The Keys To Christ

Introduction

The purpose of this study is to share some keys to building a deeper, more meaningful relationship with God.

To really know God and get closer to Him, we must study His word, because He and His word are one.

John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

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One big help in understanding the Bible is to understand how the New Testament is organized as far as context and content.

The Gospels: They are the history of Jesus during His time on earth. They tell us how He walked, talked and acted while He was here. These are also His teachings to the apostles.* Note that each of the 4 Gospels covers the same thing, but they wereeach written with different audiences in mind, which is why they differin presentation.

The Acts of the Apostles: This one book tells us how the apostles, who knew Jesus intimately, actually taught and preached what Jesus taught them.

Let's start by establishing the authority Jesus gave to His disciples, so that we can trust their words and teachings as following the will of God.

Matthew 16:13-19 When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. 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. 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. 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.

Here we are told that Jesus gave Peter, who was one of the 12 disciples, the keys to the kingdom, because of his faith.

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John 3:3-5, 8 shows us that Jesus' message of belief begins with the need to be born of water and Spirit. Also note for later in our study, that Jesus speaks of a sound that accompanies the Spirit.

John 3:3-5 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. John 3:8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.

John 17:17-20 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth. Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;

Note that Jesus is sending His disciples to minister and pray for those who believe in Him through their word. This further reinforces the authority that Jesus gave His disciples.

Matthew 27:28-31 And they stripped him, and put on him a scarlet robe. And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews! And they spit upon him, and took the reed, and smote him on the head. And after that they had mocked him, they took the robe off from him, and put his own raiment on him, and led him away to crucify him.

Here we are shown that Jesus purchases the keys to our salvation with His own blood.

Matthew 28:1-7 then tells us of Jesus' resurrection 3 days later.

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After Christ's resurrection from the dead, He shares His crucial last words with His disciples. Last words are important words!

Matthew 28:17-20 And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted. And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 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.

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Peter and the other apostles who were given the keys spent the rest of their lives telling others about the name of Jesus Christ.

Luke 24:44-49 And he said unto them, 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. Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And ye are witnesses of these things. And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.

Jesus is charging His disciples to preach repentance and remission of sins in His name. Remember when I earlier mentioned that the Gospels were all the same, just written differently to be understood by a specific audience. So where Matthew 28 says Father, Son and Holy Ghost, it is clearly shown here in Luke 24 to be a single name.

Jesus' final instructions told the apostles to go teach in Jerusalem and wait there until they received the promised power from on high, which was the Holy Ghost, as we will see here in a bit when we get into the book of Acts.

Jesus received all power in heaven and earth and with that authority He says baptism should be done in the name (singular - one name) that represents the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Father, Son and Holy Spirit are titles, not names. Your name is key to identifying you. Would you be allowed to sign a legal document "Father" or "Son" instead of your name? Your friends and co-workers don't call you father, mother, son, daughter, etc... They call you by your name.

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Summarizing Jesus' Last Words

Belief in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ

Repentance

Baptism in the one name that represents all the titles of God

Receiving the promise of the Holy Spirit

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So far we've established some of the things Jesus taught the apostles, as well as the authority that He gave to them to pass His teachings on to the rest of the world. Now let's dive into the book of Acts and see how the apostles actually carried out the instructions given to them by Jesus.

Acts 1:3-11 To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God: And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence. When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.

The beginning of Acts is taking place as Jesus is getting ready to ascend to Heaven. Here we see that the promise is revealed as the power of the Holy Spirit. This power includes greater understanding of how we can develop a deeper relationship with Jesus through the infilling of the Holy Spirit.

We then see Jesus ascending into the clouds as the apostles watched. At that time two angels appeared beside them with a brief foretelling of Jesus' return to earth.

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After Jesus ascended, the disciples took the Keys of Christ to Jerusalem and waited there as instructed.

Acts 2:1-4 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

Joel and Isaiah both prophesied in the Old Testament and Jesus promised it while with them on earth. The disciples received the Holy Spirit.

Here again we see the reference to a sound that we read about earlier in John.

Acts 2:14-18 But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words: For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day. But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:

After the apostles received the Holy Spirit, they went out into Jerusalem, where Peter delivered his sermon. Notice that there was an obvious physical sign that accompanied the Holy Spirit, because it looked to the observers as if they were drunk. Peter also tells us of a few of the gifts that might accompany the Holy Spirit (prophesy, visions, dreams)

Acts 2:19-24 And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke: The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come: And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved. Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know: Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain: Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.

