Authority

AUTHORITY 

     And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.”  Matthew 28:18

     Question:  “Does ALL authority mean ALL AUTHORITY”?  I think we all know the answer.  Jesus authority was challenged by the Jewish leaders of His day.  In Mark 11:28 He was asked, “By what authority are You doing these things?” He turned the tables on them by asking… “The baptism of John—was it from heaven or from men?”  They reasoned among themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will say, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’  “But if we say, ‘From men’—they feared the people, for all counted John to have been a prophet indeed.”

The question of authority is one that has been around for centuries. Many refuse to submit to the authority of Christ through the word of truth because it doesn’t fit their agenda.  No person—or group of persons—has any authority to change one word of the doctrine of Christ.  John wrote in II John 9-11 “Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God.  He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son.  If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him; for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds.”

Doctrinal changes have been made regarding the plan of salvation,  worship to God, church organization, role of women, the biblical plan for marriage and many other things.  God will not be mocked.  The word of Christ will be the final authority on judgment day.

“He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him—the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day.”  John 12:48