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Christ's Authority in Evangelism and Missions

Christ's authority in evangelism and missions is rooted in his divine kingship and mediatorial role, which encompasses his functions as prophet, priest, and king [1]. This authority is not merely a suggestion but a foundational aspect of his identity and mission, extending over his Church and all creation for the benefit of his Church [1, 5].

The concept of Christ's authority is evident throughout the New Testament, particularly in his commissioning of disciples and the subsequent spread of the Gospel. Jesus himself commenced his ministry "in the power of the Holy Spirit" [3]. He demonstrated this power through miracles, such as casting out demons, healing the sick, and forgiving sins, all of which underscored his divine authority [3, 13]. The Tyndale House commentary on Mark notes that Jesus' authority to cast out demons, heal, and forgive sins clearly stemmed from God, though religious leaders of his time were unwilling to accept it [13].

When Jesus commissioned his apostles, he explicitly granted them "power and authority" [8, 14]. This dual grant meant he both qualified them for the task and authorized them to perform it [8, 14]. For instance, in Matthew 10, Jesus gave his twelve disciples "power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease" [14]. The Tyndale House commentary on Matthew 10 explains that by performing these acts "in the name and authority of Jesus," the apostles demonstrated Jesus' status as the Messiah [12]. This commission to the apostles is a direct outflow of Christ's headship over the Church [5].

The authority given to ministers of the Gospel is derived from Christ. They are "commissioned by Christ" and "sent by the Holy Spirit" [7]. This authority is "for edification, and not for destruction," meaning it is intended to build up the Church and advance the Gospel, not to tear down [9]. John Gill, commenting on 2 Corinthians, notes that apostles, in particular, had an extraordinary power from Christ to preach the Gospel, administer ordinances, and even punish offenders, though this power was always for constructive purposes [9].

The efficacy of the Gospel itself is tied to the power of God and the Holy Spirit. The Apostle Paul, in Romans 15:19, speaks of preaching the Good News "in the power of signs and wonders, in the power of God’s Spirit" [2]. This indicates that the proclamation of the Gospel is not merely human effort but is empowered by divine agency [3]. The Holy Spirit's power is described as the "power of God" and is exhibited in various ways, including creation, the conception of Christ, raising Christ from the dead, giving spiritual life, working miracles, and making the Gospel efficacious [3, 6]. The "voice of the Lord" is described as powerful and full of majesty, and this power is evident when the Gospel is preached, leading to the conversion and salvation of souls [10].

Christ's authority is supreme, transcending all other powers, whether human or spiritual, in both the present age and the age to come [11]. Ephesians 1:21 emphasizes that Jesus is "far above" all rival powers [11]. This comprehensive authority underpins the global scope of evangelism and missions. The "good message" (Greek: evangelion) of Christ's coming and mission was the central fact of early Christian preaching [4]. Those who proclaimed this message were called evangelistai (evangelists) [4].

The kingship of Christ is a key aspect of his mediatorial office [1]. As King, he is the sovereign Head over his Church and over all things for the sake of his Church [1, 5]. This means that the mission of the Church, including evangelism, operates under his direct command and authority. He not only appointed his apostles but also "instituted the ordinances" and "imparts gifts" to his people [5]. The saints are considered "complete in him" [5].

The authority of Christ is not limited to the spiritual realm but extends universally. The power of God, which is synonymous with the power of the Holy Spirit in many contexts, is described as great, strong, glorious, mighty, everlasting, sovereign, effectual, and irresistible [3, 6]. This divine power ensures that Christ's commission for evangelism and missions is not a futile endeavor but one backed by ultimate authority and capability. The promise of the Holy Spirit's power, given by both the Father and Christ, further underscores the divine backing for the mission [3].

