“The Question of Authority” — another look at God's way
of exercising authority — in the larger setting of the great controversy over His
character and government.
Our Heavenly Father has been accused of the arbitrary and selfish abuse of divine
authority and power. If true, it would not be safe to trust Him. But the whole Bible
presents a refutation of this charge — not in mere claims but with the evidence of
demonstration. Even Paul once misunderstood God's use of power — then changed his
mind on the Damascus road. Later he urged us not to be so easily swayed by every
"wind of doctrine" but to practice being more discerning. (Eph. 4:14, Heb. 5:14)
Many still labor under Paul's earlier misunderstanding, and we are surrounded by
conflicting claims to religious authority based on position, power, miracle, or claimed
communication from the Lord. How can we practice being more discerning?
Bible passages included:
Matthew 24:24. "If anyone says to you then, 'Look, here is
Christ!' or 'There he is!' don't believe it. False christs and false prophets are going to
appear and will produce great signs and wonders to mislead, if it were possible, even
God's own people!" (Phillips)
Matthew 24:4, 5. "Jesus answered, 'Watch out, and do not let
anyone fool you. Many men, claiming to speak for me, will come and say, "I am the
Messiah!" and they will fool many people.'" (GNB)
Revelation 13:13, 14. "This second beast performed great
miracles; it made fire come down out of heaven to earth in the sight of everyone. And it
deceived all the people living on earth by means of the miracles which it was allowed to
perform." (GNB)
2 Thessalonians 2:9. "The coming of the lawless one will be in
accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs
and wonders, and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing. They perish
because they refused to love the truth..." (NIV)
2 Corinthians 11:13. "God's messengers? They are counterfeits of
the real thing, dishonest practitioners masquerading as the messengers of Christ. Nor do
their tactics surprise me when I consider how Satan himself masquerades as an angel of
light. It is only to be expected that his agents shall have the appearance of ministers of
righteousness." (Phillips)
John 8:44, 45. "The father whose sons you are is the devil, and
you are bent on carrying out the wishes of your father. He proved himself a murderer at
the very beginning, and did not loyally stand by the truth; in fact, there is no spark of
truth in him. Whenever he gives utterance to his falsehood, then he gives expression to
his real character; for he is a liar and the father of lies. I, on the contrary, speak the
truth, and therefore you do not believe me." (Kleist
and Lilly)
2 Thessalonians 2:1-3. "We ask you, brothers, not to become
easily unsettled or alarmed by some prophecy, report or letter supposed to have come from
us... Don't let anyone deceive you in any way." (NIV)
1 John 4:1, 2. "My dear friends, do not believe all who claim to
have the Spirit, but test them to find out if the spirit they have comes from God. For
many false prophets have gone out everywhere." (GNB)
1 Thessalonians 5:21. "Test everything. Hold on to the
good." (NIV)
Matthew 7:29. "When Jesus had finished saying these things, the
crowds were amazed at his teaching, because he taught as one who had authority..." (NIV)
Luke 4:32. "His message had authority." (NIV)
Deuteronomy 13:1-3. (Moses' warning not to be misled by
miracle-workers who do not teach the truth.)
1 Kings 13:15-18. (The story of the lying prophet who claimed to speak
for God.)
Luke 24:15-17, 27, 30, 31. (The Emmaus road story of how Jesus did not
reveal who He was until He had convinced the disciples first on the basis of evidence.)
One writer's understanding of the Emmaus road experience:
"Jesus did not reveal Himself in His true character to them, and then open the
Scriptures to their minds... He maintained His disguise till He had interpreted the
Scriptures, and had led them to an intelligent faith in His life, His character, His
mission to earth, and His death and resurrection. He wished the truth to take firm root in
their minds, not because it was supported by his personal testimony, but
because the typical law, and the prophets of the Old Testament, agreeing with the facts of
His life and death, presented unquestionable evidence of that truth. When the object of
His labors with the two disciples was gained, He revealed Himself to them." E.G.
White, 1878 (emphasis supplied)
©1984 Graham Maxwell
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