Quick Reads #12 – Peter’s keys

And I will give to thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. (Matt 16:19)

It can be said with certainty; Pentecost was a defining moment for Christianity. Not only did we see the coming of the Holy Spirit and the emergence of First Fruits, we were also given the Order of Baptism and the answer to David’s Psalm: the LORD said unto my Lord sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool. (Psa 110:1; Acts 2:34-6)

The Keys to the Kingdom are the way of entry, a perfectly logical progression from the moment we first believed. They are Repentance, Baptism and the gift of the Holy Spirit. Peter said; Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. (Acts 2:38) Repentance – the Water – followed by the Gift.

When Jesus sent the Apostles to spread the Gospel He said: Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. (Matt 28:19) Yet, Peter did not use these words but said “in the name of Jesus Christ.” Having been given the Keys by Jesus, with the right to bind and loose, he had full authority to say what he did. So, in opening the David’s Psalm when revealing the Keys to the Kingdom Peter declared:

“JESUS is both LORD and Christ. (Acts 2:36)

Peter confirmed that Jesus is the Father, Son and Holy Spirit; as did John (1John 2:22); Isaiah (9:6); Zechariah (14:9); Paul (Hebrews 13:8), and for that matter JESUS Himself. (John 14:9; 14:18) As Peter was moved by the Spirit to reveal Jesus was the Christ, (Matthew 16:16; Mark 8:29 and Luke 9:20) he was given this wonderful gift to announce the truth of the LORD at Pentecost.

Yet, not all is right with the Churches when it comes to these Scriptures, as many pay no attention at all. Therefore, it is very important to understand that Peter was given the Keys, and the Order of Baptism for a reason. It was to make sure we are baptised correctly into the name of Jesus Christ:

“Not under His titles but into His Name.

We are baptised into the Faith of Jesus with its ease of freedom and peace, or into a church with its attendant laws, creeds and dogma. One is Jerusalem above, the other is of the earth, and why Peter laid out the correct order to prevent such things happening. It was Peter who said; be diligent to make your calling and election sure … so an entrance shall be ministered to you abundantly into the everlasting Kingdom of our LORD and Saviour Jesus Christ: (2Pe 1:10-11) and how more sure than being sealed by His Name.

Now, Paul spoke about the simplicity due to Christ (2Cor 11:3) and we see this set out in the ease of Jesus’ Faith. Jesus said ‘believe and be baptised’ and in giving the Keys to Peter, made it very clear we must be baptised into His Name. But no, we prefer to make it difficult by putting stumbling stones in our way. Instead of accepting the proper teaching of the Christ in Peter, we prefer the circuitous path via the Winepress. No thank you. It’s much better using Peter’s keys to enter the Kingdom directly, into a clean faith devoid of sin, than to open ourselves to needless peril

In love and peace,

James