Christ's Kingdom

Lesson prepared by Richard Chambers

One thing, though, that I think this teaching derives from is we know that throughout the Old Testament, there were many prophecies about the establishment of a kingdom, that the Messiah would came, and when he came, he would establish a kingdom. And as we talked about this morning in class, even the apostles, I think, even up to the last moments that they were with Jesus, were expecting an earthly kingdom, not realizing that Jesus came to establish a spiritual kingdom.

In Luke Chapter 24, in verse 44 — this follows the crucifixion of Jesus and prior to His ascension into heaven — He said this to His apostles.

"(44) ...These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me."

So Jesus had fulfilled all those things that were concerning him in the Old Testament, and also that would include the establishment of a kingdom. Remember in John Chapter 18, when Jesus stood before Pilot prior to being crucified, in response to a question that Jesus was asked by Pilot, Jesus responded (John 18:36),

"...My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence."

Jesus said, "...My kingdom is not from hence." It is not an earthly, physical kingdom, but instead, it is a spiritual kingdom.

In Colossians Chapter 1, when Paul was writing to the Christians there, he said — I want to pick up beginning in verse 12 — he says,

"(12) Giving thanks to unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:

"(13) Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into — what? —the kingdom of his dear Son."

So the kingdom had been established, it was in place, it was something that these Christians were a part of. "Translated from the world of darkness, the power of darkness, presenting the things that had to do with sinfulness, into the kingdom of His dear Son.

In Revelations Chapter 1 in verse 9, when John opened his letter to the seven churches of Asia, he called himself a 'companion' to them; he called himself a 'companion' in the kingdom (Rev 1:9), showing that John, at that point, yes, was in the kingdom. So we do see that the kingdom was established.

In Colossians Chapter 1 in verse 18, speaking of Christ, it says,

"(18) And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence."

Yes, we do know that Jesus did establish a spiritual kingdom. That kingdom is the church, the church in which Jesus serves as the head, meaning that he is the true authority in the church. We are to abide under his authority. After all, it was the church that he died for. Of course, he died for all people, giving them the availability to the grace and mercy of God. And in Acts Chapter 2, we see that when those there on that day of Pentecost did what was necessary to be saved, the Lord added them to the church.

And again, it was this church that Jesus did die for. In Ephesians 5:25,

"(25) Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it."

And in Ephesians Chapter 5, the situation, the relationship of Jesus to the church is used as an example of the relationship that is to be found within the home. And we see how strong of a relationship that is because Jesus gave himself for the church, the church that he now is the authority of, the church that we see being established in Acts Chapter 2. The beginning of the church on that day of Pentecost, when Peter stood up and boldly spake the gospel of Christ. And many on that day received his words gladly and were baptized and added to the church.

This is what Jesus was speaking on in Matthew Chapter 16, the passage that Price read for us this morning. I'd like to look at that passage again, Matthew Chapter 16. As Price had said, this was a time in which Jesus has questioned his disciples as to who people said that he was. Then he asked them, and of course, Peter answered,

"(16) ...Thou are 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."

Notice, in verse 18 — this is actually confused quite a bit in the religious world. Jesus says, "...[T]hou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church...." There has been controversy as to what Jesus meant when he said "upon this rock." Some say he was referring to Peter. That's not the case here. And that discussion and the details of that will have to wait for another lesson. But Jesus is saying that "upon this rock," the confession that Peter had made, the belief and confession in Jesus as the Son of God, that is what the church would be built upon.

If you take away that belief and that confession in Christ as the Son of God, you don't have a church. And so "upon that rock" that Jesus built his church, and notice what he says in verse 18, "I will build my church." The word 'my' there shows possession. This is the church that belongs to Christ. As a matter of fact, the title 'Church of Christ' shouldn't really be a title, but instead, a description: it is the church of Christ, the church that belongs to Christ, the one in which he is the head and we are to fulfill in our roles in the body.

Notice, in verse 19 — and this is the verse I want to focus on in somewhat of a roundabout way this morning, verse 19.

"(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."

What, exactly, does Jesus mean here and what does he intend? There's a couple of different thoughts here on this, "...I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven." This, clearly, is referring to the passing of authority, the giving of authority. But to whom is that given? Some would say that, in this case, Jesus was referring specifically to Peter, still addressing Peter individually. And they say, in doing so

Peter was the one allowed to open the gates of the kingdom, we could say. And it was Peter that spoke up on the day of Pentecost, in Acts Chapter 2, and delivered the message that so many responded to and the church had its beginning. But others say, no, he is turning the attention to the apostles in general, not just to Peter in this case, because it was to the apostles that the authority was passed on.

