Introduction. Authority is the right to control and command others. Parents have it over children, teachers over students, and government over citizens. Although there are exceptions, the general purpose of authority is to create blessings and opportunity. Children are greatly blessed by their loving parents, students are guided to success by a good teacher, and citizens are blessed with freedom and prosperity. Problems only occur when those in authority are selfish or evil, or those under them will not submit.
Moses urged Israel “to fear the Lord our God, for our good always” (Deut. 6:24). Jesus said, “I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” (Jn. 10:10). Because God is a loving Father, Jesus a merciful Savior, and the Holy Spirit our comforter and guide, we are greatly blessed when we place ourselves under their control. They are eternal, possessing absolute power, infinite knowledge, and immeasurable love. Placing ourselves in submission to their authority is the wisest decision we could ever make. David captured all this when he said:
Moses urged Israel “to fear the Lord our God, for our good always” (Deut. 6:24). Jesus said, “I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” (Jn. 10:10). Because God is a loving Father, Jesus a merciful Savior, and the Holy Spirit our comforter and guide, we are greatly blessed when we place ourselves under their control. They are eternal, possessing absolute power, infinite knowledge, and immeasurable love. Placing ourselves in submission to their authority is the wisest decision we could ever make. David captured all this when he said:
- “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me” (Ps. 23:1-4).
His authority is complete and absolute. There is no authority but His in service to God. Even the authority of the Old Law and Ten Commandments were brought to an end “having nailed it to the cross” (Col. 2:13-19). Paul said it was “our tutor to bring us to Christ,” and “we are no longer under a tutor.” (Gal. 3:24-25).
The book to the Hebrews makes this clear. First, although God previously spoke by the prophets, now He only speaks through His Son. “God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person” (Heb. 1:1-3).
God speaks only by His Son today. First, He “highly exalted Him,” appointing Him “heir of all things. Second, Jesus is “the express image of His person,” who before He even entered the world was “on an equality with God.” (Phil. 2:3). At that time, He “was with God, and was God.” It was through Jesus, that “He made the worlds,” “by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth,” and “all things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made” (Jn. 1:1-3; Col. 1:13). There is no one in heaven or earth with His credentials!
Thus, the power and authority of Jesus are His alone because of who He was before He came, what He did while He was here and what God made Him after He returned “exalted to the right hand of God.” “God has made Him both Lord and Christ.” (Acts 2:33-37). For all these reasons, “God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Phil. 2:9-11).
Conclusion. This is why those binding circumcision on the Gentiles were wrong (Acts 15; Gal. 5:3-4). It is why the food prohibitions and keeping the feasts of the Law could not be forced on anyone under Christ (Rom. 14). It is why the Sabbath ceased to be observed (Col. 2:13-18). It is why “if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed,” why if anyone “does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God,” and why “he who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son.” (Gal. 1:6-9; 2Jn. 9). All authority in heaven and earth was given to Him by God. There is no authority left for anyone else. Not Moses, not the prophets, and not anyone today. Jesus is our “Good Shepherd” (Jn. 10:11), our “One Teacher, the Christ” (Mt. 23:8), and “head over all things to the church which is His body” (Eph. 1:22-23). We must all heed God’s warning: “This is My beloved Son. Hear Him!” (Lk. 9:35).
The book to the Hebrews makes this clear. First, although God previously spoke by the prophets, now He only speaks through His Son. “God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person” (Heb. 1:1-3).
God speaks only by His Son today. First, He “highly exalted Him,” appointing Him “heir of all things. Second, Jesus is “the express image of His person,” who before He even entered the world was “on an equality with God.” (Phil. 2:3). At that time, He “was with God, and was God.” It was through Jesus, that “He made the worlds,” “by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth,” and “all things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made” (Jn. 1:1-3; Col. 1:13). There is no one in heaven or earth with His credentials!
Thus, the power and authority of Jesus are His alone because of who He was before He came, what He did while He was here and what God made Him after He returned “exalted to the right hand of God.” “God has made Him both Lord and Christ.” (Acts 2:33-37). For all these reasons, “God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Phil. 2:9-11).
Conclusion. This is why those binding circumcision on the Gentiles were wrong (Acts 15; Gal. 5:3-4). It is why the food prohibitions and keeping the feasts of the Law could not be forced on anyone under Christ (Rom. 14). It is why the Sabbath ceased to be observed (Col. 2:13-18). It is why “if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed,” why if anyone “does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God,” and why “he who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son.” (Gal. 1:6-9; 2Jn. 9). All authority in heaven and earth was given to Him by God. There is no authority left for anyone else. Not Moses, not the prophets, and not anyone today. Jesus is our “Good Shepherd” (Jn. 10:11), our “One Teacher, the Christ” (Mt. 23:8), and “head over all things to the church which is His body” (Eph. 1:22-23). We must all heed God’s warning: “This is My beloved Son. Hear Him!” (Lk. 9:35).
- But to the Son He says: "Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom. (Heb. 1:8)