Peter Unlocks a Door

In Matthew 16, Jesus promised to Peter that he would give him the keys that would open the door so that all of humanity could have direct access into the “Kingdom of Heaven”. He did not say those exact words but that is what he meant and that is what happened.

First Peter unlocked and opened the door of the “Kingdom of Heaven” to the Jews in Jerusalem. That happened on the day of Pentecost.

- God gave Peter and the 120 assembled with him the Holy Spirit so that they would have the power necessary to spread the Gospel to the whole world. Upon reception of the Holy Spirit they all spoke in “tongues” (foreign languages)

- Jesus’ mother and siblings were in that group.

- Then Peter preached proving that Jesus was the promised Messiah and that the Jews had tortured and murdered him.

- Then Peter shared the conditions of walking through the door that led to the “Kingdom of Heaven” namely… repentance and baptism.

- On that day 3000 souls entered the unlocked and opened door into the Kingdom of Heaven. Many more Jews would follow in the coming days.

Secondly Peter unlocked and opened the door of the “Kingdom of Heaven” to the Gentiles. Also in the city of Jerusalem.

- God sent Peter to the household of a Roman Centurion, his family and his close friends. We don’t know how many were there… probably a lot.

- Using the power of the Holy Spirit Peter again preached that Jesus was the promised Christ.

- Peter again gave the conditions for entry into the “Kingdom of Heaven”… that “everyone who believes in Him (Jesus) would receive forgiveness of sins” and therefore entry into the Kingdom.

- At that point God poured out the Holy Spirit upon Cornelius, his family and his close friends and they all spoke in “tongues” (foreign languages).

- With that great sign from God, Peter immediately knew that the Gentiles were acceptable and “commanded them to be Baptized”

Cornelius, his family and his close friends entered the now unlocked door into the Kingdom of Heaven. Before long Gentile Christians would greatly out number Jewish Christians in the Kingdom.

That great door to the Kingdom was first opened 50 days after Jesus rose from the dead and has remained continually opened and is open even today.

To walk through that door one must believe in Jesus Christ and all that belief entails (baptism, etc.). Otherwise all you can do is look sadly through that door and never enter into that great and magnificent Kingdom.

Thank-you Peter for unlocking that door.