"The
Keys To The Kingdom
"John 16:13-19"
In
Matthew 16:19 Jesus told Peter, I will give you the keys to the
Kingdom of Heaven; and whatsoever you bind on earth, I will bind
in Heaven, and whatsoever you loose on earth I will loose in Heaven.
Peter was given the Keys to the Kingdom of Heaven; and he used
those Keys in Acts the Second Chapter, to open the door to
the Jews on the day of Pentecost. And in Acts the 10th chapter
He opened the door to the Gentiles. Acts 10:44-48.
While Peter was preaching in the household of
Cornelius, the Holy Ghost fell on all them that heard the Word.
Peter used the Keys to open the door of Salvation to the Gentiles.
And they of the circumcise, or those Jews that went
with Peter were astonished, because that on the Gentiles also
was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. "Notice how
they knew that they has received the Holy Ghost." For they
heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God.
Then answered Peter, can any man forbid water
that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy
Ghost as well as we? And he commanded them to be baptized in the
Name of the Lord.
In the eleventh chapter of Acts, when Peter gets
back to Jerusalem, he was brought on the carpet for going to uncircumcised
Gentiles. But Peter rehearsed the story of Acts 10. How that God
had shown him in a vision a sheet let down from heaven with all
manner of four footed beasts, showing him that the Gentiles were
cleansed. Acts 11:15-18. In verse 15 Peter said, as I began to
speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning,
or as in Acts chapter 2. Then I remembered the Word of the
Lord, how that he said, John indeed Baptized with water; but you
shall be Baptized with the Holy Ghost.
Forasmuch then as God gave them the like gift,
as He did unto us who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, what
was I that I could withstand God.
When they heard these things, they held their
peace, and glorified God, saying, then hath God also to the Gentiles
granted repentance unto life. How Peter knew that they had received
the Holy Ghost was that they spake with tongues. Any time a person
is truly born again he will speak with tongues. Isaiah 28:10-12,
Joel 2:28. Repentance, Baptism in the Name of Jesus Christ, and
receiving the Holy Ghost is the Born Again Experience. Acts 2:38.
"John The Baptist"
Hebrews 8:8
The New Covenant was not yet in effect until
after the death of the testator.
Some would say John the Baptist did not speak
with tongues, and he was filled with the Holy Ghost. John was
moved on by the Holy Ghost. John was still under the Law. One
of the prophets. The prophets were moved on by the Holy Ghost.
II Peter 1:20-21. They spake as they were moved on by the Holy
Ghost. We are sealed by the Holy Ghost. Ephesians 1:13-14, II
Corinthians 1:21, Ephesians 4:30 - We are sealed with the Holy
Ghost.
"The Thief On The Cross"
Hebrews 8:8
New Covenant not yet.
Some would say, what about the thief on the
cross? The thief on the cross was as much under the Law as Moses
was. He was not going to have the opportunity to be in the upper
room on the day of Pentecost. Jesus, as God, said, this day shall
you be with me in paradise. His sins were forgiven. Jesus had
power to forgive sins. Matt. 9:6. Mark 2:9,10, Luke 5:23,24.
"Receive
Ye The Holy Ghost"
Hebrews 8:8
New Covenant not yet.
John 20:22 Jesus breathed on them, and saith
unto them, receive ye the Holy Ghost.
Hebrews 9:15-17, after the death of the testator.
The new covenant was not yet in effect.
Some will say that this is where the Disciples
received the Holy Ghost, but we know that they didn't actually
receive the Holy Ghost here, because the Holy Ghost was not yet
given because Jesus was not yet glorified. John 7:38,39. They
actually received the Holy Ghost in Acts 2:1-4. They that believe
on Him as the scripture hath said - from Genesis to Revelation.
John 5:39. In Acts 1:4-12, these were Jesus final words before
He ascended into Heaven. Also Luke 24:44-52 - tarry in Jerusalem
until you be endued with power from on high. Luke 18:34, the disciples
didn't understand what was going to happen right up to the very
end. They understood none of these things, and this saying
was hid from them, neither knew they the things that were spoken.
