How to hear God speaking to you (John 20:23) -- Rev. John W. Armstrong

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)