AUTHORITY

What does Scripture say about “Authority”?  In order for one to live in accordance to the will of our Lord God and Heavenly Father in our relationships and obedience to our government, and all who are in authority, it is important and necessary for us to know what the Holy Spirit guided His servants to write in the Scriptures about this subject.

Writing to the brothers and sisters in Christ living in Rome, the Apostle Paul told them the following: “Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be fee from fear from the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you. For he is God’s servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God’s servant, an agent of wrath to bring judgment on the wrongdoer. Therefore it is necessary to submit to authorities, not only because of possible punishment, but also because of conscience.”  Romans 13:1-7

Those of us living on this small island of Aruba, or on our neighboring islands Curaçao and Bonaire, or anywhere else for that matter, must understand that the system of government in large nations may differ than ours, but the Biblical principles are the same. For example there are Kings and Queens, Presidents, Prime Ministers, Emperors, and other such titles. Do not think that because they are called servants of God in the Scriptures, that this necessarily means that they are Christians or true believers. Whoever it may be, and whatever title he or she may carry is included in the word “humanity”, and Christ died on the cross for all mankind everywhere, and if Christ died for all, He also rose for all. And that, my friend, includes all government officials in all the nations of the world. Yes, it includes great people that carry names like Scientists, Doctors, Medical Specialists, Soldies, Police, and on and on the list goes.  Every single person in these categories, and for that matter all categories are called  to REPENT and BELIEVE in the Gospel of our Lord and Savior JesusChrist. According to the living Word of our Lord and God, there is  no person whose life is good enough, that he  or she need not repent and believe. No, all must repend, and that is the reason why our Lord Jesus said on one occasion when he was teaching the disciples, and multitudes: that it is hard for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God!

However, in another passage of Scripture we read that it is not hard only for the rich to enter the Kingdom of God, but it is difficult for all people everywhere. Even a very religious person, with high positions in her or his religion, if if or she does not REPENT and accept, by faith, the Lord Jesus Christ as his/her personal Savior dies in his or her lost condition - according to the Word of God. No religious robe (garb), no religious name, no religious gestures can save a  person from eternal condemnation. That “lost condition”  is true for every single person in the world. Jesus came to seek and to save that which was lost. Christ Jesus died on the cross to free us from sin, that we might live for righteousness. It is by His wounds we were healed. We need to be reminded again and again that our lives are like a vapor or mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Please take a moment and read the passage in the Book of James, chapter 4, verses 13-17.

That is why the Holy Spirit inspired the writer in the Book of Hebrews to give us these words: “We must pay more careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away. For if the message spoken by angels was binding, and every violation and disobedience received its just punishment, how shall we escape, if we neglect so great a salvation? The answer to this question is right there in the same question!

Dear friends, loved by the Lord Himself, it does not matter in which category we belong in the human race that we are a part of, remember this: we encourage you by the authority of the living Word of God, to humble yourself before God Almighty, acknowledge that you are a sinner, and need Jesus Christ as your personal Savior, and that you accept Him, by faith. One thing is sure, you will never be sorry that you repented and made this very important decision in your life.

Written & prepared by Bicento & Betty Henriquez

PS Feel free to post a question or a comment to us.