what authority does the average christian today have?

  • Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.

    If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!

    To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.

Mem

Senior Member
Sep 23, 2014
7,150
2,168
113
#41
That authority was given to the apostles, not us. "
And over all the power of the enemy (κα επ πασαν την δυναμιν του εχθρου). This is the heart of "the authority" (την εξουσιαν) here given by Jesus which is far beyond their expectations. The victory over demons was one phase of it. The power to tread upon serpents is repeated in Mark 16:18 (NAS)

Nothing shall in any wise hurt you (ουδεν υμας ου μη αδικησε). Text has future active indicative, while some MSS. read αδικηση, aorist active subjunctive of αδικεω, common verb from αδικος (α privative and δικος), to suffer wrong, to do wrong. The triple negative here is very strong. Certainly Jesus does not mean this promise to create presumption or foolhardiness for he repelled the enemy's suggestion on the pinnacle of the temple."
https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/eng/rwp/luke-10.html
Borrowing from an idiom often used by a great thinker, 'Hunk,' ..."Where is the barn door?"
 
Jan 14, 2021
1,599
526
113
#42
"Then Jesus came to them and said, 'All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.'" - Matthew 28:18 NIV
 

TheLearner

Well-known member
Jan 14, 2019
8,183
1,574
113
68
Brighton, MI
#43
Ezra 7:25
Ezra, I give you the authority to use the wisdom you have from your God and choose civil and religious judges.

1 Kings 3:9
So I ask you to give me the wisdom to rule and judge them well and to help me know the difference between right and wrong. Without such great wisdom, it would be impossible to rule this great nation.”

Daniel 1:20
Every time the king asked them about something important, they showed great wisdom and understanding. The king found they were ten times better than all the magicians and wise men in his kingdom.

James 1:5
Do any of you need wisdom? Ask God for it. He is generous and enjoys giving to everyone. So he will give you wisdom.

From my personal experience asking God for wisdom in general will be recognized by those in authority --- often you may be placed in a place of authority or at least be consulted often.
 

ResidentAlien

Well-known member
Apr 21, 2021
8,274
3,606
113
#44
I do not see how authority comes form "our being in Christ and dead to our old self and to the world. "
You're right, it doesn't. If you read carefully, what I said is, our power comes from being "in Christ" and dead to the world, not our "authority."

I assume by "authority" you mean power over devils, etc. I'm just saying the true power is overcoming the world, not casting out devils.
 

TheLearner

Well-known member
Jan 14, 2019
8,183
1,574
113
68
Brighton, MI
#45
Matthew 7:29
He did not teach like their teachers of the law. He taught like someone who has authority.

Matthew 8:9
I know this, because I understand authority. There are people who have authority over me, and I have soldiers under my authority. I tell one soldier, ‘Go,’ and he goes. I tell another soldier, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and my servant obeys me.”

What is the nature of authority?

Matthew 21:25
Tell me: When John baptized people, did his authority come from God, or was it only from other people?”

Matthew 23:2
“The teachers of the law and the Pharisees have the authority to tell you what the Law of Moses says.

Luke 22:26
But you must not be like that. The one with the most authority among you should act as if he is the least important. The one who leads should be like one who serves.

John 8:28
So he said to them, “You will lift up the Son of Man. Then you will know that I Am. You will know that whatever I do is not by my own authority. You will know that I say only what the Father has taught me.

John 8:42
Jesus said to them, “If God were really your Father, you would love me. I came from God, and now I am here. I did not come by my own authority. God sent me.

Acts 4:30
Help us to be brave by showing us your power. Make sick people well. Cause miraculous signs and wonders to happen by the authority of Jesus, your holy servant.”

1 Corinthians 1:10
Stop Arguing With Each Other
Brothers and sisters, by the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ,

2 Corinthians 10:8
It may seem as though we boast too much about the authority the Lord gave us. But he gave us this authority to strengthen you, not to hurt you. So I will not be ashamed of whatever boasting we do.

2 Corinthians 13:10
I’m writing this before I come so that when I am there I will not have to use my authority to punish you. The Lord gave me that authority to make you stronger, not to destroy you.

Galatians 1:1
Greetings from Paul, an apostle. I was chosen to be an apostle, but not by any group or person here on earth. My authority came from none other than Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised Jesus from death.

1 Thessalonians 4:2
You know all that we told you to do by the authority of the Lord Jesus.

1 Thessalonians 5:27
I tell you by the authority of the Lord to read this letter to all the believers there.

Titus 2:15
These are the things you should tell people. Encourage them, and when they are wrong, correct them. You have full authority to do this, so don’t let anyone think they can ignore you.

1 Peter 5:5
Young people, I have something to say to you too. You should accept the authority of the elders. You should all have a humble attitude in dealing with each other. “God is against the proud, but he is kind to the humble.”

more: https://www.biblegateway.com/quicksearch/?qs_version=ERV&quicksearch=authority+Lord&begin=47&end=73

From the above texts:

What is the purpose of authority?
How is authority gained or increased?

wisdom, studying the scriptures what else?
 

TheLearner

Well-known member
Jan 14, 2019
8,183
1,574
113
68
Brighton, MI
#46
What are the characteristics of an Elder?


