The Apostle Paul and Barnabas were ordained by the established authorities in the body of the Church through the laying on of hands. This is witnessed to by the Evangelist Luke, who wrote the Book of Acts. All authority to define doctrine resides in the Church. The authority comes from Christ Who gave it to His Apostles. The Apostles in turn distribute this authority to their successors and other helpers by the "laying on of hands". The ordained authorities in the Church hold councils together to define Church teaching and practice. This is the Tradition that is from the Bible and the Apostles, so it is from Christ, and the Scripture bears witness to it. Early Church manuscripts also bear witness that this was the Tradition that was handed down by the Apostles. Scripture commands us to hold fast to the Tradition of the Apostles. We are not to deviate from this Tradition. Scripture forbids us to do so no matter what new teachings arise which contradict it.
The expression "established authorities" is the great error.
Authority is not a static position or title. It is a spiritual power in Christ and as he leads. True authority is as we live move and speak the word of God.
Jesus said,
“Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them.26 But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; 27 And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant:” (Matt. 20:25-27, Mark 10:42,43, Luke 22:25,26). Jesus corrected the false idea of men ruling over and controling others by telling them to be
“servants”. A servant has no authority in the world, but as they serve others, speaking and living the word of God they do.
The word “dominion” means to control and lord over and in a supreme authority over. Jesus said this should not be among the saints and “authority” is not to be like the Gentile authority and rulers. But many gatherings today are set up this way all over the world. Jesus is not condemning simply evil dictators over others but the very form and structure of hierarcy over others in the church, this false clergy over the laity and authority over others that is so prevelant everwhere.
The pharisees challenged Jesus authority and asked him
“By what authority doest thou these things?” (Matt. 21:23). They asked him this because they did not recognize him in authority. Jesus was not a political ruler or kings as they knew, but when he spoke His word he spoke as one having authority, not as they did. This authority is similar to those christians who walk in the word of God today and speak it in the spirit. The authortiy is not in a
positional authority, but rather a
moral, spiritual authority in Christ and in their ministry of word and their life example. Spiritual authority flows from Christ as the head to His body of believers, it is not a static office. Only as all believers are led by the Spirit and directed by Jesus Christ can they be in His authority and made perfect unto every good work and do all things through Christ
(John 15, Heb. 13:20,21 etc). Outside of this they can do nothing, and will only be conformed to the worldly type of authority and power over others which many churches are misled in today instead of hearing and functioning in the body of Christ with Christ as the head
(Eph. 4:15,16).
No Covering Teaching
Today we hear many ask “who is your covering?”, meaning, “who controls you and is in authrotiy over you?" Or it is taught as a protection from error when you are under a certain man or religious group. But this “covering idea is not part of God’s odrer. The New testament does speak of love covering a multitude of sins, but does not place men as Lords over others in the church and in control and authority over others in Hieracrchical roles imitating the world’s authority structures.
Paul said, “
Not for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy”
(2 Cor. 1:24). The words
“we have dominion” in Greek mean,
“To rule:-have dominion over, lord, be lord of, exercise lordship over”, from 2962, “...supreme in authority, i.e. (as a noun) controller: by implication, Master (as a respectful title)...”. Strangely enough this is
exactly what we see in many assemblies today where there is an exalted men over the body with such false control and dominion over others. They are even called, “
Master of Divinity”, “
Reverend” "Priest" and even “Presidents” over others
(Col 2:8). But Jesus said call no man master. A master means, “a guide” from “to lead”. But all believers are to be led by the Spirit
(Rom. 8:14) and the Holy Spirit will guide them into all truth
(John 16:13), they have no need that any man should teach them
(1 John 2:27). The old man is crucified, and they listen to the new man in the anointing.
What authority do we have in Christ?
One of the main questions that might be asked is, “what authority do elders or any beleiver in the body of Christ have, and how are they to function in the body?”
Jesus has all power and authority and he gives believers his power and authority as they abide in him. The authority of the church is founded upon Christ and derived from Him and his word, it us worked in humility and love in the Spirits leading, not in an oppressive dominance of mens persons, as Lords over others or in the natural human wisdom and personality cults. on the contrary, Jesus says, that the one who will be great among them should be as MINISTERS and SERVANTS. A servant does not have authority in the world. But in God’s order this is where they find it. The true authority of God comes when we live in the word of God and speak the word of God
(Heb.13:7,20,21, John 15:5). This authority is from God and not of ourselves. We are only able to walk in Gods authority when we are dead to self and let Christ effectually work in us and as we walk in the word of God and His leading. This is how we see the true service and ministry in the light and Spirit of God. And as we read in scripture, It is God that will
“Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ;”(Heb. 13:21). This is where we get authority in Christ. This authority is Gods power working in us.
Any man who walks outside of God working in himself does not have Gods authority or Gods order.
But Man’s authority can and does often fight against God’s authority.
The authority that men set for themselves today is often a
positional authority over others and as exalted Lords over the other believers. While this is allowed within political governments and rulers and kings have such authority to govern nations and as long as they are not a terror to good works etc ( Romans 12) . This authority however, is not the same in the church and among the gathering of believers and jesus said we should not be tis way.
Sadly however, many churches today have similar authority as the worlds rulers have in their positional authority and they rule the same way among the believers. Their is a Hierarchial structure set up by men and exactly like the gentile rulers. Those in dominion and authority over others are in a
positional authority, where there is a slot or special seat for the ones who are called leaders. But
in the church we are all brethren, and though there are elders, who are more mature in their walk and in the word are more sound, their auhthority flows from Christ the head. Jesus Christ is the head of the church and no man should seek to take such a place over others.