TEEN TREE       OF LIFE

THE DOCTRINE OF

AUTHORITY ORIENTATION

Part 2

July 29, 2018

 

BEFORE we begin, if you are a believer in Jesus Christ, take a moment to name your sins to God the Father. This will allow you to be filled with the power of The Holy Spirit as you read this booklet (EPH 5:18 & 1JO 1:9). IF YOU HAVE never believed in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, you have that opportunity right now. Simply tell God the Father that you are believing on His Son Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. If you make that decision, you are now a believer and will always be a child of God! When you die, you will spend eternity with Him forever in heaven! (JOH 3:16 & ACT 16:31).

 

As we continue to look at this very important subject, we should take note of the fact that all authority in life is divided into two general categories: legitimate and illegitimate.

 

Legitimate Authority is established according to Scripture, the laws of the land, or in accordance with established rules, principles, or standards. God has delegated Legitimate Authority into two categories. One is the temporal realm which is made up of The Laws of Divine Establishment. (Temporal has to do with the world we live in.) God has ordained The Laws of Divine Establishment for the survival and freedom of the human race during the course of human history. Mayhem and rebellion erupt when segments of nations ignore these laws. The Laws of Divine Establishment provide the freedom to fulfill God’s Divine Plan under many types of government.

 

The Laws of Divine Establishment are designed and directed toward both believers and unbelievers. These Laws operate from the fall of man to the Second Advent, as well as in the Millennium. There are four areas to God’s Divine Establishment, all of which are oriented to a system of authority: 1) volition (authority over one’s own soul); 2) marriage (authority of the husband over the wife); 3) family (authority of the parents over the children); and 4) nationalism (authority of the government over the citizens).

The second Legitimate Authority exists in The Spiritual Realm and consists of God’s laws for the function of a particular dispensation as directly communicated by God or found in Scripture. For the Church Age, spiritual freedom is the function of the believer while filled with the Holy Spirit. Spiritual freedom is taught in such passages as: JOH 8:32: “…and you will know the truth [Bible doctrine], and the truth will make you free [spiritually].” And GAL 5:1: It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery [living in the cosmic system].”

 

Illegitimate authority is illegal, unlawful authority. It is generally established by unlawful or illegal force. Illegitimate authority also includes the attainment of power without the lawful right to possess that power. This authority was established by Satan by using the cosmic system. It is evident in the erroneous seizure of power, the rise of dictators, and tyranny throughout history. Illegitimate authority is delegated by Satan as the ruler of this world in three categories: tyranny; false doctrine; and power struggles. Nevertheless, because Jesus Christ controls history, illegitimate authority is actually allowed by God as a curse, a judgment, or discipline toward a group of people or a nation because of their apostasy and reversionism. Apostasy is a word you might not know; it means abandonment of one’s religion or principles. And as we have learned, reversionism is when a person goes back to his/her unbelieving ways. We constantly need to fill our minds with Biblical truths to avoid reversionism.

 

Temporal and spiritual freedom relate to the two categories of authorities (legal and illegal). Temporal has to do with the world which is temporary. The primary purpose of temporal freedom is for evangelization.

 

It is inevitable that arrogance will challenge any legitimate system of authority. When it does, tyranny will result.  Arrogance is Satanic and it is God’s worse sin. Satan, as the ruler of this world, constantly seeks to do everything possible to overthrow the Divinely-Delegated authority that brings freedom and blessing to individuals and nations.

 

Authority has been an issue since the beginning of the human race. Take a moment to read all of GENESIS 3. The fall in the Garden of Eden was a result of rejection of authority. The woman rejected God’s Authority and Bible doctrine and accepted Satan’s authority. She also rejected the authority of her right man: A woman must quietly receive instruction with entire submissiveness. But I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man, but to remain quiet. For it was Adam who was first created, and then Eve. And it was not Adam who was deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression. (1Tim 2:11-14)

 

Adam accepted the authority of the woman which goes completely against God’s Word. First, Adam rejected God’s Authority and in doing so threw his delegated authority away. The woman’s rejection of authority contributed to her fall. She failed in the garden under two principles of authority. First, she failed under the principle taught in God’s Word. And you have to remember that God’s Word was taught to both of them by Jesus Christ Himself, daily!! She ignored what she was taught! Second, she failed under the principle of the authority of man over woman. Adam was both Divinely commissioned not only as ruler of the world but also as the ruler of the woman. So, the first civilization really began with rejection of authority which basically is a revolution.

 

Authority has been delegated by God to four Divine Institutions:

  1. In Volition (decisions), your self-determination has authority over your own soul with emphasis on your volition. This simply means that you have freedom to make decisions but remember that with this freedom comes responsibility: For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. (GAL 5:13)
  2. In Marriage, the husband has authority over the wife, which is taught in EPH 5:22: Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord.
  3. In Families, parents have authority over the children: Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Honor your father and mother (which is the first commandment with a promise), so that it may be well with you, and that you may live long on the earth. (EPH 6:1-3)
  4. In Nationalism, the government has authority over the citizens of that nation.

 

There are five categories of human freedom:

  1. The function of the soul with emphasis on thought, motive, and decision
  2. The existence of privacy as the environment for freedom and self-determination
  3. The right to possess property, and to enjoy, to benefit, and/or to profit from things acquired
  4. Authority, which is the power delegated by God to command, to train, to teach, or to act as an agent.
  5. Human life which man must possess in order to exercise his rights and functions under the concept of freedom.

There are two attitudes toward legitimate authority:

 

  1. Response, which is acceptance of authority delegated by God.
  2. Reaction, which is rejection of authority delegated by God.

 

{to be continued}

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