Professor: Rushdoony Dr. R.J.R.

Subject: Systematic Theology

Genre: Speech

Lesson: 2 of 19

Track: #02

Year:

Dictation Name: 02 Man’s relationship to Authority

[Rushdoony] “But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.”

Let us pray.

Oh Lord our God who of Thy grace and mercy dost pardon all those who truly repent of their sins. Who dost rejoice in the thanksgiving of Thy people; who dost delight in their service and has called us to do these things and ever to rejoice of Thee. We come into Thy presence gladly and joyfully, we thank Thee that Thou hast made us Thine own. We thank Thee that the ends of the earth shall serve Thee, and that we are heirs of Thy kingdom; and that greater is He that is in us and with us then he that is in the world. Give us grace therefore to grow in Thee, to serve Thee, to praise Thee, and in all things to give thanks unto Thee. In Jesus name, amen.

We began last week our study of authority and we continue this week with mans relationship to authority and our scripture is Luke seven verses one through ten, Luke seven verses one through ten. Man’s relationship to authority.

Now when he had ended all his sayings in the audience of the people, he entered into Capernaum.

2 And a certain centurion’s servant, who was dear unto him, was sick, and ready to die.

3 And when he heard of Jesus, he sent unto him the elders of the Jews, beseeching him that he would come and heal his servant.

4 And when they came to Jesus, they besought him instantly, saying, that he was worthy for whom he should do this:

5 For he loveth our nation, and he hath built us a synagogue.

6 Then Jesus went with them. And when he was now not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to him, saying unto him, Lord, trouble not thyself: for I am not worthy that thou shouldest enter under my roof:

7 Wherefore neither thought I myself worthy to come unto thee: but say in a word, and my servant shall be healed.

8 For I also am a man set under authority, having under me soldiers, and I say unto one, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.

9 When Jesus heard these things, he marveled at him, and turned him about, and said unto the people that followed him, I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.

10 And they that were sent, returning to the house, found the servant whole that had been sick. 

The triune God is the source of all authority. But on the human scene authority can be exercised by man under God. God has not restricted authority and its boundaries to eternity, so that we must say that even more than the fact that authority can be exercised under God, it must be exercised under God. There are spheres of legitimate authority under God. Our work, our family, the church, state, a variety of things wherein we have, in varying degrees, authority.

Now to undermine Godly authority in all these and other spheres is to further anarchy and as a means of rebelling against God himself. But on the other hand if we overstress authority on the human scene,