I.
Definition: The right to
command or act. The power to enforce obedience. A person in control.
II.
Biblically: Authority is the
legal power delegated by God under the laws of His Will where people have
responsibility and obligation of submissiveness. The Greek noun is
kuriotes (kurio,thj)which
means Authority. It is God’s plan that there be Authority in the Universe.
Col. 3:18; I Tim.6:1-2; Eph. 5:22.
III.
Important words describing
Authority: hupotasso (u`pota,ssw)
and hupakouo (u`pako,uw).
Hupotasso (to stand under authority) is
used in Eph.5:21,22; Col.3:18; James 4:17; Rom.8:7,20; Rom.13:5; I
Cor.14:32-34; I Cor.15:27 and used for the pastor in I Pet.5:5.
Hupakouo (to hear under authority) is used
in Matt.8:27; Luke 8:25; Rom.6:16; Eph.6:1; Col.3:20,22 and I Pet.3:6.
IV.
There are areas in which
Authority must exist and which authority must be fulfilled.
1.
The word Kuriotes (kurio,thj)
in Jude 8 means Authority and not domination.
2.
The Word of God is
constituted Authority.
3. In the Local
Church the communicator has
Authority.
4. The Husband is the Authority in
Marriage.
5. Parents are the Authority in the
Family.
6. Local laws and leadership is the
Authority under the Laws of Divine Institution.
7. In the Academic World there is
Authority. In the classroom at school or college one is to submit to the
Authority of leadership.
8. In Athletics the Coach is the
Authority and the student submits.
9. In the business World there must
be Authority: President, executive, boss. etc.
10. In the Armed services there must be a commanding officer.
V.
Rejection of Authority is
always a sign of Apostasy. Eve rejected Authority of God’s Word and
accepted Satanic influence. She also failed to listen to the authority of
her husband, I Tim. 2: 11,12. When Eve began to have social communication
with Satan, she was refusing the authority of her companion and committing
spiritual, mental and social unfaithfulness.
VI.
Rejection of the Word of God
and the proclamation of the Word is also an attack upon Biblically
designed Authority. I Thess. 5:12,13; Heb.13:7,17; When a person is not
willing to listen to and learn from God’s communicator he does not really
have awe and respect for the Lord Jesus Christ.
VII.
The necessity of obedience
to Authority is emphasized by the many imperatives of the Bible,
Deut.11:27; I Sam.15:22; Jere.7:23; Jere.11:4,7; Zech.6:15; I
Cor.16:16; II Cor.10:8.
VIII.
The Authority of God over
nature is revealed in Matt.8:23-27; Mark 4:35-41; Luke 8:22-25
IX.
Parental Authority is
established by the Word of God. Eph.6:1; Col.3:20. Disobedience to
parents is named among the dark sins of the heathen of reprobate minds.
Rom.l:23-32 This sin is also listed as extremely evil and is a picture of
last days in II Tim.3:2
X.
The Bible presents the
necessity of Authority in the business world. Col.3:22; Eph.6:5; I
Tim.6:1-8.
XI.
In Marriage, the Word of God
emphasizes the man as the one with Authority. Eph.5:22; Col.3:18.
XII.
Jesus Christ the God-man, in
His Humanity was totally submissive to His Heavenly Father.
Phil.2:5-11. In the dateless past God made a proclamation that Jesus
Christ in His humanity would be under subjection to the Father. Deity
agreed to that! Therefore, the happiness and security of Christ in
humanity was related to submission. It was not bad but good; not
degrading but elevating. An all-wise, sovereign, omnipotent God has not
set up a degrading system. When children are submissive to parents it is
not degrading but elevating. When a woman is submissive to her husband it
is not degrading but elevating. When students respect the authority of
their professor it is not degrading but elevating. When a body of
believers respect the authority of the communicator of God’s message, it
is not degrading but elevating. GOD HAS A MAGNIFICENT PLAN OF AUTHORITY!!
