bro, i agree that none of us are of authority, but the apostles were of authority, and their authority was because of the authority that Christ conferred on them: the only authority is God, who sent Christ from heaven as His own authority.
i am sure you've been told this before ((wow i hope so!)) but:
I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.
(Matthew 16:18)
the name Peter, petros, means rock, but it means specifically a small rock, the size a man can pick up in his hand.
there is a second word for rock in this verse, petra, which means a cliff or a boulder; a rock a human cannot pick up by his own strength.
so what Jesus says is you are 'petros' ((small rock)) and on this 'petra' ((huge boulder)) I will build My church.
Peter is a little pebble. Christ builds His church on a huge boulder. that huge boulder isn't Peter-the-pebble, but the thing Peter has just confessed in v. 17 - that knowledge that only the Father in heaven reveals to a man; that Jesus is the Son of God who descended from heaven.
that revelation of who Christ is, is "the rock" that He builds His church on. not the man named 'little pebble' - whose name is Simon, who is a type of Israel, along with all the other Simon/Simeons in the NT.
His church isn't built on Peter, but on knowledge of the holy
it’s on the very person of peter and his successors
men govern the holy church not a confession and you can’t give the keys (jurisdictional authority) to a confession
Does the confession also bind and loose no it’s peter and the apostles and their successors
Isa 22:21-22
Eph 2:20
What authority does Christ have?
What power does Christ have?
What mission / ministry does Christ have?
Peter, the apostles and their successors have the same authority, power, and mission! Jn 20:21 as my father sent me, even so send I you!
The apostles are Christ’s successors!
They have authority to send others as well, apostle means one who is sent!
Therefore the apostles have authority to send more apostles or successors!
Apostolic succession!
The nations still need to be taught, disciples still need to be baptized and the church the new covenant kingdom of christ still needs to be governed!
Hebrews 3:1
Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus;
Christ is an apostle, and has authority to send other apostles, the apostles also have this authority, so the apostles continue down thru the centuries as Christ promised! Matt 28:19-20
Keys of authority! And power to bind and loose! Matt 16:18 and Matt 18:18 matt 28:19 Isa 22:21-22
Moral authority:
(Teaching)
Necessity of being taught by Christ:
Two edge sword: defining truth and condemning errors, and Interpreting scripture.
Jurisdictional authority:
(Governing / administering)
Necessity of Peter and the apostles and their successors to govern the holy church.
Spiritual authority:
(Life of Grace)
Sanctifying thru the mass and Sacraments
Jesus Christ continues HIS ministry in His new covenant church thru Peter, the apostles, and their successors with the same mission, power, and authority!
Mt 16:18 Mt 28:19 Acts 1:17 acts 8:31 & 35 Lk 10:16 Jn 8:32 Jn 13:20 Jn 15:5 Jn 16:13 Jn 20:21-22 eph 2:20
Lk 10:16
He who hears you hears me...
John 13:20
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that receiveth whomsoever I send receiveth me; and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me.
Only the church has authority from Christ to define the truth and teach!
Matt 16:18 matt 18:18 matt 28:19 Jn 20:21-23 Jn 8:32 Jn 16:13
There still are Apostles matt 28:19 I am with you (the apostles) till the end