Authority

Matt 16: 13 When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?

 14 And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets.

 15 He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?

 16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.

 17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.

 18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

 19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

 20 Then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ.

In our opening passage (verse 19) we will notice that “the keys to the kingdom” are mentioned . . .

19 And I will give unto thee (not unto Peter who was just a man {the small stone} but unto the church which the gates of hell shall not prevail upon . . . To Her

will Jesus give) the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou (the church) shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

20 Then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ.

First of all we must go back to the foundation of “the church” as Jesus has just mentioned . . . So I want to address a common misconception

regarding verse #19 . . . The keys of the kingdom DOES NOT refer to the ability or to the authority to keep certain people OUT OF HEAVEN.

To bind on the earth – and to be bound in heaven DOES NOT refer to confining the soul in some type of spiritual prison (purgatory) to prevent 

that soul from appearing in the presence of God until the one with the keys of the kingdom “releases it”.

The keys to the kingdom does not represent the authority to “shut” certain ones out of heaven . . . salvation IS NOT in the church.

John 3: 16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

This verse clearly teaches that salvation is through faith – no mention of “the church” or any type of worship is mentioned in this entire passage as a condition for eternal life.

Ro 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

This verse is clearly a black and white reference to salvation . . . again worship and the church are not indicated as a condition of eternal life.

Eph 2: 8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Again these scriptures teach us that salvation is through faith – but this time (in this passage) worship IS mentioned – but not as a condition for 

salvation – but specifically that the “good works” which certainly consists of worship - are specifically excluded from being a condition of eternal life.

Misconception #1 – is that salvation is somehow bound to the church or to some form of worship – it should be clear to us however – that according

to these verses (John 3:16 – Romans 10:13 and Eph 2:8-9 . . . that such a belief is simply not supported by the scriptures . . .

Next we will consider the false notion that after death “an authority exists to place a man’s soul into a type of spiritual prison that falls short of the

torments of hell – but that also falls short of the glories of heaven . . . II Cor 5: 5 Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit.

The "earnest" of the Spirit refers to what amounts to a down payment – When we are saved God “deposits” The Holy Spirit within us . . . The 

Spirit of God within each one of us serves as a reminder that we have been saved – and that God’s presence in heaven awaits us after death . . .

6 Therefore (because of how we are aware of this Spirit within us) we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body (alive) we are absent from the Lord (or not yet in His

presence) . . . 7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)

8 (because of this faith) We are confident (also) I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body (dead) and to be present with the Lord.

When we die – our soul either wakes up in heaven – or it wakes up in hell . . . there is no place found in the Bible that is somewhere in between these two locations.

Misconception #2 is that to be bound on earth and in heaven - DOES NOT refer to a prison of the soul that is located somewhere between heaven and hell . . . because according the Bible - Heaven is a place of comfort in the presence of God . . . while HELL is a place of torment in the absence of God.

Hell is truly a place of torment – but one of the things that makes Hell so terrible – is that Hell is the only place in existence where God is NOT present.

If we could picture God as standing outside of a house – Heaven would be “outside” where God was standing . . . but HELL would be inside the

house because God was not there . . . we could define Hell a number of different ways – but the basic definition of Hell is the absence of God . . .

If you can find a place where God is not present – then the place you have found IS HELL . . . and all of the horrible things that we associate with 

Hell – all of the sufferings that we fear – these are the results of a place “where GOD is not present” . . . the existence of God - in fact the 

“presence” of God is the only power that confines HELL to the center of the earth – otherwise HELL would grow and expand until it had consumed every man that had ever been born . . . 

without the presence of God these terrors are all that would exist for all men – throughout all eternity . . . a scared child knows safety in his mothers arms . . . the soul of man only knows safety - in the presence of God.

If to die “saved” is to be present with the Lord – or to be where God is . . . then to die “lost” is to awaken in that place where God is not present (what we refer to as HELL).

So the keys of the kingdom DOES NOT refer to the authority to “lock” the door of heaven to keep someone from entering . . .

To bind on earth and heaven – DOES NOT refer to taking a soul prisoner and after a man’s death to keep that soul from being in God’s presence . . 

Next we will look at Luke 16 – and we will discuss Lazarus “in paradise” (Abraham’s bosom) and the rich man “in hell” . . .

A key does represent the authority to unlock or to set free . . . and "to bind or to loose" also represents a similar type of authority . . .

