Spiritual Authority and Submission

Is there authority in the church? If so, what is the nature of that authority? To whom do we submit ourselves? These are very important for the church today. This is an area of great misunderstanding and abuse. My contention is that God never instituted men in the church to have absolute authority over other men. But the authority in the church was an authority to serve. Let’s take a comprehensive look at the scriptures.

I. ALL AUTHORITY COMES FROM GOD
Authority is a God given privilege to carry out an action. The NT word that comes closest to our word is exousia. - the right to carry out a particular action.

Rom 13:1-4 Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. 2 Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. 3 For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you. 4 For he is God's servant to do you good.


II THIS AUTHORITY HAS BEEN VESTED IN HIS SON
Matthew 28:18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power (exousia) is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

John 3:30-36 He must increase, but I must decrease. 31 He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: he that cometh from heaven is above all. 32 And what he hath seen and heard, that he testifieth; and no man receiveth his testimony. 33 He that hath received his testimony hath set to his seal that God is true. 34 For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him. 35 The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand. 36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.

III. GOD HAS DELEGATED HIS AUTHORITY TO MEN AND WOMEN ON EARTH FOR SPECIFIC PURPOSES.

All authority does not look the same. Authority over self, over family, over government, and in church all have their own distinctives. It is not a one size fits all.

1. OFFICIAL AUTHORITY AND DIVINE AUTHORITY
Official authority has to do with office, and position. Divine authority is what is given by God. So any official authority flows from divine authority. Some have gone so far as to say that there is no official authority in the church. But again, it is not either/or but both/and. One is the result of the other. Official authority flows from divine authority.

Romans 13:1 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. (exousia) For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.

1 Timothy 2:2 For kings, and for all that are in authority;(huperoche) that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.

The Centurion compares his authority with the Lord’s:

Matthew 8:9 For I am a man under authority, (exousia) having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.

John 19:10-11 Then saith Pilate unto him, Speakest thou not unto me? knowest thou not that I have power(exousia) to crucify thee, and have power to release thee? 11 Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin.

Acts 23:2-5 And the high priest Ananias commanded them that stood by him to smite him on the mouth. 3 Then said Paul unto him, God shall smite thee, thou whited wall: for sittest thou to judge me after the law, and commandest me to be smitten contrary to the law? 4 And they that stood by said, Revilest thou God’s high priest? 5 Then said Paul, I wist not, brethren, that he was the high priest: for it is written, Thou shalt not speak evil of the ruler (archon) of thy people.

Paul recognized that he should have respected the office because it was given by God. Just as David respected Saul because of the office.

Acts 26:10,12 Which thing I also did in Jerusalem: and many of the saints did I shut up in prison, having received authority (exousia) from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I gave my voice against them. 12 Whereupon as I went to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests,

1 Peter 2:13,14,19 Submit(hupotasso) yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; 14 Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well. 19 For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully.

Ephesians 5:22-23 Wives, submit (hupotasso) yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.

Again, official authority is authority that is vested in a static office without regard to the action of person who has it. It is positional authority. It is fixed, external. It is for this reason that Christians are charged to be subject to the official leaders of government, regardless of their character as long as they do not go against the Word of God. But we shall see that this recognized office flows out of divine authority.

Acts 5:29 Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.

Here we see that when official authority went against the divine jurisdiction, that it was necessary to obey the divine over the official authority.