The Authority of Christ

Introduction

This morning we are continuing our series on Core Christianity and up to this point we have uncovered some truths that may not be popular to modern sensibilities. We’ve learned that it is God who chooses us for salvation and not the other way around. (For those of us who think we are in complete control of our lives, this can come as quite a shock). As the very Son of God, Jesus then comes to teach us the conditions and requirements of eternal life and proclaims that the only path to salvation is through faith in Him. In last week’s message, we looked at the nature of saving faith and learned that we need to trust in Jesus for spiritual life as much as we trust that food and water will give us physical life. For the most part, people will put up with this kind of teaching if it is expressed as a matter of opinion. If we couch these statements with something like, this is my truth and you are entitled to believe whatever you want to, then it is perceived as non-threatening but once we come forward and say that what we believe is the only truth and the only way that humanity can be saved, at that point Christianity is viewed as intolerant, unenlightened, and divisive. As believers, this should not surprise us because from the very start, there has always been stiff resistance to the truth of Christ. If you are a non-believer or even someone that has a church background but is still on the fence about the claims of Christianity, I would like to use this time to uncover the reasons why people generally resist the things that Jesus taught. Turn with me to .

John 7:14–19 ESV

14 About the middle of the feast Jesus went up into the temple and began teaching. 15 The Jews therefore marveled, saying, “How is it that this man has learning, when he has never studied?” 16 So Jesus answered them, “My teaching is not mine, but his who sent me. 17 If anyone’s will is to do God’s will, he will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own authority. 18 The one who speaks on his own authority seeks his own glory; but the one who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true, and in him there is no falsehood. 19 Has not Moses given you the law? Yet none of you keeps the law. Why do you seek to kill me?”

John 7:14-

Body

In this message, I want to talk about one of the fundamental core beliefs of Christianity which is the absolute authority of Christ over all things. The Bible makes this belief the prerequisite and the underlying foundation for a right understanding and a right relationship with Jesus. Not that long ago, this respect for some level of authority was presupposed in our society. An example of this is when I began ministry twenty years ago, belief in the authority of God and the delegated authority given to the church was a basic assumption that could be made for both Christians as well as non-Christians. I remember walking through a neighborhood in Los Angeles which was clearly filled with gang activity because it seemed like all the buildings were covered with graffiti except for one building on the block, the local church. When I asked my friend the reason for this phenomena, he cited that the gang members are at least still afraid of God and unwilling to desecrate what they believe to be the house of God. That level of respect for houses of worship is no longer a given especially in light of the increased violence that happens against churches, mosques, and synagogues.

Clearly having no lines of authority is not the answer for society but at the same time, we are all wary of the abuse of authority and the corruption of power. Given all of the scandals that we have heard about in churches, the lack of ethics in our government leaders, and even the admission scandal in our top universities, it is no wonder that we no longer trust institutional authority. A recent Barna Survey showed that only 36% of people trust that churches have their best interest at heart. That numbers drops to 16% for academic institutions and not surprisingly this figure plummets to 6% for the government. (At least we are winning!) But the problem is without some of these traditional lines of authority, people are essentially left to invent their own version of the truth and this is what has led indirectly to this unprecedented rise of tribalism and division in our nation.

Along with this increase in distrust, is the rejection of God as the ultimate authority in life. No longer are people looking upwards to God for truth, they are increasingly looking inwards. 57% of all adult Americans agreed that “Whatever is right for your life or works best for you is the only truth you can know.” That number spikes up to nearly 75% for millennials. This has become the pervasive worldview of the majority of young Americans and it reveals why it is has become such a difficult proposition to get people to live according to a standard of truth. More than ever, Christians need to go back to living our lives under the authority of Christ and His Word and this passage from John gives us 3 reasons why we can trust the authority of Jesus.