Instead of the authority to lock someone out of heaven - I want you to think about the authority "to understand" – think about "the ability" to properly 

interpret The Bible . . . think about loosing the ability to understand – if we cannot understand The Bible – if we cannot interpret it’s meaning . . . can 

we not say that we have lost “the keys” or that we have lost the authority to understand "the mysteries of God’s spiritual kingdom on earth . . . can we 

not say that our lack of understanding “binds our lives” such that we are unable to “loosen” ourselves from the blindness of unbelief . . . 

The Living Word

Matt 16: 13 When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?

 14 And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets.

 15 He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?

 16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.

 17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.

 18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

 19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

 20 Then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ.

As we read these scriptures about how the church was founded – it is important that we understand exactly who Jesus is  . . . is He a good man . . . like Peter - is He simply “another” in long line of prophets . . . or is He 

literally The Son of God in human form which is to say (The Christ) . . . If we answer that Jesus is the Christ . . . or that He is God in the flesh – then “like Peter” we are not aware of this because our education has allowed us to “figure it out”

But to know that Jesus is “the Christ” – is for this knowledge to have been revealed to us by God through His Holy Spirit . . .

Now I say this because “The Bible” is not to be read as just another book . . . The Bible is “The Living Word of God” – and what this phrase means is that The Bible “and what It Says” actually IS God

Heb 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

For The Word of God “To be quick” and powerful refers to how The Word of God actually “lives” . . . and to how The Bible and what it teaches us “is active” within our lives.

By this I simply mean that once we read John 3:16 which says . . .

16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

We realize that this means - that it was God’s love “for the sinner” which motivated Him to sacrifice Himself on the cross for our sins . . .

God’s love for those who were without hope – is what led Jesus to the cross . . . The righteousness of Jesus Christ is transferred to “the sinners

account” when that sinners BELIEVES that Jesus died to pay for OUR sins – because He had no sins of His own . . . To “believe in Jesus” is to put our trust in Him as one who has risen from the dead for the purpose of 

“saving” those who put their faith in Him . . . to believe in the death of Jesus – to believe in the resurrection of Jesus – to believe in our sinfulness – to believe in His sinless-ness . . . to turn toward God in our heart . . . to 

accept His sacrifice to God on our behalf (knowing that He took our place in death) – this is how faith and repentance allows us  to gain everlasting life . . .

For God’s Word to be “quick” or alive . . . for God’s Word to be powerful – or active within our lives means that the concept of faith – salvation and

repentance which is found in John 3:16 – is a realization that will always be present within us throughout the remainder of our lives . . .

John 12:32 (Jesus says of His death) And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.

What this means is that this concept of faith – repentance and salvation – which is seen in the death of Jesus on the cross “for our sins” is

something that has placed a burden on every human heart from Adam to the present . . . this burden is that we are responsible for the

sufferings of Jesus – and God has extended to us the hope of salvation in His willingness to FORGIVE us – if we admit our guilt – and trust in His promise of forgiveness . . .

For God’s Word to “be alive” means that “The Bible” will “never” stop having an effect upon our lives.

We can read Tom Sawyer – or we can read Shakespeare . . . these stories will teach us a few things and they will have an effect upon us for a

while . . . but they are soon to be forgotten – the morals and the entertainment which they contain may be remembered – but in years 

to come - they will not provide us with any type of lasting  spiritual guidance – “the Lessons of Literature” will never be able to burden our heart – in times of trials the words of Mark Twain will not give us

spiritual comfort – but the Words of God will give us comfort . . . the point – is that The Bible and the lessons we find there – are not “intellectual” in

nature . . . they are “spiritual” in Nature . . . The Wizard of Oz entertains our flesh - as it teaches us that there is no place like home . . . But The Word

of God “convicts the heart” as it teaches that we are to learn that God will never leave us nor will He ever forsake us – and with this knowledge – we are to be content with such as we have . . .

Php 4:11 Paul says . . . for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.

So when Jesus talks about Himself being “The Christ” and that flesh and blood has not revealed this to Peter - He reinforces the idea that He never

offers any proof of this . . . all we have is His word as we remember the definition of faith . . . as the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things NOT SEEN.

when Jesus talks about “the beginning” or the foundation of His New Testament Church – and

how this church would be built upon Himself as the rock of ages (the big stone) - as opposed to being built upon Peter or some other man (as a little

stone) so that the gates of hell would never prevail against (overcome) it –  Jesus again refuses to offer any type of proof . . . but He does promise

that after He ascends back into heaven - to send His Holy Spirit upon “the church” to teach them

John 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

So when we say that The Bible is the living Word of God – we say this because it is made a living thing to us by The Holy Spirit of God . . .

