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“A Door Open Wide”
Categories: NEW TESTAMENT, SALVATION, THE NEW TESTAMENT CHURCHWhat are the keys to the kingdom?Sincerely,
Locked In Confusion
Dear Locked In Confusion,
The keys to the kingdom are the teachings that provide access to salvation (which is only found in the church). In Matt 16:13-15, Jesus asked His disciples who He was. Peter told Jesus, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matt 16:16-17). After that statement, Jesus tells Peter that His church (which is the kingdom – Col 1:13) will be built upon the foundational rock of Peter’s statement that Jesus was the Christ (Matt 16:18).
After that statement, Jesus tells the apostles that they will be given the keys to the kingdom/church (Matt 16:19). Keys provide access. If you have the keys to a house – you can get in. Keys to the car – you can drive it. Keys to the kingdom – you know how to get into the church. Jesus told the apostles that they would receive that key knowledge when the Holy Spirit came (Jhn 14:26). The Holy Spirit gave the miraculous knowledge to the apostles on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1-4). Consequently, the apostles have written down this knowledge for us to read (Eph 3:4)… so that we can have the keys to the kingdom, too.
