The Ministry of the Keys with Special Emphasis on the Power of the Christian to Forgive and to Retain Sins

Abstract

Christ gave great authority to his church in the ministry of the keys. In this ministry the church acts in Christ’s name to forgive penitent sinners their sins, but to retain the sins of the impenitent as long as they do not repent. With the keys we open or close the doors to the kingdom of God. The keys are the very gospel of God, and as such have been entrusted to all believers. The keys can be administered in a variety of ways; both publicly and privately.