Thanks For The Kingdom Keys of the kingdom

“Peter, Thanks For The Kingdom Keys!”

“Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.”

Acts 2:38-39

How did Peter get the Kingdom Keys anyway?

As we begin to read the Gospels we notice that:

            1.  No church was ever started in the Gospels.

            2.  No one ever received the Baptism of the Holy Spirit.

            3.  The salvation plan was not revealed.

            4.  Repentance was possible in the Gospels (Luke 23:43; Mark 2:5).  However, salvation or conversion was not possible until Jesus had risen and ascended back to Heaven.   (Luke 22:32; John 7:37-39)

Long ago, in the Book of Isaiah we read of the promise “he shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut and none shall open.”  (Isaiah 22:22) 

Once Jesus had come to earth, died on Calvary, rose from the dead, and ascended back to Heaven, the door of salvation was wide open because the price for salvation had been paid in full.

In the Gospels we read of the life of Jesus Christ.  After being on the earth, people still misunderstood who He was, what He was, and why He came.

 

One day Jesus asked His disciples, “Who do men say that I am?”  The answers varied from some saying that He was John the Baptist, Elijah, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets. 

Then Jesus asked a more revealing question,  “Now, I want to know who you think I am?”

It was Peter who quickly responded, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 

Because of this answer, Peter was promised that upon the revelation that he gave, Christ would build the Church and he would receive the keys to the kingdom  (Matthew 16:13-19).

Peter had been delegated authority by God to proclaim salvation to all who would believe in Jesus Christ (John 20:23; Acts 2:37-40; Acts 15:7-9).

How and where did Peter use the Keys to the Kingdom?

Peter received the Baptism of the Holy Spirit in Acts 2:1-4.  Because he had the keys to the kingdom (the door to salvation), he used them for the first time in Acts 2:14-41.  On the Day of Pentecost he opened wide the door of salvation to the Jews. 

In Acts 8 the Samaritans had been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus (Acts 8:16) but had not received the baptism of the Holy Spirit.  Peter and John came and prayed for them and the door of salvation was unlocked for the Samaritans. 

In Acts 10 Peter preached the Gospel to the Gentiles. This was not easy because he believed that the Gentiles were unclean.  God spoke to him clearly through a vision and other circumstances to cause him to go to Caesarea.  As he preached in the house of Cornelius the Holy Spirit fell on them and they began speaking in other tongues. 

Peter asked, “Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?”  (Acts 10:47) 

The door of salvation had been opened for the Gentiles.

In these Scriptures we see Peter using the keys to the Kingdom to open the door of salvation and preach the Gospel.

What were the Keys to the Kingdom that Peter used?

The Keys to the Kingdom making up the Plan of Salvation consist of:

Key Number One:              Repentance

Key Number Two:              Baptism in Jesus  Name

Key Number Three:           Baptism of the                                             Holy Spirit

These keys make up the Gospel. The Gospel is the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Death                                    Repentance

Burial                                    Jesus name                                                 Baptism

Resurrection                       Holy Spirit                                                    Baptism

Al Gossan Jr.  in his tract, Keys to Receiving the Holy Ghost gives ten different keys   helpful for receiving the Holy Spirit or witnessing/praying with those who need it.  These ten keys are adapted here for your use.

1.   KNOW it is the will of God for you to

      receive the Spirit.

2.   REPENT of your sins and be baptized in

      Jesus name.

3.   OBEY God’s Word from day to day.

4.   ASK for the Holy Spirit.

5.   PRAY for the free gift of the Holy Spirit.

6.   ALLOW others to pray for you by laying

      on of hands.

7.   PRAISE and worship God with all your

      heart.

8.   BELIEVE you will receive the Holy Spirit.

9.   EXPECT the Spirit to come to you at

      anytime.

10. SPEAK boldly the language that God

      gives to you.

The keys to the kingdom are not for Peter alone but all of us can use them.

Dear Peter:

We found the Keys.  Thanks for leaving the door open!!

Love, Kofi