Series: Jesus’ Church [#3]
THE KEYS TO HEAVEN
Matthew 16:19
Introduction:
The other day I was telling someone about my first date with Kim, which was also the first date that I was not driven to by my parents. I still remember my dad letting me know how much responsibility he was giving to me when he handed me the keys to my mom’s car.
While living in Albuquerque, I remember my Store Manager at McDonald’s giving me a similar speech on responsibility as she gave me the keys to the restaurant.
Although I carry numerous keys in my pockets without much thought of responsibility, I still realize that each key represents responsibility.
As we finish this series on “Jesus’ Church”, I want us to look at the most important key that Christians have- the key to Heaven.
Matthew 16:19
“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."
Obtaining A Key
There is only one Master key that will open the door to Heaven and God is the only one that can give us that key. The key to Heaven is the Gospel of Jesus Christ. As we have already found in this study, the only way to Heaven is through believing in your heart and confessing with your mouth that Jesus Christ is the Son of God raised from the dead.
Once a person is saved, they are given the key to the door of Heaven. That means that each believer has a key to the door of Heaven.
We have already spent quite a bit of time on being a member of Jesus’ Church and the fact that nothing will destroy Jesus’ Church. Tonight I want us to focus on our next point:
Offering A Key
When God gives us the key to the door of Heaven, that comes with great responsibility. You can put your key safely in your pocket and never tell anyone about your key to the door of Heaven (after all, you get to go into Heaven); or, you can share with those who do not have a key to the door of Heaven the Way to Heaven.
As the rest of our verse indicates, your service for God will be rewarded not just on earth, but in Heaven. It also gives Christians “God’s stamp of approval” for offering those without a key to the door of Heaven a key. God has authorized those things we do in His name as legitimate and binding.
We work on God’s behalf, not ours.
Conclusion:
Christians, what have you done with your key to Heaven?