So do we look at The Bible as just another book – or do we look at The Bible as we would look upon God Himself . . . do we try to interpret God’s Word with our education – or we let The Spirit guide us?

The Rock

If you were going to build a structure that you wanted to stand as long as possible - which of the "rocks" shown above would you choose as the foundation?  The BIG rock of ages . . . or the small rocks shown below it?

II Thessalonians 1: 1 Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:

 2 Grace unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

In verse #1 “The church” is referred to as being IN “God our Father” and also as being a church that was IN (fixed or resting upon) “THE Lord Jesus Christ” as the rock of ages.

Paul clarifies that “The church” (unto whom this letter is being addressed) is not simply “a temporary” social organization of man . . . but to

state that “the church” was IN “God our Father” was for Paul to indicate that the church was not a short-term institution – but that “the church”

was in a “fixed” (permanent) location (or position that would NEVER change) – and that this stationary (unmovable) position was not resting

upon men  – but “as such” the church was currently “positioned” and would remain “positioned” where-ever God was LOCATED.

Mt 16:18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and (not upon YOU – but) upon this rock (upon Myself) I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

The point that Jesus is making here – is that there is a BIG DIFFERENCE between “the stability” or the character of Peter and “the stability” or the

character of Jesus . . . Peter was indeed “a rock” or a stable feature concerning the teachings of Jesus and the early church . . . but what Jesus is saying

here is that even though Peter is “a rock” or a stable force concerning “the faith” – Jesus is a much BIGGER rock or a much larger stabilizing force than Peter or any “other” man is. 

Remember that Peter was “just a man” – and that as a man – Peter is the one who openly denied Jesus not once but “three times” prior to the

crucifixion . . . so even though Peter repented and was later “converted” which means nothing more than that he reverted (returned) back to “the

faith” that he had earlier denied (as he allowed God to turn his life around through repentance).   Peter was in this respect a “little” stone or a

“small” rock concerning “the faith” while on the other hand – Jesus was a BIG stone or a MASSIVE rock . . . or what we refer to as “the rock of ages.”

So when Jesus says “thou art Peter and upon THIS rock I will build my church” – He was pointing out that even though Peter was a good man (what we

would refer to a rock concerning “the faith” – he was also a man that was subject to sin – he WAS strong in the faith – but he was not as big of a

rock as Jesus was . . . so Jesus tells us – that the church was not built upon a little rock like Peter – but that it was built upon Himself as “the rock of ages”

Matt 16: 13 ¶ When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?

 14 And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets.

 15 He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?

 16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. (You are the rock of ages) 

17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona (Peter) : for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.

Jesus tells Peter that he had been blessed of God

concerning the fact that “Jesus” was The Christ.  For “flesh and blood not to have revealed this unto thee” indicates that Peter did not use his

education to “figure out” that Jesus was The Christ – but that God had revealed this to Peter . .

What God had revealed to Peter was that there was a difference between Jesus and John the Baptist – there was a difference between Jesus and Elias –

There was a difference between Jesus and Jeremias – there was a difference between Jesus and “one of the prophets” . . . These prophets were all

good men – but these prophets were ONLY men – while Jesus was MORE than a man – He was literally God in the flesh . . . so it was with this

background regarding the difference in stature which exists between Jesus and the prophets - that Jesus explains in the next verse

18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter (you are like one of these prophets that have been mentioned – you are a good man - but you are not the Christ) and

(pointing to Himself – He says not upon you but) upon THIS rock (upon Myself “not as a prophet” but as The Christ – Upon Myself as The Son of the living God) I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

The gates of hell had already prevailed against Peter once when he denied Jesus . . . the gates of hell had already prevailed against the life of Peter

when he failed in Galatians 2 – as he gave in to pressure and refused to teach that in the New Testament that we are no longer under the Law

Galatians 2: 11 But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed.

 12 For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision.

Now this latest account of failure in the life of Peter was at least three years after his conversation with Jesus in Matt 16 about building the church

upon THIS rock.  So if Peter was “this rock” upon which the church was built (instead of that rock being Jesus) then

what right did Paul have to accuse Peter of leading

the church into error (who if the church had been built upon Peter instead of upon Jesus) – would

mean that Peter is the one who had been given the keys of the kingdom “to bind or to loose” in both heaven and earth?

19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

 20 Then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ.

Who has possession of “the keys” of the kingdom.

What do you think these “keys” of the kingdom of heaven are . . . and

What is it that is “bound or loosed” by the use of these keys.

Our next lesson will deal with the "living word" and we will discuss "the keys" in one of our later lessons.