What are the keys of the kingdom?

Question:  What are the keys of the kingdom, mentioned in Mt. 16:19?

 

Answer:          Jesus told Peter that He would give him the keys of the kingdom.   Before we can utilize the keys of the kingdom; we have to first understand the origin of the kingdom.  The kingdom of heaven is best explained in Mt; 4:17, “…..repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”  In order to repent, one has to turn from the ways of this world and seek after the things of God, which is righteousness; Mt. 6:33, “…..seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness…..”  This seems to imply that the kingdom is a state of mind.  Yes, that’s partially correct; Luke 17:21, “…..the kingdom of God is within you.”  Although the kingdom is a righteous state of mind, it is also a literal place and it was foretold by Jesus; Luke 9:27, “…..there be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the kingdom of God.  The literal kingdom was established the moment that Jesus died on the cross.  So you can see, the kingdom is a righteous state of mind and it is a physical place.  The location of the kingdom is right here on earth.

We know that, a key is a tool used for unlocking things.  Jesus stated we could not enter the kingdom of heaven unless we were born again; John 3:3, “…..except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”  This statement seems to indicate that being born again is the key to entering heaven.  Yes, that’s true, but once one enters the kingdom, he needs to know how to access the services that the kingdom provides.  Being born again only gets us in the door of the kingdom.  Once one enters the kingdom, he has to familiarize himself with the rules, regulations, laws and customs of that kingdom in order to be a productive citizen. 

The keys of the kingdom, is the authority we have as saints while living on earth.  Saints have the authority to cause heaven to respond to all of their requests.  Mt. 6:10, “…..thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.”  Whatever we allow on earth is permitted in heaven and whatever we restrain on earth is arrested in heaven; Mt. 16:19, “…..whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”

Jesus provided us with awesome power and that power is a result of Christ living in us: John 15:7, “if ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.”  That power is activated when we used another key of the kingdom; the name of Jesus; Php.2:10, “…..at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth.”  The keys to the kingdom are actually two-fold.  First, it is repentance or being born-again in order to be to be saved.  Next, it is using the name of Jesus, to activate the power and authority of the kingdom.