The Church — Keys of the Kingdom

(In the last two weeks, we have seen that the church: Belongs to Him, Is Built by Him, Is Built on Him, and Is Bound to conquer.) It is Jesus’ kingdom: John 28:33-37, Col 1:13-14, 2Tim 2:11-12. The kingdom of God is both a kingdom here and and coming kingdom. Luke 17:20-21, Luke 19: 11-12, Matt 13: 47-50. The Keys are given to the church. Matt 16:19. It is true that Jesus was talking to Peter, and interestingly he has a role in opening the church to the Jews on the day of Pentecost Acts 2:14, to Samaria Acts 8:14-15, and to the Gentiles Acts 10: 28-29, 34, 44-45.

But the keys were not given exclusively to Peter, who has been dead for nearly 2000 years, for the church continues to grow. Matt 13:31-32.
What key did Peter use on the day of Pentecost? The key of the gospel. Acts 2:22-24, 37-38 He used the same key before the Gentiles too, Acts 10:36-45. Paul and James and John and others used exactly the same key to open the church to let people into the kingdom. Rev 1: 17-18
We need to see the multitudes around us who are not in the kingdom. We must strive to share the gospel with them. How would you react to a doctor who claims to have found a cure for all cancers but will not share his knowledge with others? Rom 10:5-10, 14-15. May the Lord use the foolishness of preaching to sweep men and women into the kingdom of God.