Two Keys, Two Dispenses of God’s Spirit, And Two Types of God’s Churches
When we look at Christian churches around the world today we can’t help but realize that there are many denominations with different teachings. Most churches have their statement of beliefs, and certainly all churches claim they are doing God’s service. They say that they get their teachings from the pages of the Bible. 1st Corinthians 14:33 state that God is not the author of confusion. Not only that, but scripture says that there is only one God, 1st Corinthians 8:6, one Lord, 1st Corinthians 8:6, one body and one Spirit, Ephesians 4:4, and one bread, 1Corinthians 10:11. With all this oneness, one would think that all these churches would teach the same thing. This article will explain why even though there are many different churches, and not all teaching the same thing, they are still God’s churches and are going to develop closeness in the end. How do we know? We can know because they all invoke the name of Jesus. Acts 4:10-12.
Christ to Build His Churches
On one occasion, Jesus asked His disciples, “Who do men say that I the son of man am”?
They all made a statement but it was only Peter who answered correctly.
Matthew 16:16 And Simon Peter said unto Him, “Thou art the Christ, the son of the living God”. 17 And Jesus said unto him, “Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-Jonah: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but My Father which art in heaven”. 18 “And I say unto three, that thou art Peter and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of hell will not prevail against it”. 19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth will be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth will be loosed in heaven”.
The Keys
The word key is plural. Peter is given at least two keys. Peter uses the first key to open the door to the Jews in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost.
Acts 2:5 And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.
Second Key
Then Peter used the second key to open the way to the Gentiles in the house of Cornelius, Acts 10:9-42.
Acts 10:44 While Peter yet spoke these words, the Holy Spirit fell on all them which heard the word. 45 And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, and as many as came with Peter, because on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Peter used one key to open the door first to the Jews and then used the second key to open the door to the Gentiles in the house of Cornelius. The door was now opened to every Jew or Gentile, man and woman, who were believers and they were accepted by God.
The Spirit Dispensed Two Ways.
There needs to be clarification regarding the dispensing of the Holy Spirit. In the evening, after the resurrection of Jesus, Jesus went to His disciples and breathed the Holy Spirit into them.
John 20:22 And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said unto them, “Receive ye the Holy Spirit”.
The Spirit given in John 20:22 was given in a secret or personnel way. This was the breathing in of the Spirit for their living. Just as we need physical air to breathe and keep our bodies alive, this spirit was for their living and growth in the spirit. This breathing in John 20:22 into His disciples was inward. There was also another time of the issuing of God’s Spirit which was on the day of Pentecost, and given in a public way, upon the 120 disciples. Jesus spoke of this pouring out as the promise of the Father in the Book of Luke.
Luke 24:49 “And behold, I send the promise of My Father on you; but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, unto ye be imbued with power from on high”. Acts 2:2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind and it filled the house where they were sitting.
Verse one of this chapter says that they were all in one accord and in one place on the day of Pentecost and verse 15 says that there was one hundred and twenty present. This was the spirit given in a public way.
John 20:22 was the time of Christ dispensing His Spirit in an inward and secret way. This dispensing of the Spirit was for their breathing, eating, living, and growing in the Spirit of Christ. In Acts 2:2 the Spirit was not given for breathing, eating and living but for their work and ministry in an outward and public way. There are two Greek words used to clarify the word fill or fulfill and are used in two different ways. Pleroo, number 4137 in the Greek dictionary and means to fill in an inward way, as a vessel, John 14:17; Romans 8:11. The other word is pletho, number 4130 in the Greek dictionary and its meaning is upon, as in an outward way, Acts 1:8; 2:17. The receiving of the Spirit is the filling of the Spirit within as in John 20:22. The outward pouring of the spirit is upon the disciples in an outward way as clothing or a uniform to denote authority. The Father gave the one hundred and twenty assembled power and authority for their ministry. The oneness written of earlier is proof of God’s church must be oneness of Spirit. Pentecost is the outward filling of the dispensing of God’s Spirit where Peter says, “This is that” spoken by Joel the prophet. The word Joel uses is upon as what had occurred on the day of Pentecost, Joel 2:28. We need to keep in mind also that the Father sees the outward covering of the disciples as the shed blood of His beloved Son which made both fillings possible.