1 Timothy 3

Easy-to-Read Version



Leaders in the Church
3 It is a true statement that anyone whose goal is to serve as an elder[a] has his heart set on a good work. 2 An elder[b] must be such a good man that no one can rightly criticize him. He must be faithful to his wife.[c] He must have self-control and be wise. He must be respected by others. He must be ready to help people by welcoming them into his home. He must be a good teacher. 3 He must not drink too much, and he must not be someone who likes to fight. He must be gentle and peaceful. He must not be someone who loves money. 4 He must be a good leader of his own family. This means that his children obey him with full respect. 5 If a man does not know how to lead his own family, he will not be able to take care of God’s church.
6 An elder must not be a new believer. It might make him too proud of himself. Then he would be condemned for his pride the same as the devil was. 7 An elder must also have the respect of people who are not part of the church. Then he will not be criticized by others and be caught in the devil’s trap.

Special Servants [ deacons? ]
8 In the same way, the men who are chosen to be special servants must have the respect of others. They must not be men who say things they don’t mean or who spend their time drinking too much. They must not be men who will do almost anything for money. 9 They must follow the true faith that God has now made known to us and always do what they know is right. 10 You should test them first. Then, if you find that they have done nothing wrong, they can be special servants.
11 In the same way, the women[d] must have the respect of others. They must not be women who speak evil about other people. They must have self-control and be women who can be trusted in everything.
12 The men who are special servants must be faithful in marriage.[e] They must be good leaders of children and their own families. 13 Those who do well as special servants are making an honorable place for themselves. And they will feel very sure of their faith in Christ Jesus.
 

TheLearner

Well-known member
Jan 14, 2019
8,183
1,574
113
68
Brighton, MI
#47
Romans 6:6
We know that our old life was put to death on the cross with Christ. This happened so that our sinful selves would have no power over us. Then we would not be slaves to sin.

Romans 6:9
Christ was raised from death. And we know that he cannot die again. Death has no power over him now.

Romans 6:10
Yes, when Christ died, he died to defeat the power of sin one time—enough for all time. He now has a new life, and his new life is with God.

Romans 8:3
The law was without power because it was made weak by our sinful selves. But God did what the law could not do: He sent his own Son to earth with the same human life that everyone else uses for sin. God sent him to be an offering to pay for sin. So God used a human life to destroy sin.

Romans 13:1
Obey Your Government Rulers
All of you must obey the government rulers. Everyone who rules was given the power to rule by God. And all those who rule now were given that power by God.

au·thor·i·ty
/əˈTHôrədē/
Learn to pronounce
noun
1.
the power or right to give orders, make decisions, and enforce obedience.
"he had absolute authority over his subordinates"

Similar:
power
jurisdiction
command
control
mastery
charge
dominance
dominion
rule
sovereignty
ascendancy
supremacy
domination
influence
sway
the upper hand
leverage
hold
grip
clout
pull
muscle
teeth
drag
2.
a person or organization having power or control in a particular, typically political or administrative, sphere.
"the health authorities"


Definition of power (Entry 1 of 3)

1a(1): ability to act or produce an effect
(2): ability to get extra-base hits
(3): capacity for being acted upon or undergoing an effect
b: legal or official authority, capacity, or right
2a: possession of control, authority, or influence over others
b: one having such power
specifically : a sovereign state
c: a controlling group : ESTABLISHMENT —often used in the phrase the powers that be
darchaic : a force of armed men
echiefly dialectal : a large number or quantity
3a: physical might
b: mental or moral efficacy
c: political control or influence
4powers plural : an order of angels
— see CELESTIAL HIERARCHY
5a: the number of times as indicated by an exponent that a number occurs as a factor in a product
5 to the third power is 125
also : the product itself
8 is a power of 2
b: CARDINAL NUMBER sense 2
6a: a source or means of supplying energy
especially : ELECTRICITY
b: MOTIVE POWER
c: the time rate at which work is done or energy emitted or transferred
7: MAGNIFICATION sense 2b
8: SCOPE entry 1 sense 3
9: the probability of rejecting the null hypothesis in a statistical test when a particular alternative hypothesis happens to be true
power verb
powered; powering; powers
Definition of power (Entry 2 of 3)
transitive verb

1: to supply with power and especially motive power
2: to give impetus to
intransitive verb

1: to move about by means of motive power
2: to move with great speed or force
power adjective
Definition of power (Entry 3 of 3)
1: operated mechanically or electrically rather than manually
a car with power locks
power tools
2: of, relating to, or utilizing strength
plays a power game
also : POWERFUL sense 1
a power critic
3: of, relating to, or being a meal at which influential people discuss business or politics
a power lunch
Synonyms & Antonyms


No every use of the word power in Scripture means authority or control.
 

TheLearner

Well-known member
Jan 14, 2019
8,183
1,574
113
68
Brighton, MI
#48
What is the full scriptural definition of power?
what is the full scriptural definition of authority? servanthood?
 

Mem

Senior Member
Sep 23, 2014
7,150
2,168
113
#51
I'm partial to Cat Stevens myself, singing the hymn written by Eleanor Farjeon