THE CHURCH AND THE KEYS TO THE KINGDOM


A. A PRAYERFUL STUDY OF THE BIBLE WILL BRING TO LIGHT THAT THE CHURCH OF THE LIVING GOD HAS BEEN ENTRUSTED WITH THE KEYS OF THE KINGDOM
  1. Rome claims that the keys of the kingdom belong to the Pope:
  2. Appeal is made to Matthew: "And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven" - Matt. 16:18, 19
  3. When we compare Matt. 16:18, 19 with John 20:23, we learn that the same powers were bestowed upon all the apostles: We conclude, therefore, that the Lord has bestowed upon His church the powers to loosen and to bind persons.
B. LET US TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT THE KEYS OF THE KINGDOM
  1. Bible use of "the keys":
    1. A key, as used in relationship to the kingdom of God, is a symbol of power - Rev. 3:7; 9:1; 20:1-5
    2. It symbolizes knowledge of the kingdom - Luke 11:53; Matt. 19:11; Luke 12:48; John 3:27; 19:11; Mark 4:11
  2. Upon the knowledge of this truth rests the hope of eternal life: John 17:1-3
    1. The fact that Jesus Christ is the Son of God opens heaven and binds every believer to God and His promises - Rom. 8:31-33; John 10:1-9; 17:1-26
    2. Paul, that great preacher, placed all past, present, and the future upon knowing the Lord Jesus Christ - Phil. 3:10
    3. Knowledge, based upon the Word of God, is power, the power or keys of the kingdom - EXAMPLES -
      1. Stephen had this power - Acts 6:7
      2. Paul had the same power - Acts 9:22
      3. Apollos had this power - Acts 18:24
    4. The binding and the loosening power rest in the Word of God and not in flesh - Heb. 4:12; Jer. 23:29
    5. Authority to preach the Word constitutes the keys of the kingdom - Matt. 10:1-18
C. WE NOTE FURTHER
  1. That God never intended to vest the powers of the kingdom in the flesh:
    1. "That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is Spirit." - John 3:6
    2. "All flesh is as green grass" - Isa. 40:5, 6; 1 Pet. 1:24
    3. "Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God" - 1 Cor. 15:50
    4. That one human being should lord it over another - Matt. 10:42; Luke 22:25; 1 Pet. 5:3
  2. It is wonderful to know:
    1. That the keys of the kingdom come from the knowledge of the Word of God - 2 Tim. 3:15-17; Heb. 4:12
    2. That men are in possession of the keys of the kingdom so long as they abide by the plain Word of God - 2 John 9
    3. The binding and the loosening powers of the kingdom are a part of the Gospel Commission to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ - Matt. 28:18-20; Rom. 1:16; Gal. 1:8, 9
    4. To the penitent sinner the Word offers complete freedom from the power of sin - John 8:31-36; Acts 26:18; Isa. 61:1
    5. But to the hardened sinner, the Word of God spells eternal doom - Matt. 25:31-39; 2 Thess. 1:7-9
  3. The keys of the kingdom belong, in a real sense, to all God's children:
    1. They constitute the royal priesthood to bring blessings to all the world - 1 Pet. 2:9-11; Rom. 7:7; Matt. 7:13
    2. They are a savor of life unto life, and a savor of death unto death - 2 Cor. 2:14-16
    3. They are the salt of the earth and the light of the world - Matt. 5:13-16
    4. It is wonderful to be entrusted with the keys of the kingdom; let us use them wisely and to the glory of God as well as the saving of souls.


Design © John Bryant 2011