The Office of the Keys
All confessions & catechisms · Small Catechism · Confession
What is the Office of the Keys?
It is the unique power which Christ has given to his Church on earth to forgive the sins of penitent sinners, and to retain the sins of the impenitent, so long as they do not repent. As Christ himself declares: "If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld." (John 20:23) and "Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." (Matthew 18:18)