The first reason is simply that He knows better than us. I realize that in this age of the internet, we feel like we know more and are more informed than previous generations. In general this may be true but it comes with a great pitfall because the more knowledge a person has, the more we have feelings of superiority and the increased likelihood that we will reject legitimate claims to authority. (Knowledge puffs up)

When Jesus began his teaching ministry, we read that people marvelled and were amazed not only because the content was so good but because the teaching came from a place of authority.

Mark 1:22 ESV

22 And they were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one who had authority, and not as the scribes.

Unlike the scribes, Jesus didn’t refer to the latest research, he didn’t quote some Bible scholar, he didn’t google search a nice quote from an academic source to justify his claims. In his most famous sermon, Jesus repeatedly tells the crowds, “You have heard it said but I say to you...” and then he would correct a long standing ethical or religious tradition. The truths that He proclaimed were so extreme but they were impossible to refute because they were true. Think of this one statement, “You have heard it said do not commit adultery but I say to you anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has committed adultery in his heart.” Would the world not be a better place if men committed themselves to dealing with the lust in their hearts and kept themselves from objectifying women. This is an extreme position but it’s absolutely the truth.

And the problem is, we can marvel at his teaching but even in our astonishment, we can reject his authority. Just because you like what He says doesn’t mean you necessarily will bow your knee in obedience. And that is exactly the situation that we find here. The Jewish religious leaders are marvelling at what Jesus is teaching but their reaction is one of doubt and their main resistance is, “Where did this man get this teaching, he didn’t study at one of our fine universities, he wasn’t apprenticed by anyone reputable? He is just an uneducated carpenter from Galilee!” I wonder if that is not the very same thoughts that go through our minds as we are evaluating whether or not to accept Jesus’ teaching. There is no research, nor proof of what He claims, no one has ever said the things that this man has said in the way that he is saying them. no one before and no one after Him. I’ve yet to hear someone say, “You’ve heard Jesus say this but I say to you...”

And it makes complete logical sense why Jesus has no need to quote other sources. If He is the very Son of God come to us in the flesh, there is no other authority higher than the one who sent Him. In fact, quoting a human expert to justify His claims would be like one of us quoting a three year old to defend our position. Could you imagine if I asked you to believe that the world is ending because some three year old swears by it?

Isaiah 55:8–9 ESV

8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. 9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.

There is a proverbial saying that God has placed limits on human intelligence but no limit on our stupidity. Recognizing the limitation of our intellect is key to humbly submitting ourselves to the truth of God. Admitting, once in a while that you don’t know something or that you don’t know everything is incredibly liberating and good for the soul because it allows you to receive the truths of Christ deeper into ours souls. And I’m not advocating a blind faith or anti-intellectualism, I’m advocating for humble acceptance of the plain truths revealed by Jesus. Are you really going to trust the liberal professors of your universities over/ and against the teaching of the Son of God. Do you really think they have no agenda and that their teaching is completely objective?

But Jesus doesn’t just leave us to accept His teaching because a lot of crazy people have claimed that their teaching is straight from God. The second reason to trust in the authority of Christ is that it comes with no selfish desire for power. Let’s unpack verse 18.

. Let’s unpack vs 17.

selfish desire for power. Let’s unpack verse 18.

Michel Foucault, who was a very influential modern philosopher, taught that every claim to absolute truth is a power play to repress people and take away our freedoms. This is experientially true because many of us know individuals or groups of people that look down on anyone who doesn’t share their core belief system. In fact this is the default human behavior. To the credit of Foucault, he at least applied this to both the religious and the irreligious. For example, he would be very suspicious of anyone who made the claim that “everyone should be concerned about social justice” and he would question whether you believe it because you really love justice and the poor or because the poor are the easiest to manipulate in your quest for power. There are many politicians who have ridden the votes of the poor to secure their political offices and to gain wealth and fame. So in order to minimize this danger, Foucault would tell us to reject all claims to absolute truth and make it relative for every individual. What is true for you is not necessarily true for me and therefore you have no power over me.

