Do You Have the Keys?
The other day I was having a conversation with a younger gentleman who belonged to a denomination which believed they were the only one who had the true doctrine of salvation... and all others were doomed. It reminded me of a group I once belonged to. I recalled how I would get into discussions with people over what any particular passage in scripture really meant and most of the time both myself and the other party would cease the argument with frustration and worry that the other side was wrong and in danger of hellfire. How arrogant and full of pride I was. How blind to the vastness of God's grace and how faithless I was in thinking He was limited to man's ego, logic or understanding... and thank God He isn't limited by our dim perceptions.
So as this gentleman and I "sharpened iron" ( Proverbs 27:17 ) I couldn't help but fall into the trap of arguing over words at times, but this time it was different. I personally do not see the divisions between one particular denomination or group and another... for I must consider what is mentioned here when looking at other individuals or their particular brand of doctrine / religion:
But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
- 1 Samuel 16:7
This passage tells me that God is not looking at the labels any person has for themselves, or which group they belong to, or what nationality they are or of what particular ethnicity they come from. He sees the hearts of you and I. This leads me to conclude that I cannot 'judge' or consider if any given person is 'saved' or 'lost' according to their knowledge of scripture or the manner in which they express themselves or their beliefs... not even their actions. Yet this is what many a man who stand behind podiums, stand on street corners and stand behind a corporate entity filed with the state of wherever delve into and assume... and they embarrass the work of God which is by faith and God's grace. This is what I used to do too... and I'm embarrassed to say I used to think in such an unloving, unfaithful and ungrateful way considering what God had done with me and the reality that He is in absolute control all the time and only He knows any given person's destiny.
We began to speak about the term "authority" and he shared with me that his group has an 'apostle' which leads the church as the man of this age who has the authority to call the shots, spiritually speaking. I initially listened carefully to gauge exactly what I was hearing. At my first objection I heard several passages of scripture to affirm his faithful view and this is where I had to mention a few things.
I mentioned the following:
When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Then Yeshua came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me."
- Matthew 28:17-18
Looking at the passage, ask yourself: who has been given all authority in heaven and on earth?
Next, considering Yeshua has all authority where we currently are and where some of us would desire to go, I mentioned this:
Yeshua called them together and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave - just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
- Matthew 20:25-28
Notice the difference Yeshua gives... it seems to be upside down or the exact opposite, yet this is what is said.
Then the question was posed whether or not Peter had the authority to lead the rest of the disciples... and wasn't it Peter whom Christ gave the "keys" to. I then heard a scripture mentioning this passing of authority... yet no authority is mentioned ( neither the word but more importantly neither the notion ). This passage of scripture is used by many groups who claim lineage and authority in order to give their efforts legitimacy, but we have already seen what kind of authority and leadership Yeshua has asked his followers to do ( not be like the world but be like Him ).
Here is the passage in question and we'll look at what is going on:
When Yeshua came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”
They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
“But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”
Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”
Yeshua replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” Then he ordered his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.
- Matthew 16:13-20
Yeshua poses a question... and you can read what the opinions of the people were. Yeshua then asks the disciples who they say He is.
Peter responds... and why does Yeshua say Peter is blessed? Is it not because what Peter answered was revealed by the Father and not by men? Seems to me a mystery was revealed in Peter's mind and heart... the mystery which allowed him to recognize and confess with his mouth "you are the Messiah, the Son of the living God." If only the entirety of the world's past, present and future population can be so fortunately blessed!
Now to the point of controversy which has many a scholar, theologian, priest and minister up in arms and at odds with one another... but is quite simple and clear to understand. Many believe that the church was built on Peter. Some argue that Simon was given the name Peter ( which means rock ) to coincide with this particular scripture and the fact that Peter was the one to stand up and preach the first sermon on the day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit was poured out on the believers... and thus, using logic and like terms, Yeshua must have been talking about Peter when He mentions "this rock."
Many also believe that Peter alone held the keys to the kingdom and, without a passing down of the keys ( like physically handing over the keys to the next man, which is a logical and materialistic manner of looking at it ), then the authority of leadership wasn't present. Could this be true?
