Why Does Authority Matter?
Every relationship is built on authority. Children learn to respect their parents. Citizens live under the laws of their country. Employees work under the direction of their employers. Even in everyday life we recognize that authority provides order, purpose, and responsibility.
The same is true in our relationship with God. If Jesus is truly Lord, then His teaching must be our final authority. Christianity is more than admiring Jesus or agreeing with His moral teaching. It is submitting to His will.
Jesus declared,
"All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth." (Matthew 28:18)
Because He possesses all authority, He has the right to tell us how to live, what to believe, and what He expects of His followers.
The apostles taught the same principle. Paul wrote,
"Whatever you do, in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus." (Colossians 3:17)
To act "in the name of" Jesus means more than simply mentioning His name. It means acting by His authority.
This raises an important question.
How do we know what Jesus has authorized?
That question lies at the heart of many religious disagreements. Christians who love the Lord sometimes reach different conclusions because they understand biblical authority differently. Before discussing specific subjects such as baptism, worship, church organization, or Christian living, we must first understand how Christ communicates His will.
This course is not about defending tradition or promoting human opinions. It is about learning to recognize the authority of Christ in Scripture and allowing that authority to shape our faith and practice.
If Jesus truly is Lord, then His authority matters—not only in the things we believe, but also in the way we live.
Continue Your Study
← Return to the Biblical Authority Course Overview
Next Lesson:
How Does God Reveal His Will?
If Jesus possesses all authority, how does He communicate that authority to us today? Does He reveal His will through direct commands, approved examples, necessary conclusions, or in some other way? In the next lesson we will examine the different ways God speaks through the New Testament and how Christians have understood those methods throughout history.
Related Bible Studies
• What Did the Author Intend?
• How Does the Bible Interpret Itself?
• Building Sound Doctrine
Companion Video
Why Does Authority Matter?
Watch the companion video for a brief overview of this lesson before continuing your study.