LoveKey Church
The Keys of the Kingdom
Hello everyone and welcome to our fourth session of our "Reign in Life" series entitled: "The Keys of the Kingdom" https://linktr.ee/lovekeymission info@lovekey.co.za
Locations & Times
John Murray Dance Studio
Urtel Crescent, Triangle House, Firgrove Rural, Cape Town, 7110, South Africa
Sunday 10:00 AM
LoveKey Church
LoveKey Church Website
https://lovekeymission.com
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What is LoveKey Church All About?
Our name comes from the fact that we believe that the KEY to salvation (giving your life to Jesus, becoming a reborn Christian) is the revelation of how much God LOVES you. And the KEY to living the life He has for us is to LOVE him back. That’s why LoveKey Church is a local expression of a part of the body of Christ with a focus on creating a place, opportunity and atmosphere where all people can encounter God, align with His purposes in order to reign in life, and help others to do the same.
ENCOUNTER, ALIGN REIGN, HELP OTHERS DO THE SAME - easy way to remember it.
We believe the Bible is the word of God and we commit to be obedient to it with the leading of the Holy Spirit
We believe that marriage and family is God’s idea and His way of doing it is the right way and the best way. We want to see marriages thrive and families be healthy in Jesus. Because healthy families build a healthy nation - notice I didn’t say “perfect” families, I said healthy - whole in Jesus, reconciled in Jesus, redeemed by Jesus, focused on Jesus.
We stand for unity in the body of Christ - we can be diverse but not divided, and celebrate our different gifts and roles in the greater body of Christ. We really resonate with Jesus’ prayer in John 17 where he asks that the Father will make us all one as He and the Father are one so that the world will know that He sent Him. Our biggest evangelical tool is unity!
We want to help eradicate fatherlessness and shine a light on the crisis of cultural Christianity - South Africa has a physical fatherlessness rate of 62% and other forms of fatherlessness in the remaining percentage - it truly is a huge problem.
Cultural Christianity is where people grow up in a so-called Christian home or culture and believe that that makes them a Christian, when in fact it is very possible that the culture they’re in has adopted a version of God that is convenient, made it apart of their culture and they’re actually worshipping their culture.
We want this to be a multi-generational, multi-cultural church that lives to know Jesus and to make Him known.
ENCOUNTER, ALIGN REIGN, HELP OTHERS DO THE SAME - easy way to remember it.
We believe the Bible is the word of God and we commit to be obedient to it with the leading of the Holy Spirit
We believe that marriage and family is God’s idea and His way of doing it is the right way and the best way. We want to see marriages thrive and families be healthy in Jesus. Because healthy families build a healthy nation - notice I didn’t say “perfect” families, I said healthy - whole in Jesus, reconciled in Jesus, redeemed by Jesus, focused on Jesus.
We stand for unity in the body of Christ - we can be diverse but not divided, and celebrate our different gifts and roles in the greater body of Christ. We really resonate with Jesus’ prayer in John 17 where he asks that the Father will make us all one as He and the Father are one so that the world will know that He sent Him. Our biggest evangelical tool is unity!
We want to help eradicate fatherlessness and shine a light on the crisis of cultural Christianity - South Africa has a physical fatherlessness rate of 62% and other forms of fatherlessness in the remaining percentage - it truly is a huge problem.
Cultural Christianity is where people grow up in a so-called Christian home or culture and believe that that makes them a Christian, when in fact it is very possible that the culture they’re in has adopted a version of God that is convenient, made it apart of their culture and they’re actually worshipping their culture.
We want this to be a multi-generational, multi-cultural church that lives to know Jesus and to make Him known.
Offer to Serve
Offer to Serve Link
OFFER TO SERVE INVITEIf you feel led by God to be a part of this vision and mission, please contact us at info@lovekey.co.za or fill out our Offer to Serve form on the Church Center app, or online:
https://forms.gle/ufM5cD8KYabn365s6Spotlight Social
We would like to bring our whole church community together with the Spotlight Social app. Please download and create and account and link up with LoveKey Church.
