From time to time it is well to con­sider the authority of Christ. In relig­ious matters, as in all things, there must be a standard of authority other than the subjectivism that many want to make that standard. That authority must rest in Jesus Christ, God's Son.

First, Jesus claimed to possess all authority. Soon after he arose from the , he claimed the totality of authority (Matt. 28:18). His word is the standard of judgment (John 12:48). Even the scribes recognized him as one having all authority (Matt. 7:29), and the apostles testified to the authenticity of this claim.

The nature of Christ's authority ought to be considered. First, it is final. His word was "once delivered" (Jude 3). It is Christ, and no longer the proph­ets, that is God's spokesman to man (Heb. 1:1-2). His authority is com­plete. He said he had" all authority" (Matt. 28: 18). It needs no addition; it needs no subtraction, or substitution. Then it requires human obedience, for the disobedient will be destroyed eternally.

There is a close connection between God, Christ, and his apostles. All re­ligious authority is inherent in God himself (John 7:16; 14:24). But he gave that authority to Christ (John 5:36; 13:3). Christ then in turn, upon his going back to heaven, sent the Holy Spirit to his apostles, giving them all authority (John 16: 14-15). God spoke through his apostles (Matt. 10:20), guiding them by the Spirit.

The apostles in turn did two things with what they received of God. First, they preached, or declared it, to men (1 John 1:3). Then they wrote it (Eph. 3: 1-5). Either way, what they preached was authoritative. God, in his great providence has preserved his word for us; we have access to it. Yet many refuse to accept that authority. This leads us to our next thought, which involves human responsibility to that authority.

That responsibility comes in two areas - individually or congregationally. As an individual, one must submit to Christ's authority in order to be a re­cipient of his blessings. Men must abide in the doctrine of Christ (2 John 9-11). That authority demands that men practice "pure and undefiled re­ligion" (Jas. 1:27). It requires that men serve as good examples to others (1 Tim. 4:12). In turn, such conduct is to lead other men to Christ; to get them to see that Christ must be the Lord of their lives; the heart and cen­ter of those lives.

Then, God's people as a congregation must be subject to the authority of Je­sus Christ. That authority demands three things of a congregation as it goes about its work. It is to preach the gospel; that is what God wants his people to .be involved in. People who form a local congregation must be in­volved in the edification of other  saints, and then there are limited works of benevolence a congregation may scripturally involve itself in. The objects of this benevolence are needy saints. Anything else a congregation involves itself in, it does without the authority of Christ.

Organizationally, a congregation must be subject to the authority of Christ. A congregation of God's people is to be organized with her elders, deacons and saints (Phil. 1:1). God never did authorize a "committee system," and certainly has not authorized a "one man rule" in tending to the affairs of a congregation.

When men realize that Christ is the one in whom God has vested his authority, and are willing to accept that, there will be unity among relig­ious people. But so long as men (or congregations) insist on being their own authority, such unity can never exist. Let us respect Christ as God's ultimate authority. Let us come to understand that men have no inherent authority in religion. That belongs to Christ alone. - Bill Moseley

 

 

 

The. clothing salesman cheerily said, "good morning, sir. May I help you?" The man's wife chimed in, "he wants a new suit" Salesman: "Looks like you need a size 42, sir." Wife interrupts again: "No - he needs a 44." "Here's a nice blue suit with the modern cut in your size, sir." Wife again: "No - that makes him look to young." After an hour of this, a suit was finally agreed upon. The salesman then says, "that will be $295.00, madam." Wife then says, "don't talk to me - he's the one buying the suit."

Uuum- huumm. That's about the way some folks deal with things. They want everything to say about the deci­sion making process, then when the unpleasant part (you know, the part that involves responsibility?) comes, well. .. someone else can take care of that. Folks need to learn that along with the "good side of things," there is usually a side that's not so good, and then they are willing for the other fel­low to see to it Even our Christianity is often like that; we love the parts that to us are subjectively pleasant, and talk about how great it is. Then­ when the bad times come, some ant the other fellow to suffer alone. Brethren, "these things ought not so to be." –Bill Moseley