When Christ mentions "and on this rock I will build my church...." is Christ really saying He will build the church on this man? Do you suppose Yeshua, being Immanuel ( God with us ), the Messiah ( promised King that was to fulfill prophecy ), who would build a kingdom which would never end and never be destroyed, who has all authority in heaven and earth, is building His church on a man?
Isn't the church in fact built on Christ Himself as the cornerstone?
For in Scripture it says:
“See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame.”
Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe,
“The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,” and, "A stone that causes people to stumble and a rock that makes them fall.”
They stumble because they disobey the message - which is also what they were destined for.
- 1 Peter 2:6-8
Look at what is said here:
The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
- Psalm 18:2
For who is God besides the Lord? And who is the Rock except our God?
- Psalm 18:31
The Lord lives! Praise be to my Rock! Exalted be God my Savior!
- Psalm 18:46
So what then can Yeshua being stating when He says "and on this rock I will build my church" ??
Consider this passage and its significance:
If you declare with your mouth, “Yeshua is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.”
- Romans 10:9-11
Consider what is also mentioned here:
Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses. In the sight of God, who gives life to everything, and of Christ Yeshua, who while testifying before Pontius Pilate made the good confession...
- 1 Timothy 6:12-13a
Let's look now at the "good confession" Yeshua made before Pilate:
Pilate then went back inside the palace, summoned Jesus and asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?”
“Is that your own idea,” Yeshua asked, “or did others talk to you about me?”
“Am I a Jew?” Pilate replied. “Your own people and chief priests handed you over to me. What is it you have done?”
Yeshua said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place.”
“You are a king, then!” said Pilate.
Yeshua answered, “You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.”
- John 18:33-37
Isn't the phrase "and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it" speaking of the very confession of faith Peter made... and every subsequent disciple of Christ has made? ( look again at the preceding passages )
Touching back on the topic of authority while giving one example of when things were "loosened or bound," let's consider 'who' made the suggestions and spoke in regards to the development of the doctrine of Yeshua. I include the entire passage, which is quite lengthy, to point out who is speaking and to identify who makes the decisions ( having the authority ):
When they finished, James spoke up. “Brothers,” he said, “listen to me. Simon has described to us how God first intervened to choose a people for his name from the Gentiles. The words of the prophets are in agreement with this, as it is written:
“‘After this I will return and rebuild David’s fallen tent. Its ruins I will rebuild, and I will restore it, that the rest of mankind may seek the Lord, even all the Gentiles who bear my name, says the Lord, who does these things' - things known from long ago.
“It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God. Instead we should write to them, telling them to abstain from food polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from the meat of strangled animals and from blood. For the law of Moses has been preached in every city from the earliest times and is read in the synagogues on every Sabbath.”
Then the apostles and elders, with the whole church, decided to choose some of their own men and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They chose Judas ( called Barsabbas ) and Silas, men who were leaders among the believers. With them they sent the following letter:
The apostles and elders, your brothers,
To the Gentile believers in Antioch, Syria and Cilicia:
Greetings.
We have heard that some went out from us without our authorization and disturbed you, troubling your minds by what they said. So we all agreed to choose some men and send them to you with our dear friends Barnabas and Paul - men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Yeshua Christ. Therefore we are sending Judas and Silas to confirm by word of mouth what we are writing. It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to burden you with anything beyond the following requirements: You are to abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality. You will do well to avoid these things.
Farewell.
- Acts 15:13-29
Notice how it was a group choice, not a single man's choice / command / decree / etc., but the decisions of several individuals acting in unison and with the agreement of the church. This is how the church ( the body of Christ ) acts in unity and humility.
Notice also the four items which were bound over from the old testament. The Pharisees ( reading the entire chapter ) desired the Gentile converts to be circumcised AND to adhere to the law of Moses... which, again reading the entire chapter, one could those actions and efforts to be outside the message of grace God established in His Christ Yeshua. It would be a nice comparison to also read this passage in another translation ( KJV for example ) to get a broader understanding of phrasing, words and such. And as with all passages of scripture, it is best to read the broader context ( the entire chapter and beyond ) to gain a better understanding.
