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HOUSMAIL HM064 14
September 2000 THE FOUR KEYS
OF THE KINGDOM "On this ROCK
I will build my church, and the powers of death shall not prevail against it." It seems
almost inevitable that discussion about this verse will quickly sidetrack to the
scholars' distinctions between the two Greek words "petros"
(Peter) and "petra" (rock). However, too much concentration on the possible
differences between the two Greek words, tends to cloud the REAL issue of what
Jesus is trying to TELL US in this passage. Q. On
What Rock will Jesus build His Church? A. "No
other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ."
(1 Corinthians 3:11) Q. Is
THAT what Jesus meant in Matthew 16:16-20? A. Yes!
Jesus takes a few more words to say it - but it is essentially the same thing. Matthew
lists FOUR fundamental things that God will reveal ABOUT JESUS. On these four
things, the REAL Church depends completely for its foundation. These four things
are the KEYS of the kingdom of heaven. They unlock the door for entry to the kingdom,
and inheritance in the kingdom. They unlock the door because they alone lay the
foundation which prepares the way for VICTORY over sin! (1 John 5:1-5) 1.
JESUS IS THE "SON OF MAN". This
is the basis of the question Jesus asked in Matthew
16:13. It begins HERE! The real Gospel foundation depends
absolutely on a recognition of the humanity of Jesus. He is not a pre-existent
God. He is not a pre-existent spirit or angel. He is not a "God-man hybrid".
HE IS A MAN. If He is any of those other things He is NOT a man! (because no
other man has ever been any of those things!) 2.
JESUS IS THE "MESSIAH". We need
to know who and what that word Messiah means, before we personally have the CORRECT
foundation for our own faith. The word points us to the OLD TESTAMENT passages
which describe the Messiah. 3.
JESUS IS THE "SON OF THE LIVING GOD". We need
to know that the relationship between God and Jesus is TRULY that of Father and
Son. The life of Jesus was NOT eternally pre-existent! It began with the miracle
of divine begettal and Virgin Birth. The Father of Jesus is alone truly God. (John 17:3) Our belief in Jesus as
"the Son of the living God" calls for our total submission to His DELEGATED
authority to speak for God. (And
if you check it out carefully, many of the things which are spoken by the "Son
of God", are quite the opposite to those attributed to the COUNTERFEIT "messiah"
who is known by his followers as "god-the-son"! Following the teachings
of the Church built on the foundation of THAT false "christ"
can only lead to disobedience to God, and eternal DEATH!) 4.
THE POWERS OF DEATH WILL NOT PREVAIL. The
Resurrection is THE HOPE of this Church! Paul says that without THIS hope, there
is no hope. Men who cling to any other counterfeit hope are still in their sins
and will perish! (1 Corinthians 15:16-19) Did
Peter alone possess these keys? Some say that Peter was specially singled out
by Jesus because he was going to be the first to use them! *
To the Jews. *
To the Samaritans. *
To the Gentiles. Nevertheless,
these same keys are STILL in use by others, wherever the REAL Gospel of the Kingdom
is preached! They
are the "keys" which Jesus left, not only for Peter, but also for US!
They are to be used to open the door for entry to the Kingdom by those who hear
the Gospel from us. They
make all the difference between foolish men who build on sand, and wise men who
build on THE ROCK! (Matthew 7:24-27) Allon "If any of you
lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives to all men generously and without reproaching,
and it will be given him." (James 1:5) |