Authority in Christ

 

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2. Believers Have Authority Through Christ Alone

Our authority is in the delegated authority of Jesus. We could do a deep study of the Old and New Testament prophecy and confirmations of Jesus's sonship of the Lord and authority, and I encourage you to do that if you need affirmations in that way. But let's take a walk through the Word to affirm the authority Christ was given, and that He extended to us. Our power comes through who He is, what He did, and what He says. When we're studying the Bible, the most important thing to walk away with is Him. Our peace for all situations and circumstances is in the Omniscient, Omnipresent God who Is.

Jesus is one with God and has authority given to Him, even as He walked among us:

Matthew 28:18-20  And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Mark 1:27  And they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, “What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.”

John 5:27  And he has given him authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of Man.

John 10:18  No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.”

John 17:2  Since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him.

Colossians 1:18  And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.

1 Peter 3:22  Who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to him.

Hebrews 1:1-2  Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.

Jesus extended His authority to us, to do what He did: bringing His lost children to the Kingdom throne-room, healing, and calling on our Heavenly Father to perform miracles by the blood of Jesus.

Psalm 108:13:  "With God we shall do valiantly; it is he who will tread down our foes."

Matthew 16:19  I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”

Matthew 17:5  He was still speaking when, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.”

Luke 10:19  Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you.

John 14:26  But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.

1 Peter 2:9  But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

Acts 3:6  But Peter said, “I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!”

2 Corinthians 2:10  Paul urges us to forgive and comfort anyone who has caused grief by sinning, in order that Satan might not outwit us.

Ephesians 1:21-22   Far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.  And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church,

Colossians 2:10  And you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority.

Titus 2:15  Declare these things; exhort and rebuke with all authority. Let no one disregard you.

2 Timothy 3:16  All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,

2 Peter 1:21  For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

2 John 1:9  Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son.

Jesus' exemplary prayer precedes our forgiveness of sins with our forgiving other's:  we forgive another's sins so that the power of the enemy is no longer over them, and does not extend to us.  (Matthew 6:9-13)

John 20:23 "if you forgive the sins of any they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld"  After Jesus gave His disciples the Holy Spirit, He commissioned them to declare God's forgiveness to those who believe the Gospel and to announce that those who reject it remain unforgiven, effectively acting as God's representatives in proclaiming the terms of salvation.  We are to proclaim forgiveness through the preached word of the Gospel, and people having chosen to accept it, are made righteous through the blood of Christ.

Matthew 16:18  And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

Matthew 10:1  And he called to him his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every affliction.

Matthew 18:20  For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”

Matthew 28:19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

Luke 20:2  And said to him, “Tell us by what authority you do these things, or who it is that gave you this authority.”

John 16:13  When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.

John 7:16  So Jesus answered them, “My teaching is not mine, but his who sent me.

Acts 2:38  And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

1 John 4:6  We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error.

1 Peter 4:11  Whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Mark 16:17 “In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.” After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and he sat that the right hand of God. Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed His word by the signs that accompanied it.

1 John 5:4: "For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith".

1 Corinthians 15:57: "But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ".

Romans 8:37: "Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us".

With Submission to God, we have the authority to act in His will.

“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
— James 4:7

Notice the biblical order:
Submit to God → Resist → The enemy flees.