Under Authority

Shelby G. Floyd

July 26, 2006

Early in the ministry of Christ, he entered the city of Capernaum, located on the Sea of Galilee; and a centurion came to him and begged him to heal his servant that was tormented with palsy. Jesus told the man that he would come to his house and heal him, but the centurion stated that all Christ needed to do was to speak the word and his servant would be healed.He explained that he himself was a man under authority, with many servants under him; and all that he needed to do was to say to one man, come, and the man would obediently come to him. To another man he would say, go, and the man would obey. Unto his servant he might say, do something, and the man would do it.Jesus commended the centurion by saying that he had not found so great faith, no, not in all of Israel. (cf. Matthew 8: 5-13.) The man had faith in the power and authority of Jesus Christ. Authority may be defined as the power to command and enforce obedience.

Christ Has All Authority in Heaven and On Earth

After Jesus Christ had been crucified on the cross and raised the third day triumphantly over death, hades and, the grave, he appeared to the apostles and gave them the world wide commission. Matthew, records that charge in these words,

“All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.(Matthew 28:18-20.)

From this passage one may learn that before Christ came into the world, the Father had all power and authority in heaven and on earth. When he sent the Son into the world, he delegated that authority to his Son.

Primary or Delegated Authority

Authority may be of two kinds, either primary or delegated. The Father had all authority in heaven and on earth, and he gave that authority to Christ. Therefore, all executive, legislative and judicial authority has been vested in Christ by the Father. When Jesus entered upon his work of preaching the gospel of the kingdom, he spoke as one having authority, and not as the scribes.(Matthew 7: 28-29.) By this, the writer means that he did not speak ambiguously, but he spoke emphatically and explicitly on every subject, touching man’s eternal destiny. In the Sermon on the Mount, Christ would often say, “Moses said, but I say unto you,”or sometimes he would say, “You have heard it said by them of old time, but I say unto you.” The words of Christ were final on all subjects. Most of the subjects on which Christ rendered a final decision were subjects over which the Jews were divided, and about which there was much controversy. But Christ spoke with authority, and not as the scribes.

Before Christ left the earth to go back to his Father and to be seated on the right hand of the throne of God, he promised the apostles that he would exercise his authority through the Holy Spirit and through the message which they would preach, as they were guided by the Spirit. In one such speech he said,

“I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come." (John 16: 12-13.)

Therefore, the apostles were delegated the power to deliver God’s message without fear of contradiction or error. They were guided in the words and the thoughts which they expressed by the Holy Spirit. Therefore, the line of authority descends from the Father to the Son, from the Son through the Holy Spirit, and from the Holy Spirit through the apostles.

Christ Has All Legislative Authority

The Son, Jesus Christ, exercised all authority in the legislative realm. He gave the law of the spirit of life, but he did this through the Holy Spirit and through inspired men. The Hebrews writer tells us that:

“In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe.” (Hebrews 1: 1-2.)

God speaks to us today through his Son. The Son is greater than the angels in his power and kingly authority. He has a better name than they do; he was anointed above the angels; the Son was worshiped by the angels; he is eternal in nature and he is seated at God’s right hand. Therefore, his authority transcends even that of the angels of heaven.

The authority and power of Christ extends,

“Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.” (Ephesians 1: 21-23.)

Christ Has All Judicial Authority

The Son has all judicial authority; for God has appointed a day, in which he will judge the world by his son Jesus Christ. (Acts 17: 31.) The Son will judge the world at the last day when all the nations shall be gathered before him and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. (Matthew 25: 31-46.) But the Son will judge the world through the writings of the inspired apostles. (John 12: 47-48; Matthew 19: 28.)

Christ Has All Executive Authority

Christ also exercises all executive authority. His word is the last word. He is the first and the last, the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end.

In a day when there is so much confusion, religious division and lack of respect for God’s word, every person would do well to recognize, to give heed to and to obey the authority of Jesus Christ. There are many who will not recognize that authority. Let us have a greater respect for the authority of Christ as it is exercised through the New Testament. Copyright © 2006 All Rights Reserved