God has given to the church authority for binding and loosing. The Greek word that is translated “church” in the New Testament is “Ekklesia.” The Greeks understood this was a community that set policy and determined governance. New Testament translators usually use the words “congregation” and “community” as proper English words to communicate its meaning. It certainly did not mean a hierarchically structured organization with vast land holdings and wealth, which is the direction things went after Emperor Constantine.
The modern conservative church has trended toward becoming insulated from society, being a kind of enclave or doctrinal fortress to which people are invited to enter. The liberal church, on the other hand, lost its identity in the pursuit of becoming like the world. This brings us to what some call the missional church, which is doctrinally conservative and sees itself as sent to the world to fulfill the Great Commission. It views itself as a training center for developing disciples or followers of Christ and as an “apostolic” sending agency to send those disciples out into the world to gain converts in whom they will reproduce themselves.
All members of a missional church are taught to see themselves as agents of change in their own families and areas of influence, especially those who have children. A small percentage will be called to the “religious” sector of society as church ministers and leaders. Most of the members of missional churches will understand themselves as sent to become engaged in all sorts of secular arenas, including education, government, business, media, and the arts. They seek to allow their “light to shine” in their communities, clubs, at the gym, at work, or wherever they interact with others.
No matter which area of society we are called to serve, our role remains the same – to be Christ’s representatives and wield influence for the kingdom of God.
Our Lord told Peter that the church has the power to bind and loose or release.
“I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven.” Matthew 16:19 (NASB95)
In another place, while speaking about church discipline, our Lord taught…
“Truly I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven. 19 “Again I say to you, that if two of you agree on earth about anything that they may ask, it shall be done for them by My Father who is in heaven. 20 “For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst.” Matthew 18:18–20 (NASB95)
We know that Jesus gave Peter “keys” of authority to unlock the door into God’s kingdom.
“I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it. 19 “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven.” Matthew 16:18–19 (NASB95)
Jesus did not build his church upon Peter, the little stone, but upon himself, the rock, the chief cornerstone. (Psalm 118:22 and Acts 4:11)
Peter’s confession of faith in the chief cornerstone was the doorway into membership in the church. The key that unlocked the door was the gospel.
Peter was granted the privilege of preaching the gospel first to the Jews gathered in Jerusalem on that first Pentecost. He also unlocked the door to the Gentiles when he preached to Cornelius and his family and friends. Peter mentioned this privilege when he recounted to the leaders in Jerusalem what took place in the house of Cornelius.
After there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, “Brethren, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles would hear the word of the gospel and believe. Acts 15:7 (NASB95)
The preaching of the gospel unlocks the door into the kingdom of God, which the legalistic Jewish leaders had kept locked, according to Jesus.
“Woe to you lawyers! For you have taken away the key of knowledge; you yourselves did not enter, and you hindered those who were entering.” Luke 11:52 (NASB95)
The preaching of the gospel “looses” or releases captives and sets them free.
Jesus spoke about this when he launched his public ministry at the synagogue in Nazareth by reading from the Isaiah the prophet.
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim release to the captives, And recovery of sight to the blind, To set free those who are oppressed, 19 To proclaim the favorable year of the Lord.” Luke 4:18–19 (NASB95)
The gospel is an authoritative proclamation that releases the authority of Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit to save people and set them free.
Paul said that the gospel liberates or “looses” people from bondages that the Law can never accomplish. (Acts 13:39)
The church is authorized to proclaim the gospel’s power to loose people from sin, sickness, disease, demonic oppression, legalism, addictions, fear, and even death.
As Christ’s representatives, we can heal the sick, cast out demons, and raise the dead; although, I have not personally witnessed the last one. Nevertheless, the Bible says we have such authority to loose.
Now when He had said these things, He cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth!” 44 And he who had died came out bound hand and foot with graveclothes, and his face was wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Loose him, and let him go.” John 11:43–44 (NKJV)
We also have authority to bind. Normally, I associate binding with restraining or restricting the devil’s activity.