As a matter of fact, if you go to Matthew Chapter 28, a familiar passage with a great commission. In that passage, Jesus says, in verse — Matthew 28:18 — "...All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth." That word 'power' has to do with authority. Jesus was in a position of full authority. And he says,

"(19) Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

"(20) Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen."

We do see that Jesus passed on authority and a great amount of responsibility. Who was that to? Well, to the apostles. So I understand the viewpoint that either would take, in terms of is Jesus speaking directly to Peter or to the apostles in general, but in either case, the point remains the same: we see authority being passed on; we see responsibility being given.

But what does Jesus mean here — and this is the phrase I wrote on here to focus on this morning. What does he mean when he says, "...Whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."

Different ideas on this particular verse. Some say that actually what is taking place here is Jesus is giving the apostles some individual authority or responsibility, in terms of making some of their own determinations. And so if they would determine something in particular having to do with truth or that was right or having to do with the kingdom, then it would be accepted also in heaven, and therefore, they had some flexibility in what they would bind or loose; enforce or waive, as we may say, or allow. And this being the case, then, as I said, these apostles would have been allowed to make some of their own determinations. Some say where two or more of them agree, having to do with another passage that Jesus addressed to them, then that was good enough. It would be bound and it would be enforced and it would be authorized or observed from heaven.

I don't think that's what this verse is saying at all. Now, I'm not going to argue the fact that the apostles had responsibility and that they had authority in what they were doing. Yes, they did. Because as we saw in the great commission, they were given authority. But also, did you notice in that great commission, what they were to do? They were to go forth and baptize people in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. And what else? They were to go forth, "Teaching them to observe" — what things? — "all things whatsoever" — you determine to be right? Whatsoever you all get together and decide? Whatever two or more of you decide? No, no, no. That's not what the great commission said: "Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I" — Jesus — "have commanded you...."

So they were given very specific and strict instructions on what they were to teach and were not to teach. So, no, they did not have that allowance within this verse to make those determinations themselves. They were to make those determinations according to the authority that was given. And remember, Jesus has, and always has and always will have, that ultimate authority, so we are to do those things according to the instructions that he has given.

In John Chapter 14, as was mentioned in class this morning, we find Jesus gathered together with his apostles. His time is at hand in which he will be betrayed, delivered to the gentiles, and crucified. And in John 14, 15, and 16, Jesus gives somewhat of a farewell closing comment and final instructions to the apostles. And in John Chapter 17, we have a prayer recorded of Jesus' to the Father in heaven.

But notice, in John Chapter 14, beginning in verse 15, Jesus said,

"(15) If ye love me, keep my commandments.

"(16) And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever.

"(17) Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

"(18) I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you."

So Jesus wasn't going to leave his apostles in a situation in which they were on their own completely; he wasn't going to leave them helpless. Think of the task that they had at hand: to take the truths that Jesus had taught them and to take those to the people and to preach them and teach them. Quite a transition from the Old Testament law to the gospel of Christ. They would suffer a lot of rejection and a lot of persecution and a lot of resistance. They had a big task at hand.

But Jesus wouldn't leave them helpless. Oh, to the contrary. If you go to John Chapter 16, in verse 7,

"(7) Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you."

And if you go on over to verse 12,

"(12) I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now."

It wasn't the time. They couldn't receive these things at this time. But Jesus says, paraphrasing, But don't worry because there's coming a day in which you will receive these things. And that's what he means in verse 13.

"(13) Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.

"(14) He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.

"(15) All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine and shall shew it unto you."

Here we have the unity of the Godhead: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. 'Cause if you remember, if you go back just a couple of chapters to John Chapter 12, in verse 48 when Jesus was speaking, he said,

"(48) He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.

"(49) For" — notice this — "I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.

"(50) And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak."

So we see the Father had a plan that he laid before the foundations of the world. Ephesians Chapter 1 talks about that plan. We see that plan throughout the scriptures and we see it leading to the cross of Calvary and the sacrifice of Jesus Christ for the sins of the world.

Jesus came with a particular message (unintelligible) within that plan, the message from the Father. When Jesus came, he spoke according to his (unintelligible) the Holy Spirit was sent. That's why is says in John Chapter 16, verse 14,

"(14) He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.

"(15) All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine and shall shew it unto you."

We see that process continuing in the unity, according to the plan that God had in place. So we see the direct and complete unity of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, and of the message that was brought forth to us.

So then, think about that with Matthew Chapter 16 and verse 19. If some say that that verse opens the door for the apostles to make their own determinations — that door wasn't open for Jesus; why would it be open for the apostles? That's not what that verse is teaching. They were not given the option, at this point, to determine things upon their own when it came to spreading the truth of the gospel.

