What Are the Keys to the Kingdom?

[Tom Butler]

In the thread on the Holy Spirit, awaken says this:

Jesue church (which includes us) was given the keys of the kingdom. Jesus said what ever we bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever we loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. The keys of heaven give us access to all the resources in heaven. We just have to be taught how to use them.
When satan is bound over a circumstance in my life, by using the authority God has given us through the cross and resurrection, he has to flee!

So, does awaken have it right?

My own view is that the keys to the Kingdom means the authority to declare the terms of entry into the Kingdom. In other words, repentance and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

I don't believe binding and loosing have anything to do with binding Satan.

Your thoughts?

 

[awaken]

In the thread on the Holy Spirit, awaken says this:


So, does awaken have it right?

My own view is that the keys to the Kingdom means the authority to declare the terms of entry into the Kingdom. In other words, repentance and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

I don't believe binding and loosing have anything to do with binding Satan.

Your thoughts?

In a kingdom where there is a King (Jesus) he sends his ambassadors (Christians) to do a job. To represent him (his kingdom) on earth. He gives us his power (Holy Spirit) to carry it out. We are citizens of heaven living on earth to carry out our KINGs work. We are given the keys of the kingdom not to the kingdom. Jesus is the door to the kingdom (salvation). We as believers have already gone through the door. The keys will unlock the power of the kingdom and make it work in our lives. The keys are knowledge- knowing what the keys are for and how to use them.
Luke 8:10 says the secrets of the kingdom of God has been given to us.

 

[AresMan]

In the thread on the Holy Spirit, awaken says this:


So, does awaken have it right?

My own view is that the keys to the Kingdom means the authority to declare the terms of entry into the Kingdom. In other words, repentance and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

I don't believe binding and loosing have anything to do with binding Satan.

Your thoughts?

Check the tense of the words for "shall be bound" (ἔσται δεδεμένον) and "shall be loosed" (ἔσται λελυμένον) in Matthew 16:19. These are perfect passive participles with future auxiliaries. Whatever the disciples bind on earth "shall have been bound" in heaven, and whatever they loose on earth "shall have been loosed" in heaven. In other words, with the pouring out of the Holy Spirit on the disciples as they held the office of the apostles and received the inspiration of God to write the New Testament Scriptures, they would declare God's truth that has been bound in heaven.

For instance, when Simon Magus asked Peter if he could purchase with silver the power to impart the Holy Spirit, Peter declared:

Act 8:20b Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.
Act 8:21 Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God.
Act 8:22 Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.
Act 8:23 For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity.

Peter did not declare something ex cathedra. He was revealing what the Holy Spirit had revealed to him concerning the matter.

The "keys to the kingdom" was not some authority from God to forgive sins or condemn someone autonomously. It was the power from the Holy Spirit to the apostles to reveal truth to them. They could forgive or condemn someone based on the witness of the Holy Spirit, not by their own authority.

 

[awaken]

Keys represent authority- If we are given the keys then we have authority to use them.

 

[OldRegular]

In the thread on the Holy Spirit, awaken says this:

Original post by awaken
Jesue church (which includes us) was given the keys of the kingdom. Jesus said what ever we bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever we loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. The keys of heaven give us access to all the resources in heaven. We just have to be taught how to use them.
When satan is bound over a circumstance in my life, by using the authority God has given us through the cross and resurrection, he has to flee!

So, does awaken have it right?

My own view is that the keys to the Kingdom means the authority to declare the terms of entry into the Kingdom. In other words, repentance and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

I don't believe binding and loosing have anything to do with binding Satan.

Your thoughts?

I would say that "awaken" leans toward the Word Faith "error?". He may be smack in the middle of it. I suppose time will tell!

 

[awaken]

I would say that "awaken" leans toward the Word Faith "error?". He may be smack in the middle of it. I suppose time will tell!

what is the world faith error?

 

[Tom Butler]

Check the tense of the words for "shall be bound" (ἔσται δεδεμένον) and "shall be loosed" (ἔσται λελυμένον) in Matthew 16:19. These are perfect passive participles with future auxiliaries. Whatever the disciples bind on earth "shall have been bound" in heaven, and whatever they loose on earth "shall have been loosed" in heaven. In other words, with the pouring out of the Holy Spirit on the disciples as they held the office of the apostles and received the inspiration of God to write the New Testament Scriptures, they would declare God's truth that has been bound in heaven.

That's basically my understanding of the Greek rendering, as well. Another rendering I have read is "shall have already been bound/loosed."

To me, this would mean that our binding and loosing on earth is not a power we possess, but an authority we have as believers to declare what has been bound/loosed in heaven and apply it to individuals, groups, situations, etc. That would include the declaration of how one may become part of the kingdom and how one may enter heaven.

 

[AresMan]

That's basically my understanding of the Greek rendering, as well. Another rendering I have read is "shall have already been bound/loosed."

To me, this would mean that our binding and loosing on earth is not a power we possess, but an authority we have as believers to declare what has been bound/loosed in heaven and apply it to individuals, groups, situations, etc. That would include the declaration of how one may become part of the kingdom and how one may enter heaven.

Yes, it is the power to proclaim what God has already prescribed in Christ. It is not authority to do things that God would do of our own accord.

