In context of Matthew 18 it does mention forgiveness, but it also mentions faith to ask for anything and then get this anything. Thus, do not let someone deceive you as if such a passage is not for the Christian to use God’s authority today, as Jesus states it.

This same phrase is said by Jesus in Matthew 16, and thus has the first mention hermeneutic. The context is Jesus asking Peter who he says He is. Peter makes a confession that Jesus is the Son of God. Jesus responds by saying He will build His church on this Rock. Some fools think this is referring to Peter himself, but they are confused. Jesus is referring to Peter’s faith confession that Jesus is the Son of God. Jesus will expand His kingdom with faith that declares He is the Son of God. Jesus refers to this like a military expansion. His kingdom will march forward and the gates of hell will not stop His Kingdom expanding and trampling the walls of hell.  Fools have tried to make it all about Peter, but it is all about Jesus being the Son of God, and those who have faith in Him. This faith is a victorious expansion that has so much authority and power that it tears down the gates of hell. As faith marches forward, demons scream in terror.

It is in this context Jesus then says, what you lock on earth will be locked in heaven, and what you unlock on earth will be unlocked in heaven. Jesus sees His kingdom expansion as unstoppable, and in this context says you have the authority to loose and bind things.  This authority is given to a faith confession that Jesus is the Son of God. Obviously, it is not about Peter, but about faith in Jesus. Peter is not the only one who believes Jesus is the Son of God.

This expansion of His kingdom will be so unstoppable that the gates of hell will not prevail against it. Thus, the context allows for a broad use of this authority. It is an all encompassing power that belongs to followers of Jesus who have faith; this is the same faith one uses to be saved, to be healed, to move mountains, to expand His kingdom, to forgive, and ask for anything you desire. It is a broad authority for anything related to kingdom expansion.

Think about it. You have faith to receive a miracle of wealth, and then use this to fund the gospel mission. Not only did you unlock a financial door here on earth, but by sowing this back into God’s work you have unlocked treasure for yourself in heaven. Faith opens doors on earth, in heaven and in other dimensions. Faith is the master key. Jesus says give to Caesar what belongs to “him.” He says if “you” tell this tree to be cast into the sea with faith, then it will “obey you.” Thus, if “you” cast out demons and “you” free an enslaved soul who receives Jesus, then what “you” loosed on earth will also be loosed in the next life. And God will reward “you” for using His authority to expand His kingdom.

It is first recorded that Jesus gave the 12 “authority over all demons.” But then later it was expanded to another group of 77 non-apostles. Then later in the last part of Mark 16 Jesus says this power is for all believers. Then Luke shows in Acts the power of the Spirit was given to a super majority of non-apostles, so that table bearers had so much faith and power they could see into the very throne of heaven and some teleported over time and space. Faith makes time and space your servants. Faith makes time and space bow to your will, not the other way around. Jesus made good tasting “aged” wine for the wedding. Thus, with faith “you,” are the master over reality and even with unyielding things such as time and space. The prophets multiply material substance like reality was their personal Lego set. Then Jesus command the disciples “you give them something to eat.” Jesus expected them to have faith and do the same, as if this was something normal for a believer to do. Jesus commands us to do the same. Jesus commands us to both multiply and distribute. The issue is not if God has promised, but if a person will believe God more than their eyes, experience, and calculations. Acts, shows the common Christian had more power than entire armies, just like with Samson and the Philistines.

Right after the baptism of the Spirit and the huge emphasis on this in Acts 1 and 2 and then throughout the book, Luke shows in chapter 3 how Peter helped to heal a man by authority in Jesus’ name. Luke shows how Peter “loosed” the man from sickness by faith in Jesus, rather than saying a gift of the Spirit empowered him. Thus, even after Jesus’ resurrection, the authority to loose and bind things, on the foundation of faith is still in full force, if not more so. Luke goes on to say God gave the man faith in Jesus to be healed, or ‘loosed’ from his sickness.

Thus, all who have faith in Jesus as the Son of God, have this access and authority to loose and bind. For any who love Jesus and want to see His Kingdom expanded, will desire and use this authority and power seriously. Jesus did not say He would expand His kingdom with governments or some cultural mandate. No. He wants you to expand His kingdom with authority to loose and bind. If you love Him, you will do it the way He has commanded you.

Our new identity and definition in Jesus is one were we are gods. We have the power to expand God’s kingdom. Our power to do this are words of faith that can bind and loose reality, sickness, demons and blessings. God obviously has this power and when He speaks reality obeys. But God has handed this kingdom expansion to us. God has given us His lightning bolt. He qualified us to speak and make reality obey us, and cause demons to tremble in fear. Like with Joshua, God told them to expand their territory with sword and shield. God would back them up with His power, but they were to march forward with weapons in their hands and use them.

Our weapons are faith filled words and confessions. God and His Word or promise is one and the same thing, as we learned in previous sections. Thus, when “you” speak God’s promise in faith you release God. “You” release unstoppable power. It is God’s power, but because the bible denies pantheism, “you” release God’s power when “you” speak in faith. With this “we” tear down the gates of hell. With faith filled words, mountains must “obey us.”

Furthermore, one day the saints will have so much authority that we will judge both the earth and angels. Not only do we have the glory of owning reality, but we will one day judge reality. Because angels are part of reality and we own and judge reality, we will thus judge angels one day. This is our definition in Christ. This is who we are.