PRACTICAL PRINCIPLES OF CHURCH GOVERNMENT FOR EVERYDAY LIFE
– AUTHORITY AND JESUS CHRIST –
(Week 3)
The Gospel account of Matthew records these words concerning the Savior’s authority,“And Jesus came and spake unto them saying, All power (authority) is given unto me in heaven and earth. Go ye therefore, and teach (make disciples of) all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” (Matthew 28:18-20 KJV / ASV).
There are some foundations principles explained here that are important to our everyday activities as those who are followers of Jesus Christ. For instance, He will never leave us. He has previously given the Apostles instructions that they are to pass along to each generation, so that we might also be obedient to the commands of God’s Son. A vital part of these instructions involves our willingness to teach others, so that they might have equal access to the saving power of the blood of Jesus. Involved in our teaching is of necessity the command to bury people in a watery grave for the remission of their past sins. This immersion in water is commanded as a result of our actions in following the command to “Go”. When we go we go by the authority of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. All of heaven stands behind the message that we are to carry to every nation. Mark says every creature. (Mark 16:15-16) This authority originated with the Father and was delegated to the Son. The Son has all the backing of heaven in His commissioning His disciples to do His will.
But why is the son authorized to do this? Where did Jesus receive this authority? Does He have equal right to tell man what to do to be saved from sin? Does He have power? Is He a co-author of physical life and spiritual life? The Holy Spirit instructed the Apostle Paul to send these words to the Church at Colossae, “For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they are thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.” (Colossians 1:16-17) Paul further states that Jesus is “the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature.” He says Jesus has preeminence in all things.
The opening verses of the first chapter of John tell us plainly, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.” (John 1:1-13). Elsewhere in God’s word, the Bible, we find why the Father sent His only begotten Son to die for all mankind. God sent His Son and He authorized Jesus to perform signs, wonders, and miracles to prove who He was. He also gave Jesus the power, the right, the authority to forgive sins and to tell mankind what they must do if they would receive forgiveness of past sins and lay hold on eternal life.
God, the Father, has given to Jesus Christ, the Son, all power and all authority. One day when Jesus delivers the kingdom, which is the Church, to the Father, He will also return that power and authority to His Father. Study with me further now and let us explore the idea of Jesus and authority and what makes these principles practical for you and me in everyday life.
Larry R. Scott, minister
PRACTICAL PRINCIPLES OF CHURCH GOVERNMENT FOR EVERYDAY LIFE
– AUTHORITY AND JESUS CHRIST –
(Week 3)
1. How was the teaching of Jesus different from the teaching of the scribes?
(Matthew 7:29) _______________________________________________
2. What was the question the chief priests and the elders of the people asked Jesus in
the temple? (Matthew 21:23) __________________________________________
3. What kind of dilemma did Jesus place them in? (Matthew 21:23-27)
__________________________________________________________________
4. In the context of Mark 1:22 what were the people astonished about?
___________________________________________________________________
5. Complete his sentence, “for with ______________ commandeth he even the unclean
spirits, and they do obey him.” (Mark 1:27)
6. What 2 words are used in Luke 4:36 to describe what Jesus has done?
________________________________________________
7. Jesus has been given authority to do what in John 5:27? ______________________
8. When Jesus gives the kingdom to the Father at the “end”, what three things will have
been accomplished by the Savior? _________________________________________
(I Corinthians 15:24)
9. Peter says Jesus has returned to heaven and he list three things that have been made
subject unto the Savior? What are they? _____________________________________
(I Peter 3:22)
10. Does the use of authority involve the necessity of rebuke at times? ____________
(Titus 2:15)
11. Does Jesus in His model prayer recognize God, the Father, as having absolute power?
_______________________ (Matthew 6:13)
12. Does Jesus possess all power in this world and the world to come according to Paul’s
words written to the Church at Ephesus? ___________________________________
(Ephesians 1:15-23)
Student ____________________ Date ____________________
Grade __________
Instructor: Larry R. Scott, minister
Sandhills Church of Christ – Rockingham, NC