The Keys to Death and Hell

Jesus said to Peter,

Matthew 16:19 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.

On the day of Pentecost, Peter preached the first gospel message. He preached that “by wicked hands” Jesus was “crucified and slain” but was “raised up” because death could not hold him. Peter concluded his message by saying that Jesus is Lord and Christ. (Acts 2:23-24, 36)

It was when they heard that Jesus, the One they had crucified, is both Lord and Christ, that they were pricked in their heart and said, What shall we do?

Acts 2:38 KJV - 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.

The keys of the kingdom of heaven is Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection. This is the gospel. When we take these keys and turn them in the lock, the door to the kingdom of heaven is open to us.

John 10:9 KJV - I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.

We do this by identifying our self with Jesus. We follow His death by becoming dead to (separated from) our sinful life by repenting, burying our old sinful nature by baptism in Jesus name, and then receiving His resurrecting Spirit, the Holy Ghost to live a new life in His Spirit. This is obeying the gospel.

These keys that Jesus gave to Peter open the door to the kingdom of heaven. These keys are also the keys of hell and of death.

Revelation 1:18 KJV - I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.

2 Timothy 1:10 KJV - But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:

Hebrews 2:14-15 KJV - Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; and deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

Peter made the keys available to us on the day of Pentecost. By our obeying the gospel, we likewise have power over hell and death and power over the devil. When we obey the gospel, the door is open to us to life and immortality – the kingdom of heaven.