Authority of Jesus Christ

Jesus Christ’s authority underlines his divine status

John 8:28 NIV

So Jesus said, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he and that I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me.

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The origin of Jesus Christ’s authority

It is given by God the Father

John 3:35 NIV

The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in his hands.

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It is limited by the Father

Mark 10:40 NIV

but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared.”

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It is questioned by others

Matthew 12:24–28 NIV

But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, “It is only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, that this fellow drives out demons.” Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand. If Satan drives out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then can his kingdom stand? And if I drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your people drive them out? So then, they will be your judges. But if it is by the Spirit of God that I drive out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.

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The authority of Jesus Christ is seen in his works

He has authority over nature

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He has authority over sin

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He has authority over sickness

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He has authority over evil

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He has authority over death

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The authority of Jesus Christ is seen in his teaching

Jesus Christ claims authority for his own words

Luke 4:18 NIV

“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free,

See also ; ; ; ; ; ; ; The use of the phrase “I tell you the truth” emphasises Jesus Christ’s authority; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; The “I am” sayings in John’s Gospel emphasise the divine nature of Jesus Christ’s authority;

His authority is recognised by others

Matthew 7:28–29 NIV

When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.

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His authority is questioned and opposed by others

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Jesus Christ delegates his authority to others

His followers preach in his name

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His followers continue his works

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His followers pronounce his forgiveness and judgment

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The results of Jesus Christ’s authority

He receives honour and glory

John 5:22–23 NIV

Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son, that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father, who sent him.

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He arouses amazement

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He is opposed

Matthew 12:14 NIV

But the Pharisees went out and plotted how they might kill Jesus.

John 1:1 NLT

In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God.

He is feared

Luke 8:37 NIV

Then all the people of the region of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them, because they were overcome with fear. So he got into the boat and left.

His disciples are opposed

Acts 16:16–24 NIV

Once when we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a female slave who had a spirit by which she predicted the future. She earned a great deal of money for her owners by fortune-telling. She followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who are telling you the way to be saved.” She kept this up for many days. Finally Paul became so annoyed that he turned around and said to the spirit, “In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!” At that moment the spirit left her. When her owners realized that their hope of making money was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to face the authorities. They brought them before the magistrates and said, “These men are Jews, and are throwing our city into an uproar by advocating customs unlawful for us Romans to accept or practice.” The crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered them to be stripped and beaten with rods. After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer was commanded to guard them carefully. When he received these orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks.

The authority of the exalted Christ

He is Lord

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He is Lord of creation

Colossians 1:16–17 NIV

For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

He is Lord of the church

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He is judge

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He is Saviour

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He is interceder

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