Sources

  1. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Kingly office of Christ — One of the three special relations in which Christ stands to his people. Christ's office as mediator comprehends three different functions, viz., those of a prophet, priest, and king. These are not three distinct offices, but three functions of the one office of mediator. Christ is King and sovereign Head over his Church and over all things to his Church (Eph. 1:22; 4:15; Col. 1:18; 2:19). He executes this mediatorial kingship in his Church, and over his Church, and over all things in behalf of his Church. This royalty differs from that whic”
  2. Romans “in the power of signs and wonders, in the power of God’s Spirit; so that from Jerusalem, and around as far as to Illyricum, I have fully preached the Good News of Christ; -- Romans 15:19”
  3. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Power of the Holy Spirit, The — Is the power of God -- Mt 12:28; Lu 11:20. Christ commenced his ministry in -- Lu 4:14. Christ wrought his miracles by -- Mt 12:28. Exhibited in Creation. -- Ge 1:2; Job 26:13; Ps 104:30. The conception of Christ. -- Lu 1:35. Raising Christ from the dead. -- 1Pe 3:18. Giving spiritual life. -- Eze 37:11-14; Ro 8:11. Working miracles. -- Ro 15:19. Making the gospel efficacious. -- 1Co 2:4; 1Th 1:5. Overcoming all difficulties. -- Zec 4:6,7. Promised by the Father. -- Lu 24:49. Promised by Christ. -- Ac 1:8. Saints Upheld by. -- Ps 51:12”
  4. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Gospels — The central fact of Christian preaching was the intelligence that the Saviour had come into the world (Matt. 4:23; Rom. 10:15); and the first Christian preachers who called their account of the person and mission of Christ by the term evangelion_ (= good message) were called _evangelistai (= evangelists) (Eph. 4:11; Acts 21:8). There are four historical accounts of the person and work of Christ: "the first by Matthew, announcing the Redeemer as the promised King of the kingdom of God; the second by Mark, declaring him a prophet, mighty in deed and word'; th”
  5. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Christ, the Head of the Church — Predicted -- Ps 118:22; Mt 21:42. Appointed by God -- Eph 1:22. Declared by himself -- Mt 21:42. As his mystical body -- Eph 4:12,15; 5:23. Has the pre-eminence in all things -- 1Co 11:3; Eph 1:22; Col 1:18. Commissioned his Apostles -- Mt 10:1,7; 28:19; Joh 20:21. Instituted the ordinances -- Mt 28:19; Lu 22:19,20. Imparts gifts -- Ps 68:18; Eph 4:8. Saints are complete in -- Col 2:10. Perverters of the truth do not hold -- Col 2:18,19.”
  6. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Power of God, The — Is one of his attributes -- Ps 62:11. Expressed by the Voice of God. -- Ps 29:3,5; 68:33. Finger of God. -- Ex 8:19; Ps 8:3. Hand of God. -- Ex 9:3,15; Isa 48:13. Arm of God. -- Job 40:9; Isa 52:10. Thunder of his power. -- Job 26:14. Described as Great. -- Ps 79:11; Na 1:3. Strong. -- Ps 89:13; 136:12. Glorious. -- Ex 15:6; Isa 63:12. Mighty. -- Job 9:4; Ps 89:13. Everlasting. -- Isa 26:4; Ro 1:20. Sovereign. -- Ro 9:21. Effectual. -- Isa 43:13; Eph 3:7. Irresistible. -- De 32:39; Da 4:35. Incomparable. -- Ex 15:11,12; De 3:24; Job 40:9; Ps 89:8.”
  7. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Ministers — Called by God -- Ex 28:1; Heb 5:4. Qualified by God -- Isa 6:5-7; 2Co 3:5,6. Commissioned by Christ -- Mt 28:19. Sent by the Holy Spirit -- Ac 13:2,4. Have authority from God -- 2Co 10:8; 13:10. Authority of, is for edification -- 2Co 10:8; 13:10. Separated to the gospel -- Ro 1:1. Entrusted with the gospel -- 1Th 2:4. Described as Ambassadors for Christ. -- 2Co 5:20. Ministers of Christ. -- 1Co 4:1. Stewards of the mysteries of God. -- 1Co 4:1. Defenders of the faith. -- Php 1:7. The servants of Christ's people. -- 2Co 4:5. Specially protected by God -- ”
  8. Luke (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Luke 9 (introduction): MISSION OF THE TWELVE APOSTLES. (Luk 9:1-6) power and authority--He both qualified and authorized them.”
  9. 2 Corinthians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 2 Corinthians 10:8: For though I should boast somewhat more of our authority,.... Than as yet he had done, or used to do; or rather the sense is, should he boast of a greater authority than the false apostles, or even than the true ministers of the Gospel in common had, he should not exceed the bounds of truth and modesty; for as an apostle he not only had an authority from Christ to preach the Gospel, and administer ordinances, but also had an extraordinary power of punishing offenders, as before observed: which the Lord hath given us for edification, and not for destruction; a”
  10. Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 29:4: The voice of the Lord is powerful,.... Or "with power" (a); as thunder, in the effect of it, shows; and so is the Gospel, when it comes, not in word only, but is attended with the power of God to the conversion and salvation of souls; it is then quick and powerful, Heb 4:12; and the word of Christ personal, when here on earth, was with power, Luk 4:32; the voice of the Lord is full of majesty; Christ, in his state of humiliation, spake and taught as one having authority; and now, in the ministration of his Gospel by his servants, he goes forth with glory and majesty”
  11. Ephesians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Ephesians 1:21: 1:21 he is far above: Jesus’ power and authority transcend all rival powers, whether human or spiritual, in this age and the coming age (see 3:10; 6:12; John 12:31; Rom 8:38-39; 1 Cor 15:24; Col 1:13; 2:10, 15; 1 Pet 3:22; Rev 12:7-9).”
  12. Matthew (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Matthew 10:7: 10:7-8 By doing these things in the name and authority of Jesus, the apostles demonstrated Jesus’ status as Messiah (see 11:2-6).”
  13. Mark (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Mark 11:28: 11:28 Jesus’ authority includes his divine authority to cast out demons (1:22, 27; 5:1-13), heal (1:29–2:12; 5:21-43), forgive sins (2:10), and now cleanse the Temple. Jesus’ authority clearly was from God, but the religious leaders were unwilling to accept it.”
  14. Matthew (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Matthew 10 (introduction): MISSION OF THE TWELVE APOSTLES. ( = Mar 6:7-13; Luk 9:1-6). (Mat 10:1-5) And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power--The word signifies both "power," and "authority" or "right." Even if it were not evident that here both ideas are included, we find both words expressly used in the parallel passage of Luke (Luk 9:1) --"He gave them power and authority"--in other words, He both qualified and authorized them. against--or "over."”
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