https://spolightsocial.app
Please Pray for our leaders, members, marriages, families and our nation
Partner with LoveKey Church
What You Partner With:
Thank you for partnering with our ministry so that we can: 1. reach more people with the gospel message 2. Positively impact marriages and families 3. Play a role in eradicating fatherlessness 4. Shine a light on the crisis of cultural Christianity 5. Minister Unity to the body of Christ 6. Sow into what we hope to be future social justice projects in our local community 6. Sow into trusted organizations preaching the gospel in Israel to Jews, and helping Jews relocate to Israel.- FIRM Foundation and One For Israel
https://lovekeymission.com/partnerEFT: Banking Details: LoveKey NPC, FNB, Current Account Number: 62824888525, Branch code: 250655
Card Payment link: https://pay.yoco.com/lovekey-npc
PayPal: partner@lovekey.co.za
Card Payment link: https://pay.yoco.com/lovekey-npc
PayPal: partner@lovekey.co.za
Cheerful Giver
Here is another easy way for you to partner with our ministry. Cheerful Giver enables you to easily give any amount of your choice to LoveKey Church through whatsapp. You set up your profile and link your card once, and then you're good to give!
https://www.cheerfulgiver.co.za/give/LK
Ways to Partner
Praise and Worship Scripture
Reign In Life - Series
The Keys of the Kingdom
MAIN MESSAGE:
REIGN IN LIFE - “THE KEYS OF THE KINGDOM”
New Series: REIGN IN LIFE
Main scripture:
Romans 5:17 - 'For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.'
Today we will look at how this “reign in life” is over death.
We will talk about:
Third Topic: “The Keys of the Kingdom”
Now when you receive something significant, it is important for the gift to actually be what you are told it is because that is what you’re expecting. So, if you win the lotto but only get R1000, or if you win the raffle with the fridge stocked with food, and there’s just a piece of cheese in it, you will be left quite disappointed right?
In the same way you may not get what you expected, it is also possible that you have something which value you do not comprehend or appreciate. So, you have it, but because you don’t know or recognize the value of it, you are missing out.
In today’s passage we will see that we have been given something extremely special and important by Jesus himself. The questions I want to ask right up front is:
1. Do I know it has been given?
2. If I know it has been given, do I know what it is?
3. Do I know what it is for?
4. And if I know, am I using it?
And it is all about The Keys of the Kingdom. Let’s read our main scripture together.
Main verse:
Matthew 16:13-19
'When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?” So they said, “Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”'
Now look at how this verse connects from John’s vision of Jesus:
Revelation 1:17-18
'And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. But He laid His right hand on me, saying to me, “Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last. I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death. '
Look at how Jesus descended to ascend and brought gifts for the church, the church that will prevail against the gates of Hades and which will receive the keys of the kingdom of heaven:
Ephesians 4:7-16
'But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift. Therefore He says: “When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive, And gave gifts to men.” (Now this, “He ascended”—what does it mean but that He also first descended into the lower parts of the earth? He who descended is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.) And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.'
It would seem that the keys unlock the church leadership structure as well as the training and equipping of all believers for the work of the kingdom.
Focus on the imagery of sowing here- we will soon look at the parables about the kingdom of heaven where seeds and sowing are mentiond. Also, see the constant contrasting between life and death, the first and second Adam.
I Corinthians 15:42-50
'So also is the resurrection of the dead. The body is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption. It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power. It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. And so it is written, “The first man Adam became a living being.” The last Adam became a life-giving spirit. However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural, and afterward the spiritual. The first man was of the earth, made of dust; the second Man is the Lord from heaven. As was the man of dust, so also are those who are made of dust; and as is the heavenly Man, so also are those who are heavenly. And as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly Man. Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption. '
Look at the source of the power that raised Jesus from the “dead” - yes, the “dead”
Hebrews 13:20-21
'Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.'
Parables about the Kingdom of Heaven:
Matthew 13:11 - The purpose of parables
'He answered and said to them, “Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. '
Matthew 13:18-23 - the parable of the sower explained
'“Therefore hear the parable of the sower: When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside. But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles. Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful. But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.”'
Matthew 13:37-43 - the parable of the tares explained
'He answered and said to them: “He who sows the good seed is the Son of Man. The field is the world, the good seeds are the sons of the kingdom, but the tares are the sons of the wicked one. The enemy who sowed them is the devil, the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are the angels. Therefore as the tares are gathered and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of this age. The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness, and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!'
