Amen!
However, Scripture teaches that authority and submission are inherent to the Godhead and have existed from the beginning. Jesus was sent by the Father, and He does the will of the Father. He prayed in the garden of Gethsemane that not His will be done, by Thy will be done. Jesus submits to the authority of the Father. These are not the results of sin; they are the very nature of the Godhead in which all three persons are equal in essence but exist within a hierarchy of authority and submission.
There are clear examples of authority and submission throughout the Bible. The book of Matthew is focused on the authority of Jesus Christ. The angels have rank and levels of authority. Wives should submit to their husbands and we must submit to the authority of God and Jesus Christ.
Amen again.
We need to be careful not to throw the baby out with the Romanist holy bath water. We are to submit ourselves to the authority of Scripture where our own personal sanctification by the Holy Spirit is augmented by worshiping as a congregation of like-minded believers in a church led by representatives elected from among the congregation.
That's why I find the presbyterian form of church structuring so productive. It is not a vertical hierarchy of Rome. It is not a horizontal hierarchy of no authority. It is a diagonal hierarchy made up of believers who are all bound by the word of God.
There is a church of Jesus Christ on earth to which we submit for learning and discipline, but only if and when that church is preaching the truth of the risen Christ. If not, we are told to leave it behind and find a congregation that does honor and submit to the word of God above all else.
That's why of the 33 chapters of the Westminster Confession of Faith, the very first chapter is "Of the Holy Scripture" while "Of the Church" is chapter 25.
That's why I find the presbyterian form of church structuring so productive. It is not a vertical hierarchy of Rome. It is not a horizontal hierarchy of no authority. It is a diagonal hierarchy made up of believers who are all bound by the word of God.
There is a church of Jesus Christ on earth to which we submit for learning and discipline, but only if and when that church is preaching the truth of the risen Christ. If not, we are told to leave it behind and find a congregation that does honor and submit to the word of God above all else.
That's why of the 33 chapters of the Westminster Confession of Faith, the very first chapter is "Of the Holy Scripture" while "Of the Church" is chapter 25.
Amen, and AMEN Dr E!
Thanks for your thoughtful post.