As a matter of fact, in you'll notice here in verse 13 — John Chapter 16, verse 13, "Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth...." His guidance within the truth was complete. That word 'guide' means, literally, the Greek word that is used there, according to Vine's Dictionary, means 'to lead the way.' The Holy Spirit was leading the way, in the spreading of the truth, to the apostles.

Matter of fact, real quickly, let's consider a couple of passages. In Acts Chapter 8, in verse 39, when Philip was teaching the Ethiopian and baptized him.

"(39) And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip...."

In Acts 10:19, while Peter thought on the vision having to do with the vision, in terms of the household of Cornelius, is the context in which this is leading up to.

"(19) While Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit said unto him, Behold, three men seek thee.

"(20) Arise therefore, and get thee down, and go with them, doubting nothing: for I have sent them."

In Acts 13:2,

"(2) As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them."

In Acts 16:6, we're talking in the context of when Paul and Silas were traveling together; they come to Derbe here and they meet up with Timothy.

"(6) Now when they had gone through out Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia,

"(7) After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not."

With those passages in mind — and we could look at several other passages — who was in control? When it came to the spreading of the truth and (unintelligible) taught, was it according to the apostles' determinations, their freedom of will? No. Now, don't get me wrong. They still needed to have the desire and they still needed to put forth the effort — and oh, they endured so much — for the spreading of the gospel. But when it came to the truth, it was the Holy Spirit who was guiding them and making (unintelligible) truth properly. So no, in Matthew 16:19, I don't feel that that is giving freedom of will or freedom for the apostles to make their own determinations.

We do see that the apostles were given authority. We do see that they were guided into all truth, that they taught the things that Jesus had commanded. And so, yes, we can have full confidence in following their examples, in following their teachings, knowing that through the establishment of the church and the patterns that they set up, they didn't do that according to their own wisdom, according to their own will. It came from the wisdom of God and through the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, when we study throughout the scriptures and especially in the book of Acts, when we see what the apostles did and the way the church was established, we know that if we follow that pattern, we can have full confidence, knowing that we're following the instructions of God, because that is where those instructions came from, through the spirit of God.

As a matter of fact, if you go to Acts Chapter 2, on the day of Pentecost, when the church had its beginning and so many responded and were baptized that day —in verse 41, "about three thousand souls" — notice what they did in verse 42. (Acts 2:42) "And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine...." the teaching of the apostles, because they were teaching full truth.

We see in Acts Chapter 20, in verse 7, that the apostles gathered together upon the first day of the week. That is why we gather together upon the first day of the week, because they were acting through authority.

Upon the first day of the week when the disciples came together to break bread, what did they do? They observed the Lord's Supper.

As Paul wrote, in I Corinthians Chapter 11, that as often as we come together and we observe that Lord's Supper, we do show the Lord's death till he comes. We're to remember the death and the sacrifice of Jesus and what it means to us and the hope we have through it.

We see, in Acts Chapter 20, in verse 7, here again, "...Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight." I promise you, I won't speak till midnight. But we do see that this follows the pattern, that there was preaching and that there was study and there was teaching of the scriptures. This was the pattern that the apostles established in the early church.

Back in Acts Chapter 2:42, once again. "And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship" — we are to have fellowship, one with another — "and in breaking of bread" — the observance of the Lord's supper on the first day of the week — "and in prayers." Therefore, we are to have prayers that we institute as a part of our worship service, but it should go much further than that. We should have prayer in our daily lives and kneel before God with a humble heart in prayer to Him.

We see that giving was a part of what was instituted in that time within the church. (I Corinthians 16:2)

"(2) Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come."

Yes, we're following after the instructions and the pattern that was given in the early church under the authority of the Holy Spirit, which is given through God. Yes, we can have full confidence in knowing that the things that we do are according to the truth of God's word.

Paul instructed, both those at Ephesus and the Colossians, that we are to sing and make melody in our heart to the Lord in Ephesians 5:19. Colossians 3:16 tells us that we are to specifically sing, with grace in our hearts, to the Lord. Therefore, yes, we do sing in our worship service, and that is specifically what we do. Why? Because it has to do with the instructions that were given by the apostles — in this case, specifically, Apostle Paul. Who was he writing to? The church. The church had been established under their patterns, under their teachings, according to the guidance of the Holy Spirit, which was in all truth.

If we are to follow the truth of God's word and worship in spirit and truth (John 24:24), we must follow the example of the apostles. And no, they were not given the free will to determine these things on their own. And I don't know why people think today that we should have that free will to determine what we should do today. Jesus wasn't given that. The Holy Spirit wasn't given that. And the apostles weren't given that. Where do we think we are? Who do we think we are... to do that today?

