* Getting to the Kingdom

And I will give unto thee the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven: 

and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in Heaven: 

and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in Heaven.  

Matthew 16:19

We have all heard of people who became 'brand new'; if only in their own mind, once they had achieved a certain point in their life, i.e., financial status, position, power, even a new home or car.  They begin to act differently; not always in a good way, and often forgot their humble beginnings or the struggle they endured to get what they now have or where they are now.   A new life in Christ is totally different.  We remain humble as we remember that it was nothing but the grace of God that we are 'brand new' only because of Him.  

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:  Not of works, lest any man should boast.  Epesians 2:8-9

We realize that our new life entitles us to eternal life with Christ Jesus.  We recognize that we are no longer a part of the kingdom of darkness but now are citizens of the light which is the Kingdom of God.  We realize that we have been given keys to the heavenly kingdom!  We realize that with citizenship comes responsibility and so we are not cavalier about it, we don't take it lightly.

Before Jesus returned to Heaven He told His disciples: 

And I appoint unto you a Kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me.  Luke 22:29

Jesus also spoke of His Church which would extend the message of the Kingdom throughout the world: 

And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in Heaven; and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in Heaven.  Matthew 16:18-19

Jesus then said of Himself, "...upon this rock I will build my Church" indicating that the Church would derive its existence from Him. He would be the rock upon which the Church was built. There would be many other lesser stones (people like Peter). These stones would be an important part of the Church. But Jesus Himself was the cornerstone on which the structure of the Church was to be built.

In this passage Jesus revealed that Peter would be one of the spiritual foundation stones of the first church. This meant he would be a vital part of its growth and development.  

And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;   Ephesians 2:20

Jesus then made two comments regarding His Church:

 

* He said that "the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it."

This implied that the Church would have enemies fighting against it, but assures that the enemies would not overcome it. 

* Jesus promised to give the keys to His Kingdom to the Church.

The authority Jesus was speaking of in this passage is a spiritual authority. He gave the Church spiritual keys to the doors of His Kingdom.  In the natural world if you possess the keys to a building, it means you have authority there. Because of your position of authority you have keys to the building.

Jesus said "I" will give them. The power and authority of the Church was to flow from Jesus. The use of the word "will" meant that the keys had not yet been given at the time Jesus spoke. This power was released in Acts 2 when the Holy Ghost was given to believers: 

But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.  Acts 1:8

The keys to the Kingdom were the power to bind and loose. To bind something means to put fetters or a bond on it. It is like closing and locking the door to a room. To loose something is to release or set it free. It is similar to opening the door to a room.

The body of Christ would have a position of authority. It would have the keys to God's Kingdom. It would be the instrument through which the spiritual doors to the Kingdom would be opened to the nations of the world. Peter would be the first to use these keys to the Kingdom. He would open the door of ministry of the gospel of the kingdom of God.  The body of Christ would have the power to loose the spiritual forces of good and bind the spiritual forces of evil. In every difficulty faced by believers, binding and loosing would be the key to victory.

The keys to the Kingdom were given by Jesus to the body of Christ. But specifically, how was entrance to be gained to the Kingdom of God?   The answer to this question is found in the account of  Nicodemus (John 3:1-21), a religious leader at the time of Christ's ministry on earth. He came to Jesus desiring to gain access to the Kingdom of God and, by doing so, inherit eternal life. Jesus told him:

Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God.   John 3:3

Nicodemus was confused. He asked Jesus: 

How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?   John 3:4

Jesus explained to Nicodemus that the "born-again" experience of which He spoke was not a physical birth. Through physical birth you are born into a kingdom of this world. You are born as a citizen of a certain nation. At natural birth, you inherit the basic sin nature:

Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.  Psalms 51:5

Because God's Kingdom is a spiritual kingdom, you must be born into it through spiritual rebirth. We must change our residency from the kingdom of Satan to the Kingdom of God. Jesus said:

That which is born of the flesh is flesh: and that which is born of the Spirit is Spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.  John 3:6-7

Apostle Paul explained that we could not enter the Kingdom with a flesh and blood body: 

Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.   1 Corinthians 15:50

We enter the Kingdom of God and become heirs of the Kingdom through spiritual rebirth. The way to be born again is by believing that Jesus died to pay the penalty for our sins. We must confess our sins, ask forgiveness, and place our trust in God: 

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved.  John 3:16-17

It is through Jesus that we can move from the kingdom of Satan to the Kingdom of God:

 

(God) Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness and hath translated us into the Kingdom of His dear Son.  Colossians 1:13

 

Biblical Studies

02/17/22