### 85. Q. How is the kingdom of heaven closed and opened by Christian discipline?

**A**. According to the command of Christ: Those who, though called Christians, profess unchristian teachings or live unchristian lives, and who, after repeated personal and loving admonitions, refuse to abandon their errors and evil ways, and who, after being reported to the church, that is, to those ordained by the church for that purpose, fail to respond also to the church’s admonitions— such persons the church excludes from the Christian community by withholding the sacraments from them, and God also excludes them from the kingdom of Christ.<sup>1</sup> Such persons, when promising and demonstrating genuine reform, are received again as members of Christ and of his church.<sup>2</sup>

<sup>1</sup> [Matt. 18:15-20](/get-passage/Matthew+18:15-20); [1 Cor. 5:3-5](/get-passage/1+Corinthians+5:3-5), [11-13](/get-passage/1+Corinthians+5:11-13); [2 Thess. 3:14-15](/get-passage/2+Thessalonians+3:14-15)
<sup>2</sup> [Luke 15:20-24](/get-passage/Luke+15:20-24); [2 Cor. 2:6-11](/get-passage/2+Corinthians+2:6-11)