About Jesus  -  Steve Sweetman

 The Keys To The Kingdom

John 10:7 in the King James Bible says this:

"Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep."

Figuratively speaking, Jesus called Himself the door to the sheep pen. Whatever you think the sheep pen represents, it is a place of safety and nourishment for those belonging to Jesus.  You might even say it is the Kingdom of Heaven in which Jesus is its only entrance.  With this in mind Matthew 16:18 and 19 says this:

"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 ..." (NIV)

This verse has been debated to death over the centuries.  I will not end that debate.  I just want to point out the word "keys" in the phrase "I will give you the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven."

Understanding that Jesus is the door in which a person enters the Kingdom of Heaven, Peter was told that he, and I suggest you and I by implication, possess the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven.  There is no doubt that Jesus is the only door into God's kingdom, but it is you and I who hold the keys to unlock the door for others.  It is our responsibility as individuals, with the assistance of the Holy Spirit, to lead people to the door, insert our key, so they can enter the presence of God and His kingdom.  We cannot neglect our personal responsibility by giving our keys to another or laying them aside.  Whatever you think the keys are, they are in our hands to unlock the door to the Kingdom of Heaven.  In other words, every last Christian, none excluded, has been given the responsibility to lead everyone we meet into their eternal destiny.