That's something that never ceases to amaze me. It's amazing, the influence within the world, to change the worship service away from that of the early church according to the one true authority. We cannot do that. We must abide within the truth of God's word, according to the worship service, according to the instructions that were given through the truth of God's word. So that is why we conduct ourselves in the manner in which we do when we gather together on Sunday mornings, on the first day of the week, to observe the Lord's Supper, to pray, to give and to sing, and to hear lessons from God's word, because that's what they did. That's what we're instructed to do. And in so doing, we can worship God in spirit and in truth, to please Him, yet we are the ones that benefit thereby.

And I still haven't answered the question. If you go back to Matthew Chapter 16, I want to address what this scripture is saying. (Matthew 16:19)

"(19) ...[W]hatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."

What is meant here when Jesus says this? You'll notice the words 'bound' and 'loosed.' I do believe, in the way that those are translated, those are meant to be taken in the past tense. But really, we don't have a real good translation here. It's not translated the way it really properly should have been, except for in the American Standard — the New American Standard — I think, actually, in both of those. Here's what this word actually says; according to the way the verb is used in the Greek, here's the way this should read.

"(19) ...And whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven."

That is the accurate translation. See, the things that the apostles were being guided in had already been decided upon in heaven, according to God's wisdom, according to God's instruction. Therefore, we should not change anything that the apostles taught, and to twist or turn or to leave out add to, because it didn't come from their wisdom, but it came from the wisdom of God. The things that they bound had already been bound in heaven; the things that they loosed had already been loosed in heaven. They were guided into that through the work of the Holy Spirit.

But of course, the miraculous abilities of the Holy Spirit were temporary. They did not continue long term. We know that. In I Corinthians 13, it talks about the fact that these miraculous abilities of the apostles, and others who had received these abilities, would be temporary and would not last. Until what? That which is perfect is come. Something wasn't complete then and has since been completed, and of course, that is the scriptures in written form, the truth of God's word. The apostles needed to be guided into the truth. They were the ones who were writing this and establishing this through inspiration.

But we have the truth. We have it all right here in front of us. We can turn to the passages and see what the apostles did and see what they taught and see the pattern of the early church. We can see the examples of Jesus and his miracles and his compassion on the people. We can read about his wonderful sacrifice: agonizing for him; wonderful for us, in that it gives us the opportunity to receive God's grace and mercy. And we can have confidence in this, because we know that the apostles were guided into all truth.

What did they say, when it came in terms of being saved or doing what was necessary for God's instruction to have a home in heaven. In Acts Chapter 8, the example of Philip and that Ethiopian eunuch, the Ethiopian said, "See, here is water. What doth hinder me to be baptized?" Well, Philip had a condition to put on him. He said, "If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest." We must believe that Jesus is the Son of God. We see that (unintelligible) confess that. As Paul also wrote, in Romans Chapter 10, in verse 9, that confession is to be made with the mouth, we need to confess that, yes, Jesus is the Son of God. As we saw in the example in our passage in Matthew, that is exactly what Peter confessed.

We are to repent of our sins. We must believe and we must confess, we must repent of our sins. In Acts Chapter 2, that was the first word that came out of Peter's mouth. When he was asked, "What must we do to be saved?" he said, "Repent." We must need to make the necessary changes in our lives, to turn away from sin, to turn to what is right in God's eyes. We must believe and confess and repent.

Peter went on to say, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus for the remission of sins. Of course, that's what Jesus had told them to do, go forth and baptize people in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

So we see, according to the instructions — there are many other passages we could look at, but in these brief instructions, we see what it is that we must do to be saved: we must believe in Jesus, we must confess that belief, repent of our sins, and be baptized for the remission of sins.

Then we need to walk according to the apostles doctrine, their teaching, the example of Christ, striving to do our best. Knowing, though, that we will make mistakes at times. We need to try not to, but if we do make a mistake — and that happens — we should not let that get us down and pull us down, but to realize that we do make mistakes, but that God is a loving God, willing to forgive us. And He wants us to repent and pray to Him and confess our sins and ask for His forgiveness.

We see an example of that also, in Acts Chapter 8, with Peter and Simon the Sorcerer. He saw the ability of the miraculous gifts, and he wanted that. And he wanted to purchase it; he offered the apostles money for that ability. His intentions were not good, and Peter knew that. And what did he tell Simon the Sorcerer to do? To pray God that the thoughts of his heart might be forgiven.

After we become a Christian — and we see that Simon had already obeyed the gospel earlier, in Acts Chapter 8 — we are to pray to God, to confess our sins, of course repenting of them and asking for His forgiveness. This is the authority that was handed down to the apostles, guided by the Holy Spirit: the commandments of God.

So the question is, are you abiding by those? If not, you can change that. You have the opportunity now, while we stand and sing.