Let us look at Matt 16:18-19 again
Matthew 16:18-19
'And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”'
PETER - THIS ROCK - MY CHURCH - THE GATES OF HADES - WILL NOT PREVAIL - GIVE THE KEYS OF THE KINGDOM FOR BINDING AND LOOSING
Most people believe that this passage means that Jesus made Peter the first leader or bishop of the church of Jesus, that even though hell will attack the church, the church will stand, and that the keys of the kingdom of heaven are about spreading the gospel and declaring what is lawful and unlawful.
I humbly propose today that there is a different perspective that I believe the Holy Spirit has revealed. It is a perspective that is backed up by scripture and when applied will give a believer a stronger and more confident position in life.
Now imagine this scene playing out in real life:
Jesus, seeing the physical place called Hades nearby, asks his disciples, “So, who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?” They gave some answers.
Jesus, “But who do you say that I am?”
Peter replies, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
Jesus says to Peter, “Blessed are you, Peter, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, by My Father who is in heaven”.
(Ok, now focus people) - I am going to say this in a few ways. First, we need to know that in the Greek he says Petros and the petra. One is a stone, or part of a stone, and one is rock.
Now, imagine the scene- options:
1. Jesus says, “You are Peter, and on this rock (Jesus gestures to HIMSELF) I will build my church”
2. Jesus says, “You are Peter, and on this rock (Jesus gestures to Peter) I will build my church”
3. Jesus says, “You are Peter, and on this rock (Jesus gestures to ALL THE DISCIPLES) I will build my church”
4. Jesus says, “You are Peter, and on this rock (Jesus gestures to WHAT PETER SAID, THE STATEMENT ABOUT JESUS BEING THE CHRIST) I will build my church”
Do you see that from the difference in Greek words and from how Jesus could’ve been speaking to his disciples, it is possible that there is something else happening than the church being built on Peter, or at least that it is not only on Peter?
The Gates of Hades
They were walking near where what everyone at the time knew was the physical gate of Hades, the doorway to the netherworld - the graves.
Jesus says he will build his church on this rock and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it.
Why gates? Why not hordes of demons? Why not hell’s armies? Why gates?
Gates keep things out or lock things in, right? You can lock and unlock a gate right? And you would need a key, right?
Can gates attack? No. Can it defend? Yes!
When you understand this passage from the point of view that the church will suffer attacks from death, from Hades, then you think we need to be on the defensive. But when you realize that the gates are there to protect the dead and keep them from being set free, you see it entirely differently.
Listen to this - when you read this alongside Revelation 1:18, you can see that Jesus went to get the keys for Hades and death…
So here’s another option - what if Jesus was actually predicting what he was going to do on the cross, and in his death and resurrection? Then the idea that he was talking about himself and the statement Peter made instead of Peter himself - the man who just after this tried to stop Jesus from saying he will die and Jesus rebuked him, the one who cut off a Roman soldier’s ear and who denied Jesus three times - makes more sense, doesn’t it?
Now yes, after Jesus’ resurrection and the pouring out of the Holy Spirit on the disciples, Peter preached and 3000 were added to the church. It would seem that the keys to the kingdom were certainly given through the Holy Spirit, that Peter and the other disciples received it and that he evangelized the first converts. Definitely the start of the Christian church.
But we can also see that Jesus going to Hades, descending like Ephesians says, to get the keys, lines up - he would have to breach the gates of Hades, but it clearly could not prevail against Jesus who broke through and got the keys!
So let me put before you the possibility that Jesus is the rock on which His church is built - we have this confirmation anyway from scripture that he is the chief cornerstone - and this rock went through the gates of Hades which could not prevail against Him and his blood (Hebrews) - as forerunner and an example for his church. Jesus overcame death, he has the keys. It is done. That is why the church will always be, will always stand, and why it is God’s plan for this world.
And yes, the church needs to keep reaching into dead places and dead people to bring the light and life of Jesus to dead people - dead because they do not know Jesus and have not been reborn, and dead because they are heading for eternal death - hell, separated from God.
Let’s say that Jesus was only referring to the church and not himself. Still, this is great news- we as the church do not have to think mainly defensively. We do not have to be on the back foot thinking “when will these gates of Hades attack me”. Gates guard. So know rather that the church, and each one of us in the church, has a role to play in breaching those gates and setting dead people free. Come on!
