The Christian principle of biblical authority means, on the one hand, that God purposes to direct the belief and behavior of His people through the revealed truth set forth in the Holy Scriptures.
Authority in Christianity belongs to God the Creator, who made us to know, love, and serve Him, and His way of exercising His authority over us is by means of the truth and wisdom of His written Word.
As from the human standpoint each biblical book was written to induce more consistent and wholehearted service of God, so from the divine standpoint the entire Bible has this purpose.
And since the Father has now given the Son executive authority to rule the cosmos on His behalf (Matt. 28:18), Scripture now functions precisely as the instrument of Christ’s lordship over His followers.
All Scripture is like Christ’s letters to the seven churches (Rev. 2–3) in this regard. Where is God’s authoritative truth found today? In the BIBLE!
What then is authority? Authority is the right or power to enforce rules or give orders and make others obey.
Many wives consider the command: wives obey your husband’s in all things (Eph. 5:22) a harsh command.
But in 1 Corinthians 11:3 God said, “But I want you to know that the head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God.”
In Genesis 3:16 God said to women, “Your desire shall be to your husband, and he shall rule over you.”
Children who are told that they have to obey their parents in the Lord (Eph. 6:1-2) also consider that a harsh and cruel punishment. Why? Because many Christians are living in REBELLION today, they don’t get to learn the first lesson in obedience – BEING SUBJECT TO DELEGATED AUTHORITY.
One thing you should realize is that no matter where you are, there is always an authority to obey. But if you live in this world and say that you are not going to recognize authority, then you are heading for disaster.
Where there is no authority, where there is no leadership, anarchy is inevitable. That was the case in the Book of Judges where everyone did as he pleased. Friend, without authority in any set up there is no orderliness. There is confusion. The move of God is hindered wherever there is confusion.
Look at what the Bible says about AUTHORITY:
1. Someone must be in authority. Whether in the home, in the school, in the church or in any other organization, there must be one in authority.
Proverbs 29:2 says, “When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; but when a wicked man rules, the people groan.”
2. One can be under authority. In Matthew 8:9 the Bible says, “For I also am a man under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to this one, 'Go,' and he goes; and to another, 'Come,' and he comes; and to my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it."
Luke 7:7-8 says, “For I also am a man placed (set) under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to one, 'Go,' and he goes; and to another, 'Come,' and he comes; and to my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it."
3. Authority is given to you by the one that sent you to represent him in one capacity or the other. And you are answerable to the one that set you in authority.
Luke 9:1 says, “Then He called His twelve disciples together and gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases.”
4. You receive authority from the one that sets you in a position of authority.
Acts 26:10 says, “This I also did in Jerusalem, and many of the saints I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I cast my vote against them.”
Saul received authority from the chief priest to shut up the saints in prison.
5. Authority can be usurped.
1 Timothy 2:12 says, “And I do not permit a woman to teach or to usurp [seize power wrongfully] authority over a man, but to be in silence.”
That is to say that the woman should not be allowed to have authority over the men. However, you need to carry the women along in love.
6. Those in authority have to use the authority correctly.
In Titus 2:15 the Bible says, “Speak these things, exhort, and rebuke (correct, scold) with all authority. Let no one despise you.”
7. God is the ultimate authority. The Bible says that there is no power that be that is not of God. He is the one that appoints [delegates] someone to represent Him in one capacity or the other.
Romans 13:1 says, “Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God.”
8. Anyone that God delegates to represent Him in any capacity is called a DELEGATED AUTHORITY.
9. Everyone must be subject to the governing or delegated authority.
Romans 13:1 says, “Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities….”
Why must it be so? This is because whosoever resists the authority set by God is resisting God Himself.
In Romans 13:2 the Scriptures say, “Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves.”
Hebrews 13:17 says, “Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.”
10. Those that resist delegated authority bring judgment on themselves. “…and those who resist delegated authority will bring judgment on themselves.”
Psalm 68:11 says, “The Lord gave the Word; great was the company of those who proclaimed it.”
The Word given by the Lord is the Vision. The one to whom He gave the Word is the “Vision Bearer.”
God gives a vision to just one person. The company of those who proclaim the vision are all those who catch the vision and gather together to help the Vision bearer fulfill the plan and purpose of God.
No one gathers around any man, but both the Vision bearer and the others gather around the vision to ensure that it is accomplished.
Look at the example of Korah; he withstood Moses (Num. 16:1-3). Korah and his associates had seen the advantages of the priesthood in Egypt. Egyptian priests had great wealth and political influence, something Korah wanted for himself. Korah may have assumed that Moses, Aaron, and his sons were trying to make the Israelite priesthood the same kind of political machine, and he wanted to be a part of it. He did not understand that Moses’ main ambition was to serve God rather than to control others.
2 Timothy 3:8-9 says, “Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith. 9 But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was.”
- Your friend, I. I. MADUBUNYI (Head Pastor)
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