As children, our main relationship is with our heavenly Father (Mark 12:29-30). That supreme love expresses itself by worship “in spirit and truth,” by obedience, and by caring for the Father’s family, the “sons of the kingdom” (Matthew 13:38; John 4:23-24; 13:34-35; 1 John 4:7; 5:1-2). God’s children make up “the church.” Notice the close connection between “kingdom” and “church” in Jesus’ promise when Peter confessed Jesus to be the Christ, the Son of God.
“I WILL BUILD MY CHURCH.”
I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. (Matthew 16:18-19 cf. Matthew 18:17-18)
“Kingdom” refers to Christ’s reign as King. “Church”—which means gathering or assembly— refers to the gathering of all who submit to the King’s reign. As historical events unfolded, following Jesus’ victory over death, Peter used “the keys of the kingdom.” Peter was the first to declare the Good News that welcomed Jews, Samaritans and non-Jews into the church (Acts 2, 8, 10). Inspired by the Spirit, Peter and the other apostles showed the terms (“bound in heaven”) for entry into God’s kingdom family. They also settled questions about what was no longer required (“loosed in heaven”), such as the law of Moses and human rules (Acts 15:1-11; Colossians 2:8). All the apostles had the same binding and loosing authority (Matthew 18:18), as directed by the Lord’s Spirit. (John 16:13).
Christ’s New Covenant made the Old Covenant obsolete (Hebrews 8:6-13). When that Old Covenant had been in effect, the kingdom was still in the future. But after Christ’s death launched the New Covenant, the kingdom became reality, welcoming all who obeyed the Gospel.
[God] has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. (Colossians 1:13-14)
Let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken. (Hebrews 12:28)
To Him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by His blood and made us a kingdom, priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever…. I, John, [am] your brother and partner in the tribulation and the kingdom and the patient endurance that are in Jesus. (Revelation 1:5-6, 9)