And then Jesus promises that he will give the keys of the kingdom of heaven and that we get the authority to bind and loose whatever. Now next week I’d like to look at what this means in context of what the Bible teaches us about what the kingdom of heaven is through parables. If we know what the kingdom of God is, then we can know what the keys of the kingdom of heaven are for…
REFLECT AND RESPOND
Let us know, celebrate and rejoice over the fact that Jesus triumphed over death - physical and spiritual death.
Let us honour Jesus as the rock on which the church is built.
Let us realize that gates are there to keep things safe or locked away, but they are not weapons that attack - so realize that as the church we are actually on the offensive!
Let’s ask God to help us go and save souls from Hades - the gates will not prevail!
PRAYER
REIGN IN LIFE - “THE KEYS OF THE KINGDOM”
New Series: REIGN IN LIFE
Main scripture:
Romans 5:17 - 'For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.'
Today we will look at how this “reign in life” is over death.
We will talk about:
Third Topic: “The Keys of the Kingdom”
Now when you receive something significant, it is important for the gift to actually be what you are told it is because that is what you’re expecting. So, if you win the lotto but only get R1000, or if you win the raffle with the fridge stocked with food, and there’s just a piece of cheese in it, you will be left quite disappointed right?
In the same way you may not get what you expected, it is also possible that you have something which value you do not comprehend or appreciate. So, you have it, but because you don’t know or recognize the value of it, you are missing out.
In today’s passage we will see that we have been given something extremely special and important by Jesus himself. The questions I want to ask right up front is:
1. Do I know it has been given?
2. If I know it has been given, do I know what it is?
3. Do I know what it is for?
4. And if I know, am I using it?
And it is all about The Keys of the Kingdom. Let’s read our main scripture together.
Main verse:
Matthew 16:13-19
'When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?” So they said, “Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”'
Now look at how this verse connects from John’s vision of Jesus:
Revelation 1:17-18
'And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. But He laid His right hand on me, saying to me, “Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last. I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death. '
Look at how Jesus descended to ascend and brought gifts for the church, the church that will prevail against the gates of Hades and which will receive the keys of the kingdom of heaven:
Ephesians 4:7-16
'But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift. Therefore He says: “When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive, And gave gifts to men.” (Now this, “He ascended”—what does it mean but that He also first descended into the lower parts of the earth? He who descended is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.) And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.'
It would seem that the keys unlock the church leadership structure as well as the training and equipping of all believers for the work of the kingdom.
Focus on the imagery of sowing here- we will soon look at the parables about the kingdom of heaven where seeds and sowing are mentiond. Also, see the constant contrasting between life and death, the first and second Adam.
I Corinthians 15:42-50
'So also is the resurrection of the dead. The body is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption. It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power. It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. And so it is written, “The first man Adam became a living being.” The last Adam became a life-giving spirit. However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural, and afterward the spiritual. The first man was of the earth, made of dust; the second Man is the Lord from heaven. As was the man of dust, so also are those who are made of dust; and as is the heavenly Man, so also are those who are heavenly. And as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly Man. Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption. '
Look at the source of the power that raised Jesus from the “dead” - yes, the “dead”
Hebrews 13:20-21
'Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.'
Parables about the Kingdom of Heaven:
Matthew 13:11 - The purpose of parables
'He answered and said to them, “Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. '
Matthew 13:18-23 - the parable of the sower explained
'“Therefore hear the parable of the sower: When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside. But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles. Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful. But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.”'
Matthew 13:37-43 - the parable of the tares explained
'He answered and said to them: “He who sows the good seed is the Son of Man. The field is the world, the good seeds are the sons of the kingdom, but the tares are the sons of the wicked one. The enemy who sowed them is the devil, the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are the angels. Therefore as the tares are gathered and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of this age. The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness, and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!'
Let us look at Matt 16:18-19 again
Matthew 16:18-19
'And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”'
PETER - THIS ROCK - MY CHURCH - THE GATES OF HADES - WILL NOT PREVAIL - GIVE THE KEYS OF THE KINGDOM FOR BINDING AND LOOSING
Most people believe that this passage means that Jesus made Peter the first leader or bishop of the church of Jesus, that even though hell will attack the church, the church will stand, and that the keys of the kingdom of heaven are about spreading the gospel and declaring what is lawful and unlawful.
I humbly propose today that there is a different perspective that I believe the Holy Spirit has revealed. It is a perspective that is backed up by scripture and when applied will give a believer a stronger and more confident position in life.