Jesus told us that before we can liberate someone who is experiencing demonic oppression, we must first bind the “strongman.” Jesus said…
But if I am casting out demons by the Spirit of God, then the Kingdom of God has arrived among you. 29 For who is powerful enough to enter the house of a strong man and plunder his goods? Only someone even stronger—someone who could tie him up and then plunder his house. Matthew 12:28–29 (NLT)
We have Christ’s authority to bind demonic activity which is enforced by the Spirit of God.
Before I expel a demon, I first bind its activity and restrict it from acting in any sort of distracting way. I believe we also have the authority to bind the effects of disease, generational curses, addictions, recurrent sin, etc. based on Christ’s victory over these things.
We are authorized to proclaim that these things were defeated at Calvary and have no right to rule over us any longer.
Here is an example from Paul’s letter to the church in Rome.
For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law but under grace. Romans 6:14 (NASB95)
It is very important for us to understand that our authority to bind and loose is linked to what God has already done in heaven.
We bind and loose based on what God has already declared bound and loosed in his Word.
“I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven.” Matthew 16:19 (NASB95)
Our ability to bind and loose is based on Christ’s victory on the cross and through his resurrection, by which he disarmed the power of Satan, sin, sickness, death, and the flesh.
We also can declare God’s judgments upon the enemy and his representatives.
However, we must make sure that we are led by God’s Spirit when doing so, such as when Paul declared a judgment on Elymas the magician.
But Elymas the magician (for so his name is translated) was opposing them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith. 9 But Saul, who was also known as Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, fixed his gaze on him, 10 and said, “You who are full of all deceit and fraud, you son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease to make crooked the straight ways of the Lord? 11 “Now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you will be blind and not see the sun for a time.” And immediately a mist and a darkness fell upon him, and he went about seeking those who would lead him by the hand. 12 Then the proconsul believed when he saw what had happened, being amazed at the teaching of the Lord. Acts 13:8–12 (NASB95)
We also have the authority to declare people’s sins remitted or forgiven through the gospel, as Peter did at Solomon’s portico.
Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord; 20 and that He may send Jesus, the Christ appointed for you, 21 whom heaven must receive until the period of restoration of all things about which God spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from ancient time. Acts 3:19–21 (NASB95)
We also have the authority to announce the retention of people’s sins when they refuse the gospel, as Paul did.
Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly and said, “It was necessary that the word of God be spoken to you first; since you repudiate it and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we are turning to the Gentiles. 47 “For so the Lord has commanded us, ‘I have placed You as a light for the Gentiles, That You may bring salvation to the end of the earth.’ ” 48 When the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord; and as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed. 49 And the word of the Lord was being spread through the whole region. 50 But the Jews incited the devout women of prominence and the leading men of the city, and instigated a persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and drove them out of their district. 51 But they shook off the dust of their feet in protest against them and went to Iconium. Acts 13:46–51 (NASB95)
God did not make us mediators through whom sins are absolved or retained, as is commonly taught in the Roman Catholic Church regarding priests. Instead, we have the privilege of pronouncing forgiveness to those who accept the gospel and judgment to those who reject it.
ome believe the church is called to rule spiritually over earthly governments by calling them into alignment with God’s kingdom purposes. For example, if a nation, such as ours, promotes abortions, which are murder and a form of child sacrifice to the demons, we should pray that government leaders will repent to adopt laws that conform to God’s kingdom. Whether or not we have authority to bind demonic powers over governments is disputed. Some believe we can do that; while others think that doing so is outside of our domain. What we can agree upon is that we represent Christ and his authority and kingdom here on earth. As such, we can bind and loose as directed by God’s Spirit and authorized in the Bible. Let us continue to pray that God will show us more clearly how we are to use our binding and loosing authority to further God’s kingdom here on earth. May his will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