The Universal Church and the Local Churches
We read in the Book of Matthew where Peter was given the keys of the kingdom of heaven and of Christ building His church. In Genesis the second chapter, we are given a type and the making of a wife for Adam. While Adam slept, God took an inward part of Adam and made a suitable companion for Adam. She would be his living counterpart and equal as a wife. In the New Testament, before His death, Jesus told Peter that He, Jesus, would build His church. There are times in the word of God where sleep and death can be interchangeable. Both men were in a sleep and death situation. The one difference between the two men was that the sting of death, 1st Corinthians 15:55, could not hinder Christ because of resurrection. Genesis two says that God made a wife for Adam but the word for made is actually the word build. In Matthew sixteen, Jesus says that He will build His church. In the Bible, the symbolic language for a church can mean His body as well as a wife. Both the church as the wife is taken from the man. From Adam’s side, God took a rib, actually the helix curve, and built a woman. A soldier pierced Christ’s side, the same place where the helix curve was taken from Adam, and water and blood issued out of His side. The water is for drinking inwardly, 1st Corinthians 12:13, and the blood was for a covering outwardly, Revelation 19:13. Both the first and last Adam needed a suitable mate and equal companion. Both had their sides pierced, both were in a sleep or death situation, and both needed a proper wife or church. The Bible says that the church or wife today is made up of the many member body of Christ, 1 Corinthians 12:14.
Romans 8:1 There is no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh but after the spirit.
1 Thessalonians 4:14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him.
2nd Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creation: old things are passed away; but all things have become new.
We who make up Christianity, are presently within Christ or should be. Just as God fashioned a wife for Adam from within the man, Christ who is Immanuel, God with us, Isaiah 7:14, will fashion a suitable companion from those who are within Christ.
Colossians 1:18 And He is head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the first born of the dead; that in all things He might have the preeminence.
In the book of Revelation, there are described seven churches, all belonging to God. There is a problem with all of them, some problems were more severe than others. They were all admonished to overcome. God is still building His church, His wife and bride to be. Although Christianity is a many member body, only those who overcome will be chosen to be an equal and perfect companion for Christ. Christ needs a companion as His equal. They must think alike and have the same goals and purpose. It is obvious that every follower of Christ will not be His equal or wife. His wife will only be those who overcome the old man, Ephesians 4:22, and are a part of His new creation, 2nd Corinthians 5:17.
The Local Churches
We can read of a different kind of church described in the eighteenth chapter of Matthew.
Matthew 18:15 Moreover, if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee; thou hast gained thy brother. 16 But if he will not hear thee, then take one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. 17 And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it to the church, let him be unto thee as a heathen man and a publican.
The church spoken of in the 18th chapter of Matthew can only be a body of believers who have not overcome, at least not yet. This kind of correction can only be done on a local level. The local level is where all the trials and corrections are needed to shape the body of Christ into the new man. This kind of correction can not be done on the universal level.
James Warning
James 3:1 My brethren, be not many masters, (teachers) knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.
There may be many who only experienced the dispensing of God’s Spirit within which is the most important. They may never have realized the waiting for the pouring of the Spirit in an outward way as on Pentecost. God will not send anyone to minister to others unless it is with His authority.
Jeremiah 23:32 Behold, I am against them that prophesy false dreams, saith the Lord, and do tell them, and cause My people to err by their lies, and by their lightness; yet I sent them not, nor commanded them: therefore they shall not prophet these people at all.
Ezekiel 13: 6 They have seen vanity and lying divination, saying, The Lord saith: and the lord had not sent them: and they have made others to hope that they would confirm the word.
All of God’s people must be aware of the two keys, the two kinds of dispensing of God’s Spirit, and the two kinds of churches. Then, there will be much more closeness within the body of Christ.
1st Corinthians 1:10 Now I beseech you brethren, by the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing. 12 Now this I say, that every one of you say, I am of Paul; and I am of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. 13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?
We all need to be taught and led by the word and Spirit of God.