at all?”
So, each other implicitly tells us not to get involved in the other person's business. Of course, you should not engage in the sins of the other person for the purpose of accusation. But it is the Bible that calls for repentance. I was sleeping outdoors in the summer when a viper approached me. The viper is sleeping without even knowing it is approaching. If you are watching the scene from the side, you should wake up the sleeping person by screaming. If it will be too late, you should block the snake from approaching.
Likewise, we must cry out toward this age that sleeps in sin. This is how we all live together.
If we receive forgiveness for our sins on this earth in the name of Jesus, God will forgive our sins in heaven. The key that can open the gates of heaven is only Jesus Christ.
So, in Matthew 16:19, “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”
It is the cross of Jesus Christ that united heaven and earth to become one. If you receive life on earth through the cross and receive salvation, you will receive life and salvation in heaven. If you are condemned on earth without believing in Jesus, you will be condemned in heaven as well. Let's look at a statement like this.
1. What if you have a brother who sins? (discipline)
If a certain member of the church has sinned against God, what should we do? It shouldn't be rumored. Of course, if you spread rumors, God's terrible punishment will come not only on the person who committed the sin, but also on the person who spreads the rumor.
So the Bible
First, don't gossip and meet only the two of you and give advice (v. 15a).
It is exhortation through the word of God. No matter what sins you commit, you must bear witness to the gospel that if you repent and ask for forgiveness from God, God will forgive you. And then we must exhort them to turn away from that sin. Don't use him as an accusation. It must be done with love for his soul. And you should know only by yourself and pray to God for him. Pastors sometimes have to carry other people's secrets to their graves.
When admonishing others, you must first realize that you are also a sinner and respond to counsel. Also, when exhorting, we must do it only with the word of God through Christ Jesus on the cross. You should not persuade and recommend others with your own life experiences or common sense stories. There is no hope. Only the cross of the blood of Christ can forgive us our sins.
Second, if you hear the counsel and repent, you will find a brother (v. 15b).
If this person repents, that person will be saved by God. Conversely, the one who counseled will be blessed with the promise of permission to those who lead in the right direction. Matthew 18:13 says, “Truly I tell you, if they find it, they will rejoice over it more than the ninety-nine that have not gone astray.”
Third, but if they do not listen, set up one or two witnesses (v. 16b).
This is Satan's temptation. He does not admit his sins. All you have to do is admit your sins to God and ask for forgiveness. But because of his pride, he does not admit it and does not confess.
In this case, you must raise a witness. The purpose of establishing that witness is for the purpose of acknowledging one's sins and making them repent of their sins. Repentance begins with acknowledging one's sins. If you do not admit your sin even though there are witnesses, you are a hardened person. There is no more hope for such a person.
Fourth, if you still do not repent, tell the church (v. 17a).
What does it mean to speak to the church? Calvin is said to be referring to the Session, the governing body of the church.
Fifth, if you do not listen to the church, you must go out of the church (verse 17).
If you refuse to listen even if you are exhorted by the final authority of the church, you are a person who has nothing to do with God. There is no longer any reason to be together as a church community. Such people are called gentiles and tax collectors. You no longer deserve to be in God's community.
Through these words, we must know that anyone is neglected by sin. That is why the Bible says, “Be careful of yourselves; if your brother sins, rebuke him; if he repents, forgive him” (Luke 17:3).
2. Heaven and earth are united in Jesus Christ (verses 18-20).
Up to now, we have been saying that if anyone has a sin, we should encourage them to somehow lead them to repent of their sins in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Now, the second problem on earth is how to make the same effect in the kingdom of heaven, that is, in heaven.
Ephesians 1:10 says, “that all things in heaven and on earth might be united in Christ.” First of all, we must remember that the problems solved on this earth can be effective only through Jesus Christ in order to take effect in the kingdom of heaven. Jesus Christ is the only one who unifies the earth and the heavens.
The key that binds and unlocks is Jesus Christ.
① What is bound on earth will be bound in heaven (verse 18a).
② What you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven (verse 18b). The key that binds and unlocks is Jesus Christ. “In my name” (20). If you repent in the name of Jesus Christ on this earth, God will forgive you in heaven. If you do not repent in the name of Jesus Christ on this earth, in heaven, God will not forgive you.
We keep making the mistake of limiting our Christian faith in God to only the matter of dying. As a result, after death, such a heaven does not reach people's hearts seriously right now. There are principles we must keep in mind. When was the heaven where you go when you die? That is, when you die, you are either in heaven or hell. There is no middle ground. Heaven and hell are not decided after we die. It's decided where we live now.
The decision between heaven and hell is here and now, if I believe in Jesus, it is heaven, and if I do not believe, it is hell. If you believe in Jesus now, the kingdom of heaven where you go to death has come to me right now. Eternal life in heaven through Jesus Christ is given to me today.
However, if you do not accept Jesus now, the hell you will go to death has already come as destruction for those living today. So the Bible says that they are now alive but dead. Verse 18 says, “Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”
3. God gives forgiveness of sins and answers to prayers in Jesus name (verses 19-20)
I have already said that the one who unifies heaven and earth is Jesus Christ. He must be the key to heaven. Those who have received Jesus Christ already live on this earth, but they are living with eternal life in heaven. Now the people of Jesus Christ,
First, we must firmly believe in the promise that if we ask for anything with one accord (verse 19), we must go forward.
Verse 19 says, “Again, truly, I say to you, if two of you agree on earth to ask for anything, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven.”
Two people cannot become one unless they become one through the Holy Spirit. When two people become one through the Holy Spirit, they can become one. Then the answer is given. We need to understand each other's feelings and be able to adapt to each other.
Second, the Lord is with us even if there are three people gathered in the name of Jesus (verse 20).
4. Invitation to the Word
Luke 2:14 says, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom he is pleased.” This word means that only Jesus Christ can glorify God and He is the One who brings the glory and peace of God to this earth. Why? Because this Jesus is the One who unifies the earth and the heavens. Also, in the name of Jesus Christ, because of the saying, “What you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and what you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”
We have many difficulties. The only way we can appeal to God to receive answers and solutions to our problems is only through Jesus. So when we pray, we pray in the name of Jesus. Is there a problem? What difficulties do you have? Unspeakable pain torments me. But tell God. Also, if someone advises me on my revealed wrongdoings, I would rather be grateful. When you do that, the blessings of God that will be released will come.