Discern the Difference

Did you know that you could not be water baptized yet be in the Church, but not in the Kingdom of Heaven? How can this be you ask? (See Matt 21.31-32). We can be called as men receiving discipleship and responsibility, yet we may not be in Church like the Publican and the Tax Collector who are in the Church that comes directly from God, not men.

Think of the kingdom of heaven as the outer precincts of the house of god which is the church.

In Matt. 28 those who receive the great commission are eleven disciples, not apostles (the latter are God's gift to the church). Later they become apostles. The emphasis here is the kingdom of heaven. In the entire Bible there are two inseparable lines: namely, the chuch and the kingdom of heaven.

Loose means to preach the gospel and to baptize. Bind because the keys are in our hands with have authority not to preach or not to baptize.

Peter has the keys and so do those in the kingdom of heaven. These keys are applied two ways. They are a key of witnessing (preaching on the day of Pentecost (2.14ff); key of baptizing into Christ (2.38-41, and see also Rom 6.3) that they might be obedient to the Lord and His command.

The kingdom of heaven calls: (1) to be disciples, (2) enjoy these privileges as disciples, (3) perform our duties and fulfill our responsibilities as disciples.

The Church is related to the Lord, pertains to giving of life, and speaks of position and grace. The kingdom of heaven is related to men, pertains to the receiving of disciples, and speaks of responsibilities.