 

[Iconoclast]

The binding and loosing have to do with church discipline. it has nothing to do with"binding satan"

15 Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.

16 But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.

17 And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.

18 Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

19 Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.

20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

21 Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?

22 Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.

 

[Allan]

Wrong post

 

[Allan]

That's basically my understanding of the Greek rendering, as well. Another rendering I have read is "shall have already been bound/loosed."

To me, this would mean that our binding and loosing on earth is not a power we possess, but an authority we have as believers to declare what has been bound/loosed in heaven and apply it to individuals, groups, situations, etc. That would include the declaration of how one may become part of the kingdom and how one may enter heaven.

Agreed. We declare, proclaim, or set forth here, what is already established in Heaven.

 

[AresMan]

Wrong post

Yes, it is not autonomous human authority to be a "vicar of Christ."

 

[Allan]

Yes, it is not autonomous human authority to be a "vicar of Christ."

Yep.. and what I had originally agreed with what you were saying,. My response just didn't make much sense to WHAT you said in quoted post
(at least to me)

 

[Tom Butler]

Wrong post

Aw, gee, Allan, I was really looking forward to getting your take on the OP.

Ooops, I just noticed you had replied. Never mind.

 

[Tom Butler]

Am I right that some hold that they have the power to bind and loose on earth, and whatever they bind/loose obligates God to do the same in heaven. Isn't that backward?

 

[TCassidy]

The tradition of the Jews in that time was for newly confirmed rabbis to receive a key to the storerooms in the temple where the scrolls of scripture and commentary on the scriptures were kept.

The rabbis would wear the key around their necks as a symbol of their teaching authority. It was their way of saying they were superior to those who did not have the key.

Jesus told His disciples that their authority, given to them by Christ, was superior to the teaching authority given to the rabbis. What the rabbis taught may, or may not, be correct. But what the apostles taught, because it was being given by the Holy Spirit, would be that which was already bound (fully committed to achieving a goal) in heaven would also be bound on earth as they taught God's Truth. And whatsoever was already loosed (cast off as wrong, useless, spurious) in heaven would also be loosed by their inspired teaching and writing. All scripture is both positive and negative. It teaches truth and exposes error. "Profitable for doctrine (positive), reproof (negative), correction (negative), and instruction (positive) in righteousness."

 

[Tom Butler]

The tradition of the Jews in that time was for newly confirmed rabbis to receive a key to the storerooms in the temple where the scrolls of scripture and commentary on the scriptures were kept.

The rabbis would wear the key around their necks as a symbol of their teaching authority. It was their way of saying they were superior to those who did not have the key.

Jesus told His disciples that their authority, given to them by Christ, was superior to the teaching authority given to the rabbis. What the rabbis taught may, or may not, be correct. But what the apostles taught, because it was being given by the Holy Spirit, would be that which was already bound (fully committed to achieving a goal) in heaven would also be bound on earth as they taught God's Truth. And whatsoever was already loosed (cast off as wrong, useless, spurious) in heaven would also be loosed by their inspired teaching and writing. All scripture is both positive and negative. It teaches truth and exposes error. "Profitable for doctrine (positive), reproof (negative), correction (negative), and instruction (positive) in righteousness."

So, Jesus' hearers would have a frame of reference to help them understand the concept of the keys. That is, the keys held up to this point by the rabbis were now being given to believers in general. Interesting.

 

[TCassidy]

So, Jesus' hearers would have a frame of reference to help them understand the concept of the keys. That is, the keys held up to this point by the rabbis were now being given to believers in general. Interesting.

Not believers in general, but those who would be responsible for the inscripturation of the New Testament.

It would only apply to believers in general as a confirmation of the scripture produced by those chosen men.

But, yes, Jesus usually taught from something the people were already familiar with to illustrate what He was teaching.

 

[OldRegular]

Am I right that some hold that they have the power to bind and loose on earth, and whatever they bind/loose obligates God to do the same in heaven. Isn't that backward?

I believe the only thing God is obligated to do relative to mankind is to redeem those He has Chosen to Salvation in Jesus Christ before the foundation of the world [Ephesians, Chapter 1.]; and this is an obligation that God places on Himself.

Nothing that man does or says can obligate God to respond. The Word of Faith heresy has made a "fetch it person" out of Holy God. I am not certain but I believe that the Roman Catholic priesthood is borderline on this; and of course the pope speaks for God if he is sitting in Peters chair. Some chair!

 

[Zenas]

The keys to the Kingdom were given to Peter, not to us and not even to the church. They are the symbol of Peter’s pastoral authority, which was expressly given to him in John 21:15-17.

Jesus is the owner of the keys. They are His to retain for Himself or to hand off to whomever He chooses. Here He is handing them off to Peter. What kind of keys does Jesus have to hand over to Peter?

He who is holy, who is true, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, and who shuts and no one opens, says this: Revelation 3:7.

This same key is described in Isaiah 22, the key of the house of David, where it is taken from Shebna and given to Eliakim in the days of King Hezekiah. In fact, 22:22 uses the same language as Revelation 3:7:

Then I will set the key of the house of David on his shoulder, When he opens no one will shut, When he shuts no one will open. Isaiah 22:22.

The parallel language in these two passage, as well as the fact that Jesus was speaking directly to Peter, leaves no doubt in my mind that the keys were to be given to Peter as his symbol of pastoral authority.