All Authority

By David A. Sargent

 

    Ken Klaus wrote about an experience that taught him a valuable lesson:

    A year or two ago a friend offered me a ride in his custom Corvette. That machine was beautiful to look at, impressive to sit in. Riding a few inches off the ground, my friend put that contraption through its paces.

    In first gear I was thrown back into the seat. In second gear it felt like the G-force was stretching my face, just like that of the astronauts during a blastoff. In third gear we blew by an 18-wheeler like he was standing still.  It was fantastic!

    Then, when we were doing about 1,000 miles an hour (I may be exaggerating there), we came up on a parked police vehicle. The Vette slowed down. The 18-wheeler slowed down. Everybody slowed down. And that's the point. That Vette had POWER! That 18-wheeler, with a full load and a big diesel engine, had POWER!

    But now that parked police car....., it had AUTHORITY!

    There are in this world a great many groups, individuals and organizations that have POWER. They have the financial, political or logical clout to impress us, seduce us and intimidate us.  But when it comes to AUTHORITY, that's different. *

    Satan has power. “His power lies in his ability to deceive. When we fall for his deceptions, we give him authority over our lives and he takes us captive” (Rob Chaffart). Jesus said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin” (John 8:34). And, “the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23).

    But Christ has power AND authority!  He demonstrated these attributes throughout His earthly ministry by His miracles. His most astounding expression of power and authority was demonstrated when He died on the cross for our sins and was resurrected from the dead three days later. By His death, burial, and resurrection, He defeated Satan (cf. Hebrews 2:14) and made our redemption possible! “For God has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins” (Col 1:13-14).

    In order to receive salvation and the gift of eternal life, we must submit our lives to the Authority of Christ by placing our faith and trust in Him (Acts 16:30-31), turning from our sins in repentance (Acts 17:30-31), confessing Him before men (Romans 10:9-10), and being baptized (immersed) into Christ for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38). Then as we continue to submit to His authority in obedience to His will, His blood will continue to cleanse us from sin (1 John 1:7).

    There is power, but then there is power and authority! Jesus has both! 

    In fact, He has “ALL authority” (Matthew 28:18) and He is “the head over every power and authority” (Colossians 2:10). Therefore, He – and only He – has the power and authority to give you victory over sin and death!

    Won’t YOU accept His offer of salvation and life by submitting to His authority?

- David A. Sargent, minister for the Church of Christ at Creekwood in Mobile, Alabama, is also the editor of an electronic devotional entitled "Living Water." To learn more about this excellent resource contact David via their website: http://www.creekwoodcc.org

* From “Power and Authority” by Ken Klaus as quoted in www.sermonillustrator.org (site operated by Rob Chaffart).