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Heidelberg Catechism, Question 82

Question 82

Are they also to be admitted to this supper, who, by confession and life, declare themselves infidels and ungodly?

No: for by this the covenant of God would be profaned (Matt. 7;6), and his wrath kindled against the whole congregation (1 Cor. 11;30): therefore it is the duty of the Christian Church, according to the appointment Christ, and his apostles, to exclude such persons by the keys of the kingdom of heaven, until they show amendment of life (1 Cor. 5;11, 13).

Scripture references for paragraph 1

Berean Standard Bible. Public domain text and source credits.

Matthew 7:6

6Do not give dogs what is holy; do not throw your pearls before swine. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces.

1 Corinthians 10:21

21You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons too; you cannot partake in the table of the Lord and the table of demons too.

Isaiah 1:11-13

11“What good to Me is your multitude of sacrifices?” says the LORD. “I am full from the burnt offerings of rams and the fat of well-fed cattle; I take no delight in the blood of bulls and lambs and goats.

12When you come to appear before Me, who has required this of you— this trampling of My courts?

13Bring your worthless offerings no more; your incense is detestable to Me— your New Moons, Sabbaths, and convocations. I cannot endure iniquity in a solemn assembly.

Psalms 50:16-17

16To the wicked, however, God says, “What right have you to recite My statutes and to bear My covenant on your lips?

17For you hate My instruction and cast My words behind you.

1 Corinthians 11:30

30That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep.

Psalms 50:22

22Now consider this, you who forget God, lest I tear you to pieces, with no one to rescue you:

1 Corinthians 5:11

11But now I am writing you not to associate with anyone who claims to be a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a verbal abuser, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat.

1 Corinthians 5:13

13God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked man from among you.”

Matthew 18:15-17

15If your brother sins against you, go and confront him privately. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over.

16But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’

17If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, regard him as you would a pagan or a tax collector.

Titus 3:10

10Reject a divisive man after a first and second admonition,

2 Thessalonians 3:6

6Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to keep away from any brother who leads an undisciplined life that is not in keeping with the tradition you received from us.

2 Thessalonians 3:14

14Take note of anyone who does not obey the instructions we have given in this letter. Do not associate with him, so that he may be ashamed.

2 Thessalonians 3:15

15Yet do not regard him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother.

2 Corinthians 2:6-7

6The punishment imposed on him by the majority is sufficient for him.

7So instead, you ought to forgive and comfort him, so that he will not be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow.

Matthew 16:19

19I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”

Source and edition

Heidelberg Catechism. RCA English, E. R. Good & Bro., Tiffin, 1879. RCA English, E. R. Good & Bro., Tiffin, 1879

Public Domain (historic text); CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikisource transcription). Source transcription.

Transcription licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0.

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