Seems to me; the more of a servant you become, the 'greater' your role becomes in the kingdom of God.
So as this gentleman and I "sharpened iron" ( Proverbs 27:17 ) I couldn't help but fall into the trap of arguing over words at times, but this time it was different. I personally do not see the divisions between one particular denomination or group and another... for I must consider what is mentioned here when looking at other individuals or their particular brand of doctrine / religion:
But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
- 1 Samuel 16:7
This passage tells me that God is not looking at the labels any person has for themselves, or which group they belong to, or what nationality they are or of what particular ethnicity they come from. He sees the hearts of you and I. This leads me to conclude that I cannot 'judge' or consider if any given person is 'saved' or 'lost' according to their knowledge of scripture or the manner in which they express themselves or their beliefs... not even their actions. Yet this is what many a man who stand behind podiums, stand on street corners and stand behind a corporate entity filed with the state of wherever delve into and assume... and they embarrass the work of God which is by faith and God's grace. This is what I used to do too... and I'm embarrassed to say I used to think in such an unloving, unfaithful and ungrateful way considering what God had done with me and the reality that He is in absolute control all the time and only He knows any given person's destiny.
We began to speak about the term "authority" and he shared with me that his group has an 'apostle' which leads the church as the man of this age who has the authority to call the shots, spiritually speaking. I initially listened carefully to gauge exactly what I was hearing. At my first objection I heard several passages of scripture to affirm his faithful view and this is where I had to mention a few things.
I mentioned the following:
When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Then Yeshua came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me."
- Matthew 28:17-18
Looking at the passage, ask yourself: who has been given all authority in heaven and on earth?
Next, considering Yeshua has all authority where we currently are and where some of us would desire to go, I mentioned this:
Yeshua called them together and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave - just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
- Matthew 20:25-28
Notice the difference Yeshua gives... it seems to be upside down or the exact opposite, yet this is what is said.
Then the question was posed whether or not Peter had the authority to lead the rest of the disciples... and wasn't it Peter whom Christ gave the "keys" to. I then heard a scripture mentioning this passing of authority... yet no authority is mentioned ( neither the word but more importantly neither the notion ). This passage of scripture is used by many groups who claim lineage and authority in order to give their efforts legitimacy, but we have already seen what kind of authority and leadership Yeshua has asked his followers to do ( not be like the world but be like Him ).
Here is the passage in question and we'll look at what is going on:
When Yeshua came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”
They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
“But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”
Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”
Yeshua replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” Then he ordered his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.
- Matthew 16:13-20
Yeshua poses a question... and you can read what the opinions of the people were. Yeshua then asks the disciples who they say He is.
Peter responds... and why does Yeshua say Peter is blessed? Is it not because what Peter answered was revealed by the Father and not by men? Seems to me a mystery was revealed in Peter's mind and heart... the mystery which allowed him to recognize and confess with his mouth "you are the Messiah, the Son of the living God." If only the entirety of the world's past, present and future population can be so fortunately blessed!
Now to the point of controversy which has many a scholar, theologian, priest and minister up in arms and at odds with one another... but is quite simple and clear to understand. Many believe that the church was built on Peter. Some argue that Simon was given the name Peter ( which means rock ) to coincide with this particular scripture and the fact that Peter was the one to stand up and preach the first sermon on the day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit was poured out on the believers... and thus, using logic and like terms, Yeshua must have been talking about Peter when He mentions "this rock."
Many also believe that Peter alone held the keys to the kingdom and, without a passing down of the keys ( like physically handing over the keys to the next man, which is a logical and materialistic manner of looking at it ), then the authority of leadership wasn't present. Could this be true?
When Christ mentions "and on this rock I will build my church...." is Christ really saying He will build the church on this man? Do you suppose Yeshua, being Immanuel ( God with us ), the Messiah ( promised King that was to fulfill prophecy ), who would build a kingdom which would never end and never be destroyed, who has all authority in heaven and earth, is building His church on a man?
