Keys to the Kingdom

The Keys to the Kingdom

(Mt 16:15-19) “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say that I am?”

Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you lose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”

Jesus is curious about what all the people are saying about him. He wants to know what His disciples have heard in terms of who people think He is. Then He directs the question to His disciples, “Who do you say I am?” Simon responds with the bold proclamation that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of the Living God!

Jesus honors Simon by letting everyone know that God revealed this truth directly to Simon. Then Jesus gives Simon a new name – Peter – “the Rock.” Jesus is not done honoring Simon, now Peter. Jesus promises to give Peter the keys to the kingdom of heaven!

Wow! Jesus has given Peter power and authority of a unique kind. Peter has the keys that will unlock the doors to heaven. We are not talking about the cartoons where Peter is at the pearly gates with a ring of keys at his waist. Jesus promises that Peter will have the power and authority to show others how to enter the kingdom of heaven.

So, does the Bible ever tell us how Peter used those keys?

 It sure does!

Read Acts chapter 2 verses 14 to 39. After being filled with the Holy Spirit, Peter stands up before the crowd on Pentecost and shares the very first gospel sermon.

In verse 21, Peter quotes the prophet Joel “And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Peter finishes his sermon in verse 36 with “Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.”

Those who heard the sermon were “cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, 'Brothers, what shall we do?'”

OK, are you ready? Here is where Peter uses those keys to the kingdom of heaven.

Peter replied, “repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. This promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off – for all whom the Lord our God will call.” (Acts 2:38-39)

Repent and be baptized for the forgiveness of your sins.

Peter, the man to whom Jesus gave the keys to His kingdom, did not say anything along the lines of “pray with me to receive Jesus as your personal Saviour.” There is no similar phrase in the entire Bible. When Peter answered the people's heart-felt cry of, “Brothers what shall we do?” He explained that there was more to “calling on the name of the Lord,” than a simple prayer.  It also wasn't enough to be cut to the heart about their sin.  Entrance into the kingdom of heaven requires repentance and baptism.