What the Bible says about Authority, Positions of
(From Forerunner Commentary)

Genesis 1:27 In this one verse appears several important, foundational points that relate to marriage. The first is that God created both men and women in His own image. Before God, a man and a woman are equal, meaning that both have the same potential: to be transformed into the image of God and inherit His Kingdom. Marriage, then, is a union of equals before God. However, Scripture clearly shows that God placed husbands in the position of authority—he is, as has been said, first among equals. Yet, though they are equal in potential, they may or may not be equal in many areas of mental and physical abilities, and they are certainly not the same in emotional makeup or strength. It is evident that men and women have different natural inclinations, skills, and abilities—all the while not making one better than the other. Being fashioned after God's own body and mind implies that both have human equivalents of God's abilities, desires, goals, preferences, etc. While creating Adam and Eve, God took many of His qualities and distributed them between male and female humans. Clearly, humanity's God-like qualities are not as excellent as His, since there is a great gulf between what God is and what humanity is, but we have human-level counterparts of what God Himself possesses. We are made after the God-kind. That fact makes the relationships that we undertake with others quite important. Genesis 1:27 make it apparent that we are no longer dealing with just physical associations. In His first mention of mankind in the Bible, God begins by putting man's existence on a spiritual plane by letting us know He made us in His image. Our relationships, then, also have a God-plane quality to them, suggesting that we need to take them very seriously. Why? Because the goal of every human being, whether he or she realizes it or not, is to be just like God. Male and female, created in God's image, are on the same track to the same place. So, the relationship between a man and his wife assumes a very spiritual and imperative quality. Richard T. Ritenbaugh Marriage—A God-Plane Relationship (Part One) Related Topics: Authority, Positions of | Both Sexes Created in God's Image | Composite Image of God | God Created Male and Female | God's Image | God-Kind, Reproduction after | Mankind Created in God's Image | Marriage as a God-Plane Relationship | Marriage God Plane Relationship | Transformed into Image of God

Matthew 23:2-4 The person who sat in Moses' seat had a measure of authority, and Jesus said it was to be respected. Apparently, the majority of those seats were occupied by Pharisees and scribes. However, Jesus took great exception as to how they used their authority. They said, and they did not. It is clear they used their authority to abuse, to elevate themselves and put others down, and to burden the people in ways Jesus did not agree with. John W. Ritenbaugh The Covenants, Grace, and Law (Part Twenty-Five) Related Topics: Authority | Authority, Abuse of | Authority, Exceeding | Authority, Positions of | Authority, Subjection to | Authority, Submission to | Pharisaism | Pharisees

John 14:1-2 It is the night before the crucifixion. Jesus knows what is going to happen, so He prepares His disciples by telling them that He is leaving to travel, as it were, somewhere else. When He gets there, He will prepare a place for them. John W. Ritenbaugh The Covenants, Grace, and Law (Part Two) Related Topics: Authority, Positions of | Jesus Christ's Preparation for Disciples | Jesus Christ's Return | Mansions | Positions of Authority | Preparation for Rulership | Prepare a Place for You | Return of Jesus Christ | Reward of the Saved | Reward, Promises of

John 14:2 God has ways of causing us to yield so that He can mold and shape us into what He desires. Because of this, we will be ready for our "place" when the Kingdom comes. God not only has power, but He also always has alternatives to ensure that His will is done without taking our free moral agency from us. He has another option we may not want to consider: If we will not cooperate by using our free moral agency for right purposes, He can always replace us with somebody better. We are, after all, the weak of the world. We have every reason to be encouraged, however. He will use every means at His disposal to prepare and save those called into His purpose on schedule with the return of Jesus Christ. John W. Ritenbaugh The Sovereignty of God: Part Four Related Topics: Authority, Positions of | Christ's Return | Free Moral Agency | Free Moral Agency, Limits to | God's Sovereignty | Jesus Christ's Return | Positions of Authority | Return of Jesus Christ | Sovereignty of God

Revelation 3:12 No matter what a person's name means, it identifies him. Our new names will identify us with a person ("God"), a place ("New Jerusalem"), and very likely a function or responsibility in God's government ("My new name"). Obadiah 1:17, 21 gives us an insight of what our function may be: But on Mount Zion there shall be deliverance, and there shall be holiness; the house of Jacob shall possess their possessions. . . . Then saviors shall come to Mount Zion to judge the mountains of Esau, and the kingdom shall be the Lord's. John W. Ritenbaugh God's Promises Are Sure! Related Topics: Authority, Positions of | God's Government | God's Promises | Government of God | Name | Name, New | Name, Value of | New Jerusalem | New Name | Positions of Authority

Revelation 3:12 When God resurrects us into His Kingdom, He will give us names to designate our existence, nature, and responsibility in the Kingdom. We are assured of carrying God's own name if we overcome sin. What a tremendous reward to bear His name for all eternity! Martin G. Collins The Third Commandment Related Topics: Authority, Positions of | God's Name | God's Promises | Name | Name of God, Honoring | Name of God, Taking in Vain | Name, New | Name, Value of | Overcoming | Positions of Authority | The Third Commandment | Third Commandment

 

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