Authority

In Matthew 21:23 – 32, when questioned by chief priests and elders about the authority under which Jesus did things, he replied with a question of his own – regarding John the Baptist and his baptism. Was John baptizing under God’s authority or human? They were cagey and said they didn’t know.

The etymology of authority begins with the premise of author (Creator) or authorship. Who initiated or created the thought or idea? Jesus, we know is the “author” of our faith as well as its finisher. (Hebrews 12:2). When writing a thesis or book we cite “authorities”: who were the people who developed the idea from its beginning? Authorities is also a term for people who make the principles work in everyday life: police, firemen, sheriffs, senators, congresspeople etc.

God initiated authorities. He puts people in places of authority in life: kings, presidents, congresspeople, governors, etc. Where there is authority, it comes from God. Romans 13:1 “Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.” Nebuchadnezzar learned the hard way. (Daniel 4 but focusing on Daniel 4:32))

Obedience is the first step toward authority. Even Jesus learned obedience through the things he suffered. (Philippians 2:8) We arrive as children on this earth that we may learn obedience in small things at first before we become adults and suffer greater consequences for disobedience to the commandments which grant us abundant life rather than the chaos of self-serving disobedience. Obedience makes the learning curve shorter.

God helps us as we grow in grace and in the knowledge of him. He hopes we succeed without suffering the results of disobedience and self-will. Ideally creativity with imagination and agreement flourishes within the framework of obedience. Outside the framework rebellion and chaos are stoked.

Philippians 2:12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. 13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. 14 Do all things without murmurings and disputing: 15 That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; 16 Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither labored in vain. 17 Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy and rejoice with you all. 18 For the same cause also do ye joy and rejoice with me.

Believers carry delegated authority. Whatever we bind on earth is bound in heaven. Whatever we lose on earth is loosed in heaven. Authority is God’s gift to us (Romans 13:1 – 7) We have been given authority to tread on serpents and scorpions and over all the power of the enemy and nothing shall hurt us. Luke 10:19.

Jesus said all authority in heaven and on earth was given unto him and therefore we should go into all the world and preach the gospel or good news to every creature baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit teaching them to observe all things we learned from Christ. Matthew 28:18 – 19.

There are, of course many other scriptures defining our authority as believers which make our lives abundant.