The Authority of Heaven

Intro:

As a Pastor I hear people say things like, “How can I know that I’m saved and that God can keep me.” It’s a natural thing to ask theses questions. After all, the mind of man is filled with doubt when it comes to matters of faith. We struggle to understand what God is up to and how we fit into that pictures.

John clears up some of theses type of questions in his writings as he quotes the words of Jesus.

Have you ever wondered why Jesus has the power to keep you? After all, He is the Son of God and not the Father. It would be easy to think that the Son would be of lesser importance than the father in terms of authority. If compared to the relationships that we have as humans, the father has the authority to dictate what goes on in the earthly family and the son can not overrule the father.

The difference between an earthly authority structure and a Heavenly authority structure is that God the Father and God the Son are one. The scripture today will teach us that there is no drop off in power from the Father to the Son.

This truth will also allow us to rest in the assurance that our salvation is kept by the authority of Jesus.

Look with me at the power of Jesus.

Unity In Heaven

John 5:19–21 NKJV

19 Then Jesus answered and said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner. 20 For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself does; and He will show Him greater works than these, that you may marvel. 21 For as the Father raises the dead and gives life to them, even so the Son gives life to whom He will.

Jesus shows submission to the Father

All that He does is because of his love for the Father.

The life that you live should always demonstrate honor to the Father who gave you life.

Jesus gave us the example of what it looks like to live in unity with the Father.

The Father loves the Son.

The Father reveals all things to the Son who lives in unity with Him.

When we live in unity with the Father, He will show us things that can only come from an intimate relationship with Him.

Example: How to love, overcome, live in victory, and so much more.

The Fathers power is the Son’s power.

What the Father has, the Son also has.

Here is where we start to see the power that Keeps us

The Son’s power has no limitation. “If He can raise the dead, then He can keep my salvation.”

Authority On Earth

John 5:22–23 NKJV

22 For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son, 23 that all should honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him.

Jesus is qualified to judge our sins.

His death on the cross is more than enough qualification.

The Son has first hand knowledge of what it takes to judge.

He understands your iniquities though experiential knowledge when carried them to the cross.

The Father instruct us to see Jesus as we see the Father

The same honor.

The same respect.

The same reverence.

If the Father gives that much power to the son, then we can rest assure that He can keep us.

Let your fears go and hold onto the reality that Jesus is able.

Jesus is not average.

The world looks at Him as just another man.

He’s more than that, He’s God.

The Grandeur Of His Power

John 5:24–27 NKJV

24 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life. 25 Most assuredly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear will live. 26 For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son to have life in Himself, 27 and has given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of Man.

His Authority grants eternal life

Jesus is the only one that has the right to give eternal life.

John 14:6 NKJV

6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

He is the only one that has the right to make that statement.

The right was given to Him by the Father.

That statement is proof that He can keep us.

1 Peter 1:5 NKJV

5 who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

Jesus is God, so that means I’m kept by Jesus though salvation.

My salvation is not a hit and miss.

Jesus has a firm grip on my salvation until the day of redemption.

Ephesians 1:13 NKJV

13 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise,

Resurrection Power

John 5:28–30 NKJV

28 Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice 29 and come forth—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation. 30 I can of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me.

I am kept even after death.

The graves will open and the saved will arise,

That’s power beyond the grave.

Not only kept here, but also kept through out eternity.

His power will separate the wicked from the righteous.

His eternal power and authority is what keeps us after repentance into salvation.

His judgement is not selfish

The judgement is that of the will of God.

It’s in this judgement that we see the authority of the Father to the Son.

He Keeps us and then delivers us into eternity.

Conclusion:

Never wonder if Jesus has the power to keep you. He is God and He loves you enough to keep you throughout eternity.