Isn't the church in fact built on Christ Himself as the cornerstone?
For in Scripture it says:
“See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame.”
Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe,
“The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,” and, "A stone that causes people to stumble and a rock that makes them fall.”
They stumble because they disobey the message - which is also what they were destined for.
- 1 Peter 2:6-8
Look at what is said here:
The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
- Psalm 18:2
For who is God besides the Lord? And who is the Rock except our God?
- Psalm 18:31
The Lord lives! Praise be to my Rock! Exalted be God my Savior!
- Psalm 18:46
So what then can Yeshua being stating when He says "and on this rock I will build my church" ??
Consider this passage and its significance:
If you declare with your mouth, “Yeshua is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.”
- Romans 10:9-11
Consider what is also mentioned here:
Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses. In the sight of God, who gives life to everything, and of Christ Yeshua, who while testifying before Pontius Pilate made the good confession...
- 1 Timothy 6:12-13a
Let's look now at the "good confession" Yeshua made before Pilate:
Pilate then went back inside the palace, summoned Jesus and asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?”
“Is that your own idea,” Yeshua asked, “or did others talk to you about me?”
“Am I a Jew?” Pilate replied. “Your own people and chief priests handed you over to me. What is it you have done?”
Yeshua said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place.”
“You are a king, then!” said Pilate.
Yeshua answered, “You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.”
- John 18:33-37
Isn't the phrase "and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it" speaking of the very confession of faith Peter made... and every subsequent disciple of Christ has made? ( look again at the preceding passages )
Touching back on the topic of authority while giving one example of when things were "loosened or bound," let's consider 'who' made the suggestions and spoke in regards to the development of the doctrine of Yeshua. I include the entire passage, which is quite lengthy, to point out who is speaking and to identify who makes the decisions ( having the authority ):
When they finished, James spoke up. “Brothers,” he said, “listen to me. Simon has described to us how God first intervened to choose a people for his name from the Gentiles. The words of the prophets are in agreement with this, as it is written:
“‘After this I will return and rebuild David’s fallen tent. Its ruins I will rebuild, and I will restore it, that the rest of mankind may seek the Lord, even all the Gentiles who bear my name, says the Lord, who does these things' - things known from long ago.
“It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God. Instead we should write to them, telling them to abstain from food polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from the meat of strangled animals and from blood. For the law of Moses has been preached in every city from the earliest times and is read in the synagogues on every Sabbath.”
Then the apostles and elders, with the whole church, decided to choose some of their own men and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They chose Judas ( called Barsabbas ) and Silas, men who were leaders among the believers. With them they sent the following letter:
The apostles and elders, your brothers,
To the Gentile believers in Antioch, Syria and Cilicia:
Greetings.
We have heard that some went out from us without our authorization and disturbed you, troubling your minds by what they said. So we all agreed to choose some men and send them to you with our dear friends Barnabas and Paul - men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Yeshua Christ. Therefore we are sending Judas and Silas to confirm by word of mouth what we are writing. It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to burden you with anything beyond the following requirements: You are to abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality. You will do well to avoid these things.
Farewell.
- Acts 15:13-29
Notice how it was a group choice, not a single man's choice / command / decree / etc., but the decisions of several individuals acting in unison and with the agreement of the church. This is how the church ( the body of Christ ) acts in unity and humility.
Notice also the four items which were bound over from the old testament. The Pharisees ( reading the entire chapter ) desired the Gentile converts to be circumcised AND to adhere to the law of Moses... which, again reading the entire chapter, one could those actions and efforts to be outside the message of grace God established in His Christ Yeshua. It would be a nice comparison to also read this passage in another translation ( KJV for example ) to get a broader understanding of phrasing, words and such. And as with all passages of scripture, it is best to read the broader context ( the entire chapter and beyond ) to gain a better understanding.
Seems to me; the more of a servant you become, the 'greater' your role becomes in the kingdom of God.
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