And as many as received Him, gave He power to become the sons
of God, John 1:12 - Acts 1:8. Jesus said, ye shall receive power
after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you. The Holy Ghost gives
us power to live a Christian life. Without the Holy Ghost it would
be impossible to live above sin. Ezekiel 3:21 God said, nevertheless
if thou warn the righteous man, that the righteous sin not, and
he doth not sin, he shall surely live because he is warned; also
thou hast delivered thy soul - See Ezekiel 3:17-21. You can't
be a sinner and a Christian at the same time, as many affirm.
"The Difference
Between The Baptism
Of The Holy Ghost With The Evidence of
Speaking In Other Tongues, And The Gift Of
Tongues, Found In
I Corinthians 12
There is
a misunderstanding about the initial born again experience when
we speak with tongues and the gift of tongues mentioned in I Corinthians
the 12th chapter, where Paul asks the question, "Do all speak
with tongues?" I Corinthians 12:30.
In this context the answer is no, because in the 12th chapter
of I Corinthians Paul was writing about the nine spiritual gifts.
-
Wisdom
-
Knowledge
-
Faith
-
Healing
-
Miracles
-
Prophecy
-
Discernment
-
Tongues
-
Interpretation of Tongues
Paul
was writing to a church that he established in the 18th chapter
of the Book of Acts. These people had already received the Holy
Ghost speaking with tongues. Example: Paul to the church
of God which is at Corinth. They already had the Holy Ghost speaking
with tongues.
"Do All Speak With Tongues?"
When a person is born again, he has repented of his sins,
been Baptized in the Name of Jesus Christ, for the remission of
his sins and has received the Holy Ghost, with the evidence of
speaking with other tongues.
Then and only then
is he a candidate for one of the spiritual gifts mentioned in
I Corinthians the 12th chapter.
-
Wisdom
-
Knowledge
-
Faith
-
Healing
-
Miracles
-
Prophecy
-
Discernment
-
Tongues
-
Interpretation of Tongues
He
may receive one of these spiritual gifts or he may not. The Gifts
of the Spirit in I Corinthians 12 has nothing to do with the plan
of salvation. They come after a person has been born again. When
Paul asked the question, do all speak with tongues, in I Corinthians
12:30 he meant that every one that received the Holy Ghost, speaking
with tongues did not receive the gift of tongues, one of the nine
spiritual gifts. The gift of tongues is the eighth spiritual gift
mentioned in I Corinthians 12th chapter.
Paul said in I Corinthians 12:1, concerning
spiritual gifts brethren I would not have you ignorant.
So when Paul asked the question, do all speak
with tongues? in this context the answer is no. We must keep scripture
in context, rightly dividing the word of truth. II Timothy 2:15.
EXAMPLE
A graduate of the University of Arizona, holds in his hand
a diploma showing that he is a graduate. He has met the requirements
for graduation. There are nine special fields that he may follow.
-
Doctor
-
Lawyer
-
Writer
-
Teacher
-
Psychologist
-
Chemist
-
Dentist
-
Civil Engineer
-
Or he might be a Preacher
Are
all of the graduates of the University of Arizona Doctors? No,
this does not mean that the University of Arizona is no good.
It is just a sensible
to say, do all graduates become Doctors, as it is to say, do all
speak with tongues.
He may or may not be any of the above. He may
be a good farmer or if a woman, she may be a good housewife. But
they still are graduates of the University of Arizona. They do
not have to follow a special field.
Every one that is born again must fulfill Acts
2:38. Every one that graduates from the University of Arizona
must have a diploma.
"The Operation Of the Gift Of Tongues"
The gift
of tongues has two operations.
- A devotional tongue - not interpreted, it is a personal blessing.
I Corin. 14:2. Paul was talking to brethren, men that had already
received the Holy Ghost, already born again. Acts 2:38. A devotional
tongue is God's blessing for you. It gives you strength, but it
is for you only and it cannot be interpreted.
- A message in tongues - if interpreted, is strength and edification,
for the whole church.
The nine spiritual gifts are for helps and governments
in the Church, to strengthen the Church.
Notice - I Corin. 12:3, Paul said, wherefore
I give you to understand that no man speaking by the spirit of
God, calleth Jesus accursed; and that no man can say that Jesus
is the Lord but by the Holy Ghost.
We must be very careful how we speak of the Holy
Ghost, Matt. 12:31,32, Mark 3:28,29.
Very serious, don't take it lightly.
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