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5 Areas Where God’s Authority Has Been Established

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We live in a society today, where respect for authority is being either ignored or challenged. In the Bible, God has clearly established lines of authority covering every aspect of our lives. As human beings and God‘s children, it is our responsibility to have respect for God’s authority.

In this short article, let us list five areas in which God’s authority has been established:

1) God is authority over all His creation — Not only has God created the universe (Genesis 1:1-NKJV), he sustains it as well (Hebrews 1:2-NKJV). He will someday destroy it (2 Peter 3:10-11-NKJV. Thus, God has every right to give mankind a “You shall” and a “You shall not.” Acknowledging God’s authority over our life is the most basic recognition of authority. If an individual does not recognize God’s authority, there is no basis for one’s recognition of any less ordained authority.

2) God has authorized earthly governments — Man is told to submit to their authority (Romans 13:1-2-NKJV); render to them their due in the form of taxes (Matthew 22:15-21-NKJV; Romans 13:6-NKJV); be subject to their laws (1 Peter 2:13-14-NKJV); and pray for rulers in authority (1 Timothy 2:1-3-NKJV).

As Christians, we are to fully uphold the established laws of the land. The only exception is when a nation’s established laws are in conflict with God’s law (Acts 4:13-20-NKJV; Acts 5:17-29-NKJV). When we disregard the laws of our nation, we are disregarding the laws of God.

3) God has established authority through Christ in His church — The inspired New Testament authorizes the preaching and teaching of the “doctrine of Christ” (Matthew 16:18-19-NKJV; Matthew 28:18-20-NKJV; Mark 16:15-16-NKJV; 2 John 1:9-NKJV) or “sound doctrine” (1 Timothy 1:3-NKJV). In fact, the Lord does not approve any other kind of doctrine (Gal. 1:7-9-NKJV. To reject the Word of God is to reject Christ (John 12:48-NKJV).

Additionally, God has authorized the appointment of spiritually mature men (elders and deacons – 1 Timothy 3-NKJV; Titus 1:4-9-NKJV) to willingly and lovingly “feed the church” with spiritual food in a local setting (Acts 20:28-NKJV; Titus 1:5-NKJV). As they adhere to God’s word, we must willingly and lovingly obey them because (1) they are concerned about our soul’s salvation and (2) they must give an account to God on judgment day of their stewardship in this vital area of responsibility.

4) God has established authority in the home — The established chain of authority is found in 1 Corinthians 11:3-NKJV. God is the head of Christ; Christ is the head of the man, and man is the head of the woman. Wives are to be in willing submission to their husbands (1 Peter 3:1-6-NKJV; cf. Genesis 18:12). Children are not left out in God’s authoritative plan.

They are to “obey” and “honor” their parents, “for this is right” (Ephesians 6:1-2-NKJV; cf. Genesis 18:16-19-NKJV; Joshua 24:15-NKJV). The home is where respect for authority and law originates — not the church, the schools, or the government.

5) God has established authority in the workplace — Employees are commanded to obey the laws established by their employers (Ephesians 6:5-8-NKJV), “with good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men” (Ephesians 6:6-NKJV). The same application holds true for students in the classroom in their respect toward teachers and administrators in authority. Employers are to treat their employees with respect and impartiality (Ephesians 6:9-NKJV).

Conclusion:

Any society or government that does not recognize and adhere to God’s authority will be judged by that same authority and will reap the consequences of disobedience (John 12:48-NKJV; Acts 17:30-31-NKJV; cf. Psalm 9:16-17-KJV; Proverbs 14:34-NKJV; Daniel 4:17-NKJV; Romans 1:28-32-NKJV; Romans 2:1-11-NKJV; Gal. 6:7-8-NKJV).

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