In May of 2023 I did a seven part series on The Kingdom Principle of Faith. In August of that same year (Aug 28-Sept 1) I did a five part series on The Kingdom Principle of Repentance. I thought it was time for another kingdom principle and settled on Authority. I started working on it last Spring, but then stopped for 3 months. Two reasons: (1) when I began working on it I realized this is much bigger than I thought – it runs like the mighty Mississippi through the Scriptures! (2) I also realized there were areas where I was falling short in my own life, I didn’t want to be all, “This is how this works in our lives” and it’s not in my life. But then I had a revelation – We read and study the Word in order to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ, not to blow our own horn, “Behold how good I am!” So I pressed on through and finished.
Let’s start here: What is authority? Authority in the New Testament Greek is the word ἐξουσία (exousia; pronounced ex-oo-see'-ah). According to Thayer it means: power. But this is not power in the sense of strength, or might. It is the power to do, power of choice; the power of authority (influence) and of right; the power of rule or government.1
Bill Mounce defines it as authority, power, the right to control or govern; dominion, the area or sphere of jurisdiction; a ruler, human or supernatural; power, ability; authority, rule, dominion, jurisdiction.2
It is a fairly common word in the New Testament, occurring 103 times. And it is a big word, with different shades of meaning. You can see why I said this was a bigger task than I thought, but with the Lord’s help, I believe we can get the basic understanding.
Authority begins with God: I mean, He is God. He is Lord. He is King. Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite. (Psalm 147:5) God is the Supreme Authority. He is the absolute Lord. Right here you can see why repentance and faith are two key kingdom principles, because it is this very authority we rebel against.
However, as the Supreme Authority, God is not a tyrant, throwing his weight around like a heavenly bully. He protects and provides for his creation: “In respect of his power; he is Lord, in respect of his love, he is Father.”3
He also delegates authority to mankind, allows men to exercise authority in the world. It is the purpose of God that those in authority should, like him, provide protection and provision for those they have authority over. This is going to be important as we go through this – nobody is to be a tyrant, a bully, an oppressor.
The response to authority is linked to two words, two attitudes, two behaviors: submit and obey. If the principle of authority is hard to swallow, folks will really struggle with submit and obey. I say folks, I struggle! Why? One word – sin. I want to do what I want to do, and I don’t want anybody else telling me what to do. That’s why this kingdom principle of authority is so important – it helps identify this sinful attitude and deliver me from the power of sin.
So, How do I relate to the authority of God? I submit and obey
James 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God.
Romans 1:5 we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith [literally, for obedience of faith] among all nations
This introduces another spiritual principle, expressed in Romans 6:16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
I know, submit and obey sounds like such drudgery. Where’s grace and faith and love? Oh it’s there! Just look at v 16 in context. Romans 6 begins with our being buried with Christ in baptism and rising to walk in newness of life, and continues with deliverance from the power of sin because we are not under law but under grace. And how does this operate in us? From knowing, reckoning, yielding ourselves unto God, and obeying him. And all this is the explanation of the declaration in Romans 5:20-21 …where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord. Which can be traced back to Romans 3:24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. Amen! It’s all part of the same grace! And we experience this grace when we bring ourselves under the authority of God, that is, when we submit and obey.
This is just the introduction! My plan, in the next six posts, is to look at Authority in the Life and Ministry of Jesus; Authority in Government; Authority at Work; Authority in the Church; Authority in the Home (1&2). These will be posted on Tuesday and Thursday over the next three weeks.
NEXT: Authority In The Life And Ministry Of The Lord Jesus
1 Joseph Thayer (1828-1901), Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament
2 William Mounce (B. 1953), American scholar of New Testament Greek, For An Informed Love of God https://www.billmounce.com/greek-dictionary/exousia
3 Irenaeus, Against Heresies, Book V, chapter 17
