[DesertRhino]

He designates his authority to men? Ok cool, just show me a note to that effect, signed “JH of Nazareth” that designates you. Until then, you and I stand as equals before God.

Oh, Make sure it’s notarized.

[FatherofFive]

He designates his authority to men? Ok cool, just show me a note to that effect, signed “JH of Nazareth” that designates you.

“Jesus replied, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” Mat 16:17-18

[righttackle44]

He designates his authority to men? Ok cool, just show me a note to that effect, signed “JH of Nazareth” that designates you. Until then, you and I stand as equals before God.

Oh, Make sure it’s notarized.

Don't need an notarized note. It's in Scripture, smart mouth.

In the Gospels:
"And he called to him his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every affliction. The names of the twelve apostles are these…” – Matt. 10:1-2

Jesus speaking:
"19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen. Matthew 28:19-20

It's in Paul's letters:
"God, who had sent Peter on a mission to the Jews, was now using me to preach to the Gentiles." Galatians 2:8

Finally, the word apostle MEANS "sent forth." Jesus sent fort the original 12. Then Paul was designated an Apostle, and he passed on pastor responsibility to Timothy and other pastors. In these days, the Holy Spirit gives spiritual gifts to Christians in Romans 12:6–8, 1 Corinthians 12:8–10, and 1 Peter 4:11.

Those gifts are used in service to the Church. So you and I stand spiritually equal in Church before God, but not in calling or service. And Christians are called to be submissive to those placed in spiritual authority over us: "Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you. Hebrew 13:17. So then who placed those in Spiritual authority the Church? In the context of the Hebrews 13, Paul is obviously and apparently writing of those placed in spiritual authority over us by the Lord God Himself.

So aren't you speaking in rebellious opposition? If so, then the Lord rebuke you.

[pastorbillrandles]

How about Acts 16:18 ? But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour. BTW He delegates, not designates. We are both equals before God already. That has nothing to do with what I am talking about.

[FatherofFive]

"So when it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and when the doors were shut where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be with you.” And when He had said this, He showed them both His hands and His side. The disciples then rejoiced when they saw the Lord. So Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you; as the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” And when He had said this, He breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, their sins have been forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they have been retained.” John 20:19-23

Looks like Christ delegated the authority to forgive sins to the men he established as His priesthood.

[Responsibility2nd]

In I Timothy and in Titus, He instructed men to be elders and deacons over the local church. They have authority over us, and they are accountable to God for the job they do.

This reply - along with all the many others - leads me to think you may wish FR had a feature to allow you to take back your snarky post.

But oh well. Live and learn.

[unlearner]

“He designates his authority to men?”

Yes, he does. Every person is required by God to submit to others. Even Christ Himself demonstrated willing submission to His Heavenly Father as well as His earthly parents, though He Himself is God. If Christ demonstrated submission, how much more does God expect disciples of Christ to submit to authority?

We live in a day of buffet-style Christianity—a day when “every man does that which is right in his own eyes.” But this is not how God ordained things. And rebellion against God-ordained authority is very dangerous.

Ephesians 5:21
Submitting to one another in the fear of God.

Hebrews 13:17
Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.

1 Thessalonians 5:12-13
And we urge you, brethren, to recognize those who labor among you, and are over you in the Lord.

Jude 11
Woe to them! For they have gone in the way of Cain, have run greedily in the error of Balaam for profit, and perished in the rebellion of Korah.

To learn what Jude is referring to about Korah, see this passage in Numbers:

Numbers 16:3, 23, 24, 31-33
[The sons of Korah] gathered together against Moses and Aaron, and said to them, “You take too much upon yourselves, for all the congregation is holy, every one of them, and the Lord is among them. Why then do you exalt yourselves above the assembly of the Lord?”... So the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the congregation, saying, ‘Get away from the tents of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram.’”... Now it came to pass, as he finished speaking all these words, that the ground split apart under them, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up, with their households and all the men with Korah, with all their goods. So they and all those with them went down alive into the pit; the earth closed over them, and they perished from among the assembly.