Sounds great in theory but there is a fatal flaw to this view of truth. If all claims to truth are power plays then the claim that there are no absolute truths is itself a play for power. Voddie Bauchamp puts it this way: “Moreover, if we believe there are no absolute truths and all truths are equally valid, this will ultimately lead to nihilism wherein all ideas lose their value. Ultimately, the only thing that will matter is who has sufficient power to exercise his or her will.” In other words, in a world where all ideas are equalized under the disguise of tolerance, truth is negated and neutralized, and those with the most brute power win. It’s no wonder that our political wars have become so much more intense. (I have my version of truth, you have your version of truth, and the only way to assert is through a grab for power.)

This leads us to the second reason why we trust in the authority of Christ because His authority comes with no selfish desire for power. Let’s unpack verse 18. In other words, Jesus validates the truth of his teaching but unpacking His own motivation.

Jesus comes and proclaims, I am the truth and instead of grabbing power for himself, He lays his power down as proof. As the apostle Paul writes, Jesus emptied himself of his divine prerogative, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.

Philippians 2:7 ESV

7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.

One of the main reason why we distrust human authority is simply because everyone is out for their own glory, to get theirs. And because of this , people have asked historically what right does an individual have to assert their authority and how can you prove that your claim to authority is valid. Many times, the leaders being questioned have asserted the divine origins of their power and have used that to justify their agenda. From ancient kings to religious figures to even modern day presidents, all sorts of leaders have cited the divine origins of their authority in order to consolidate their own power. Donald Trump, over the summer, made some waves in the news by claiming that he is the chosen one of God and also the “king of Israel”. And whether he is joking or not, I am not quite sure but the silence of the Evangelical church, I fear is turning this joke into a unwanted reality. Unfortunately, the unintended fallout from our country’s political firestorm is the fact that this has sealed our societies distrust of any type of authority, whether that be religious or political.

And because of this tension, people have asked historically what right does an individual have to assert their authority and how can you prove that your claim to authority is valid. Many times, the leaders being questioned have asserted the divine origins of their power and have used that to justify their agenda. From ancient kings to religious figures to even modern day presidents, all sorts of leaders have cited the divine origins of their authority in order to consolidate their power. Donald Trump, over the summer, made some waves in the news by claiming that he is the chosen one of God and also the “king of Israel”. And whether he is joking or not, I am not quite sure but the silence of the Evangelical church, I fear is turning this joke into a unwanted reality. Unfortunately, the unintended fallout from our country’s political firestorm is the fact that this has sealed our societies distrust of any type of authority, whether that be religious, political, or even academic.

Donald Trump, over the summer, made some waves in the news by claiming that he is the chosen one of God and the “king of Israel”. And whether he is joking or not, I am not quite sure but the silence of the Evangelical church, I fear is turning this joke into a reality in his mind. But fear not, this isn’t the first time that God has used an egotistical, power hungry, half crazy world leader to fulfill His purpose.

But fear not, this isn’t the first time that God has used an egotistical, power hungry, half crazy world leader to fulfill His purpose. I think the best analogy in the Bible of the type of leader we have in the White House is a king from book of Daniel by the name of Nebuchadnezzar. In one moment, he is a friend of God’s people, in the very next moment, he is throwing the same people into the fiery furnace in order to kill them. Submitting to the authority of a king or president doesn’t mean that we can’t be conscientious objectors. In the very same chapter of the Bible, he is praising God and extolling God’s everlasting Kingdom and in the very next breath, he gives himself all the credit for the expansion of the Babylonian Empire and proclaims that he has build this by his own power and for the glory of his own majesty. In the end, he loses his mind and goes crazy for the next 7 years. This sounds very much like our current president.

Donald Trump, over the summer, made some waves in the news by claiming that he is the chosen one of God and the “king of Israel”. And whether he is joking or not, I am not quite sure but the silence of the Evangelical church, I fear is turning this joke into a reality in his mind. But fear not, this isn’t the first time that God has used an egotistical, power hungry, half crazy world leader to fulfill His purpose.

