A topic that even in evangelical REFORMED circles is one that is distasteful. Very sad as so goes the pure preaching of the Gospel as they go hand in hand one with the other. It speaks of the key power as two yet this catechism begins with the pulpit as if when the people of God are not disciplined by the CHIEF Shephard, NO discipline can avail. It BEGINS with the Preaching of the Gospel! First and FOREMOST is the preaching of the... Gospel....the FAITHFUL preaching of it!
Highly figurative language and figures we have here. (Kingdom of Heaven and the keys to the Kingdom.) Peter has a beautiful confession when Jesus asks "Who do you say I am?" And upon the rock He builds His church as it IS the KEY to the Kingdom of Heaven! The spiritual realm of the Church. The full manifestation of God's Church has a key. A key which is our Lord Jesus Christ who exercises that key/door THROUGH the preaching of the Gospel. The government has the calling to exercise its power, but it only deals with the body where this key power deals with a SPIRITUAL realm. The primary (and essentially only one understand) key power is the Gospel! What can you discipline in your life, as you look out for the brother in his life without the preaching?! Let us keep that preaching STRONG among us as it is the entrance into Heaven!!!
"The power of God unto salvation." "How shall they call on them whom they do not hear?" It takes place and how Christ disciplines His church (and also as a side note why He gives the church the great commission.) It is the PROMISE which is in Christ (in whom we have forgiveness and redemption full and free.) By faith they take hold of the gospel of grace (the forgiveness of sins) and is exercised as faith is operative. They need to be quickened by the Holy Spirit and the child comes as He draws them by the Holy Spirit and HE opens the doors to them as well as shuts it as others walk away from that faithful Gospel. The power of salvation as He works deep in our hearts as He gives us the forgiveness of our sins! He calls through that Gospel faithfully preached (the weight of a pastor) as the regeneration He has already done comes to fruition as He draws us into Him.
God brings His preaching and Gospel to wherever His people are (hoards of people in the old testament that He did NOT bring it to also.) How grateful we must be as He gives it to us as He did to father Abraham! It also ALWAYS accomplishes its purpose (never returning void) and the power of God that affectively builds His Kingdom! He gathers His church.
We must be thankful for that Word among us whereby He uses it to gather from among us (and beyond) HIS church into all eternity.
How thankful are you for this faithful Word of God among you? Some may take it for granted.