Now imagine this scene playing out in real life:
Jesus, seeing the physical place called Hades nearby, asks his disciples, “So, who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?” They gave some answers.
Jesus, “But who do you say that I am?”
Peter replies, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
Jesus says to Peter, “Blessed are you, Peter, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, by My Father who is in heaven”.
(Ok, now focus people) - I am going to say this in a few ways. First, we need to know that in the Greek he says Petros and the petra. One is a stone, or part of a stone, and one is rock.
Now, imagine the scene- options:
1. Jesus says, “You are Peter, and on this rock (Jesus gestures to HIMSELF) I will build my church”
2. Jesus says, “You are Peter, and on this rock (Jesus gestures to Peter) I will build my church”
3. Jesus says, “You are Peter, and on this rock (Jesus gestures to ALL THE DISCIPLES) I will build my church”
4. Jesus says, “You are Peter, and on this rock (Jesus gestures to WHAT PETER SAID, THE STATEMENT ABOUT JESUS BEING THE CHRIST) I will build my church”
Do you see that from the difference in Greek words and from how Jesus could’ve been speaking to his disciples, it is possible that there is something else happening than the church being built on Peter, or at least that it is not only on Peter?
The Gates of Hades
They were walking near where what everyone at the time knew was the physical gate of Hades, the doorway to the netherworld - the graves.
Jesus says he will build his church on this rock and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it.
Why gates? Why not hordes of demons? Why not hell’s armies? Why gates?
Gates keep things out or lock things in, right? You can lock and unlock a gate right? And you would need a key, right?
Can gates attack? No. Can it defend? Yes!
When you understand this passage from the point of view that the church will suffer attacks from death, from Hades, then you think we need to be on the defensive. But when you realize that the gates are there to protect the dead and keep them from being set free, you see it entirely differently.
Listen to this - when you read this alongside Revelation 1:18, you can see that Jesus went to get the keys for Hades and death…
So here’s another option - what if Jesus was actually predicting what he was going to do on the cross, and in his death and resurrection? Then the idea that he was talking about himself and the statement Peter made instead of Peter himself - the man who just after this tried to stop Jesus from saying he will die and Jesus rebuked him, the one who cut off a Roman soldier’s ear and who denied Jesus three times - makes more sense, doesn’t it?
Now yes, after Jesus’ resurrection and the pouring out of the Holy Spirit on the disciples, Peter preached and 3000 were added to the church. It would seem that the keys to the kingdom were certainly given through the Holy Spirit, that Peter and the other disciples received it and that he evangelized the first converts. Definitely the start of the Christian church.
But we can also see that Jesus going to Hades, descending like Ephesians says, to get the keys, lines up - he would have to breach the gates of Hades, but it clearly could not prevail against Jesus who broke through and got the keys!
So let me put before you the possibility that Jesus is the rock on which His church is built - we have this confirmation anyway from scripture that he is the chief cornerstone - and this rock went through the gates of Hades which could not prevail against Him and his blood (Hebrews) - as forerunner and an example for his church. Jesus overcame death, he has the keys. It is done. That is why the church will always be, will always stand, and why it is God’s plan for this world.
And yes, the church needs to keep reaching into dead places and dead people to bring the light and life of Jesus to dead people - dead because they do not know Jesus and have not been reborn, and dead because they are heading for eternal death - hell, separated from God.
Let’s say that Jesus was only referring to the church and not himself. Still, this is great news- we as the church do not have to think mainly defensively. We do not have to be on the back foot thinking “when will these gates of Hades attack me”. Gates guard. So know rather that the church, and each one of us in the church, has a role to play in breaching those gates and setting dead people free. Come on!
And then Jesus promises that he will give the keys of the kingdom of heaven and that we get the authority to bind and loose whatever. Now next week I’d like to look at what this means in context of what the Bible teaches us about what the kingdom of heaven is through parables. If we know what the kingdom of God is, then we can know what the keys of the kingdom of heaven are for…
REFLECT AND RESPOND
Let us know, celebrate and rejoice over the fact that Jesus triumphed over death - physical and spiritual death.
Let us honour Jesus as the rock on which the church is built.
Let us realize that gates are there to keep things safe or locked away, but they are not weapons that attack - so realize that as the church we are actually on the offensive!
Let’s ask God to help us go and save souls from Hades - the gates will not prevail!
PRAYER