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Mark 4 of the True Church
The True Church Acts with Authority Given by God
The principle: In the true Church, no one takes the authority to act for God upon himself. It is given by God, through those He has already called, by prophecy and the laying on of hands.
The Bible teaches that authority to act in God’s name must be given, not taken: “no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron.” Jesus ordained His apostles and gave them power. He gave Peter the keys of the kingdom. The apostles in turn set others apart by prayer and the laying on of hands. The true Church will have that same God-given authority.
What does the Bible say?
And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron.
No one takes this honor upon himself. He must be called of God, as Aaron was.
Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.
Jesus tells His apostles, ‘Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you.’ The call comes from Him.
14And he ordained twelve, that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach,
15And to have power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out devils:
Jesus ordained twelve and gave them power to heal and to cast out devils.
AND when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.
Jesus gave His twelve disciples power. Authority is something He bestows.
And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
Jesus promises Peter the keys of the kingdom of heaven: authority to bind on earth what is bound in heaven.
Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them.
When new servants were chosen, the apostles prayed and laid their hands on them. Authority was passed on in order.
Called of God, as was Aaron
Aaron did not appoint himself. God called him through Moses, His prophet. Hebrews uses Aaron as the pattern: “no man taketh this honour unto himself” (Hebrews 5:4). The right to act in God’s name, which many Christians call priesthood, comes the same way today.
Jesus gave authority to His apostles
The Gospels show again and again that Jesus gave authority. He ordained the Twelve, gave them power, and gave Peter the keys of the kingdom. “Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you,” He told them.
Passed on in an orderly way
The apostles followed the same pattern. When helpers were needed in Jerusalem, the apostles prayed and laid their hands on them. Paul reminded Timothy of the gift he received “with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery” (1 Timothy 4:14).
Why authority matters
Ordinances like baptism matter because they are done in Christ’s name, with His authority. If that authority was ever lost, it could only come back the way it first came: from heaven, given by God.
A question to ponder
Where does a church say its authority comes from? Can it trace that authority to Jesus Christ through those He called?
These scriptures at a glance
| Scripture (KJV) | What it shows |
|---|---|
| Hebrews 5:4 | No one takes this honor upon himself. He must be called of God, as Aaron was. |
| John 15:16 | Jesus tells His apostles, ‘Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you.’ The call comes from Him. |
| Mark 3:14–15 | Jesus ordained twelve and gave them power to heal and to cast out devils. |
| Matthew 10:1 | Jesus gave His twelve disciples power. Authority is something He bestows. |
| Matthew 16:19 | Jesus promises Peter the keys of the kingdom of heaven: authority to bind on earth what is bound in heaven. |
| Acts 6:6 | When new servants were chosen, the apostles prayed and laid their hands on them. Authority was passed on in order. |
Common questions
Isn’t sincere belief enough to serve God?
Sincere faith is precious, and God loves all His children. But the Bible distinguishes faith from authority. Even Jesus’ own apostles did not act on their own; He ordained them (Mark 3:14). Hebrews 5:4 says this honor must come from God.
How was authority passed on in the New Testament?
By the call of God through those already holding authority, usually with prayer and the laying on of hands (Acts 6:6; 1 Timothy 4:14).
Read it for yourself
The best way to know these things is to read the verses in context and ask God about them (James 1:5). Open any reference above in our free King James Bible reader, then see how this principle fits with the other marks of the true Church.