Sermon notes:

How to hear God speaking to you (John 20:23)

I. Know ______________ Jesus is.

A. Jesus is not bound, but He has bound us to His Word.

B. The church (MaƩhew 18:20; John 20:19,26; Ephesians 1:22-23).

II. Know ______________ Jesus speaks.

A. What is “the Office of the Keys?”

1. It is the unique authority given to the church on earth to

________________ and _______________ sins (v.23).

a. Unknown in the Old Testament.

b. This authority is given to ___________________ (MaƩhew 9:8; 18:18).

2. The Keys are administered publicly by the

_________________________ (Preaching, BapƟsm, Lord’s Supper,

AbsoluƟon) and privately by the ________________________

(AbsoluƟon).

a. “A Jesus without grace is unthinkable, but a Jesus without warnings

is all too __________________” (Frederick Dale Bruner).

b. “This sentence [v.23] lays down the duty of the church to proclaim

forgiveness to the penitent in heart, and the warn the impenitent

that they are __________________ the mercy of God” (William

Barclay).

B. What is confession?

1. First, we confess our sins (Mark 1:5; James 5:16; 1 John 1:9).

2. Second, we receive absoluƟon/forgiveness from the pastor as from God

Himself.

a. When someone speaks forgiveness to you, it is the

____________________ speaking to you (v.23; MaƩhew 16:19; 18:18-20;

Luke 10:16).

b. No one should be forced to go to confession. I would rather have

____________ choose to come than to have ______________

forced to come.

III. Know ____________ Jesus speaks (John 20:31; Luke 19:10; James 5:19-20)