I think the best analogy in the Bible of the type of leader we have in the White House is a king from book of Daniel by the name of Nebuchadnezzar. In one moment, he is a friend of God’s people, in the very next moment, he is throwing the same people into the fiery furnace in order to kill them. In the very same chapter of the Bible, he is praising God and extolling God’s everlasting Kingdom and in the very next breath, he gives himself all the credit for the expansion of the Babylonian Empire and proclaims that he has build this by his own power and for the glory of his own majesty. In the end, he loses his mind and goes crazy for the next 7 years. This sounds very much like our current president.

Now I am not here to influence your vote in 2020 and this is as far as I will disclose publicly about my political views but before we cast judgment, in varying degrees all of us are out for our own glory but Jesus came to show us how to live completely for the glory of God. The reason why we can trust the authority of Christ is that He laid his life down for us and used His authority to serve rather than to lord it over us. The world has never seen anyone like Jesus who was able to give away His power so effortlessly and again this makes logical sense: if all of the authority of God has already been given to Him, what use does Jesus have with the paltry amounts of power that we humans squabble over.

Ephesians 1:21 ESV

21 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.

The third reason that we can trust in Jesus’ authority is that it comes with no hypocrisy. If we are honest with ourselves, the reason why we distrust most authority structures is the hypocrisy of its leaders especially within the church. And you can see that Jesus calls this out in the religious leaders that are questioning His authority. They are supposedly experts in the law of Moses but yet they are trying to kill an innocent man. In fact, the main conflict that Jesus has with the religious leaders of his time is their hypocrisy.

Matthew 25:23 ESV

23 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’

Matthew 23:25 ESV

25 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence.

I’m sure that many of us, perhaps all of us have been hurt by the lack of integrity and the dishonesty especially within the church. As I mentioned earlier, I’m surprised that 36% of people still believe that the church has their best interest at heart. In many ways, I feel like this has to be the grace of God covering the church. It shows me that people still want something to believe in and they are still holding onto that thread of hope that there is still a human institution that cares for them and has their best interest in mind and who can help them find the answers to life.

2 Corinthians 5:21 ESV

21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

I’m not sure if the church is that right now but I believe it has the potential if we truly understand where our authority comes from.

Colossians 1:18 ESV

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.

Conclusion

One thing that I’ve come to realize is that most Christians today have no idea about the spiritual power and authority they possess because of their relationship with Jesus. You have the power to rebuke the lies of the enemy, to fight off depression and anxiety, the power to protect your marriage and your children but that power is only available as you walk under the authority of Christ. In the gospels, there are only two times that we see Jesus marvelling and being astonished by a situation. Understandably, the first time is when he sees the lack of faith in his hometown of Nazareth. The only other time he marvels is in .

Colossians 1:16 ESV

16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.

English Standard Version Chapter 7

Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy to have you come under my roof. 7 Therefore I did not presume to come to you. But say the word, and let my servant be healed. 8 For I too am a man set under authority, with soldiers under me: and I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” 9 When Jesus heard these things, he marveled at him, and turning to the crowd that followed him, said, “I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith.” 10 And when those who had been sent returned to the house, they found the servant

Colossians 1:18 ESV

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.

Colossians 1:16

;18

I am going to start with the basic assumption that the majority of us in here recognize the authority of Christ and would like to submit our lives under His authority,at least theoretically. But as we all know wanting and doing are two entirely different things and so many Christians find themselves unable to fully accept the authority of Christ in their lives.

Sounds good in theory but there is a fatal flaw to this view of truth. If all claims to truth are power plays then the claim that there are no absolute truths is itself a play for power. Voddie Bauchamp puts it this way: “Moreover, if we believe there are no absolute truths and all truths are equally valid, this will ultimately lead to nihilism wherein all ideas lose their value. Ultimately, the only thing that will matter is who has sufficient power to exercise his or her will.” In other words, in a world where all ideas are equalized, truth is negated, and those with the most power win.