During his sermon, Peter is also foretelling of the signs that we will see during the last days before Jesus returns to earth. A more in depth study into the book of Revelation is needed to really understand all of that.

Acts 2:37-41 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation. Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.

As Peter concluded his sermon, he instructed the people to repent, be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins and that they would receive the Holy Ghost.

We also see that while Peter was preaching, there were people mocking him. Peter set the example for us to follow today. There will always be those who don't believe the Bible and will mock and make fun of those who share the Word. We need to follow the lead of Peter and keep on talking to those who are hungry for and desire a relationship with God.

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We now have the 4 Keys to Christ:

We must believe in Jesus Christ as the one and only Savior who dies, was buried and rose from the dead. Then we take up our cross and follow Him with these first steps of faith.

Repentance by faith signifies death to a life of sin. Godly sorrow turns you toward God and away from self.

Baptism in water by faith in Jesus' name signifies burial.

Baptism in Spirit by faith signifies resurrection.

Faith

Death

Burial

Ressurection

1Corinthians 15:3-4 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

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Acts 8:14-16 Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)

We see here that it is possible to hear the word and even be baptized, but to completely unlock our salvation, we need the key of the Holy Ghost as well. Think of a 4 number combination lock standing between us and something we need to get to. If we don't have all 4 numbers, we can't get to what we need.

Acts 8:5-8 Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them. And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed. And there was great joy in that city.

Did the people accept the gospel of Jesus Christ? YES

Were people delivered? YES

Were people healed? YES

Did people experience joy? YES

Acts 8:12 But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.

Did people believe? YES

Did people get baptized? YES

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Acts 8:14-17 Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.

Did anyone in Samaria have the Holy Spirit before Peter and John prayed? NO

Acts 8:18-19 And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.

How did Phillip know that no one had received the Holy Spirit even though there was such a great demonstration of God's power all over the city? There is some obvious physical sign that accompanies the Holy Spirit or Simon wouldn't have any idea something had happened.

So what made it apparent that the Holy Spirit had been received? Remember earlier in John 3:8 we learned that Jesus said there would be a sound when someone is born of the Spirit.

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Next we're going to take a look at Cornelius, a man God personally invited to have greater intimacy with Him.

Acts 10:1-2 There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band, A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway.

So, who was Cornelius? He was a military man. He was religious, God fearing, giving and prayerful.

Acts 10:3-5 He saw in a vision evidently about the ninth hour of the day an angel of God coming in to him, and saying unto him, Cornelius. And when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, What is it, Lord? And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God. And now send men to Joppa, and call for one Simon, whose surname is Peter:

Here we see God sending an angel to Cornelius instructing him to find Peter.

Acts 10:6 He lodgeth with one Simon a tanner, whose house is by the sea side: he shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do.Acts 10:33 Immediately therefore I sent to thee; and thou hast well done that thou art come. Now therefore are we all here present before God, to hear all things that are commanded thee of God.

Was there more for Cornelius to do, even though he was a pretty good person? YES, He needed to find Peter and follow his instructions.

Acts 10:44-46 While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God.

We learn two things here: The sound is now revealed to be speaking in tongues and that the Holy Ghost is for everyone.

Acts 10:48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.

Here we see another example of Peter acknowledging that there can be no missing pieces in the plan of salvation. In this case, they had faith. They had repentance and they had the Holy Spirit, but they also needed to be baptized.

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For our final teachings, let's look at what happened when the apostles visited Ephesus.

Acts 19:1-6 And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples, He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost. And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism. Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.

Did they believe in God? YES

Did these disciples have the Holy Spirit? NO, they had no idea what the Holy Ghost was.

Were they re-baptized in Jesus Name? YES

What happened when the disciples received the Holy Spirit? They spoke in tongues

The Apostles preached obedience to the gospel through the keys of believing in Jesus as the Christ, the repentance of sins, baptism in Jesus name, and receiving the infilling of the Holy Ghost. This gospel was demonstrated in the first church, the church recorded by Luke in the Book of Acts, and Christ has declared that this gospel be taught to the whole world.

Is it clear that the key of Christ, that Peter revealed in Acts chapter 2, are the God-ordained steps that will allow every believer to obtain a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ?