In John 10:17-18 it is written that Jesus had the authority to lay down His life and to take it again. Jesus had received this commandment from His Father with the corresponding authority to execute the commandment of His Father. But it was up to Jesus to obey the commandment of His Father or disobey the commandment of His Father. Because Jesus had a choice to keep His life on earth or to lay down His life. But Jesus loved His Father and because of that, Jesus didn’t do His will but the will of the Father, just like Jesus prayed during the crucifixion of His soul in the garden of Gethsemane. Through His fervent prayer, Jesus overcame this heavy battle and Jesus went the way of obedience to God and obeyed the commandment of the Father and laid down His life and took it again. The same commandment that God the Father had given to Jesus Christ, Jesus has given to everyone, who believes in Him and wants to follow Him. And the same authority that God the Father had given to Jesus, Jesus has given to everyone, who receives Him. Everyone has been given this commandment and has received the authority (εξουσία) to become a son of God (this applies to both males and females), by laying down his own life and taking on his new life through regeneration in Christ and the process of sanctification, whereby the old man is put off and the new man is put on.
The commandment and authority Jesus had received from God the Father
On this account My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life in order that again I might take it. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down Myself. Authority I have to lay it down, and authority I have again to take it. This commandment I received from My Father (Γιάννης 10:17-18)
Αληθώς, αληθώς, σου λέω, he that heareth My word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. Αληθώς, αληθώς, σου λέω, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live. For as the Father hath life in Himself; so hath He given to the Son to have life in Himself; And hath given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of man (Γιάννης 5:24-27)
When God gives a commandment, God always grants His authority and power to the commandment through obedience to His words and commandment.
Jesus had not only received the commandment of His Father, but also the associated authority to lay down His life and take His life again.
No one took the life from Jesus, but Jesus freely laid it down Himself and took it again.
The word ‘power’ is translated from the Greek word ‘exousia’ (G1832) and means (in the sense of ability); privilege, αυτό είναι, (subjectively) force, capacity, competency, ελευθερία, ή (objectively) mastery (concretely magistrate, superhuman, potentate, token of έλεγχος), delegated influence (KJV usage: authority, jurisdiction, liberty, εξουσία, right, strength)*.
Jesus walked in obedience in the will and authority of His Father (the Name of God) and in His power on earth and thereby brought the Kingdom of God to the house of Israel.
Jesus was fully obedient to the words of God and did what God had commanded Him to speak and do (Ω. Ματθαίος 11:27, Γιάννης 5:30; 8:38; 10:32)
When we look at Jesus’ life, we see that the authority and power of God and His Kingdom were greater than the authority and power of the devil and darkness.
The Father loved the Son because of His obedience to the commandment of His Father
Although the devil thought he gained the victory over Jesus on the cross, when God laid all the sins of the world upon Him and made Him sin and darkness reigned (for a short period of time) on earth, it was Jesus Christ, Who was victorious through His obedience to God the Father and rose as a Victor from the dead (Ω. Σημάδι 15:33, Λουκ 22:53; 23:44).
Because through His obedience to the commandment of His Father, to lay down His life, and to take His life again, the power of God was manifested in Jesus through the resurrection from the dead.
Jesus rose from the dead and is alive and is now seated on the throne at the right hand of the Father and is put above all principality, εξουσία, authority, and dominion (Ω. Εφεσίους 1:21, Κολοσσαείς 1:13; 2:10, 15, 1 Πέτρος 3:22, Jude 1:25).
The Father had given Jesus the commandment and the authority to lay down His own life and to take it again. Because of His obedience to the commandment, the Father loved the Son.
Jesus showed His love for His Father through His obedience and knew that God the Father loved Him because of His obedience to Him.
The commandment that Jesus has given to His disciples
He that loveth father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. Και αυτός που δεν παίρνει τον σταυρό του, and followeth after Me, is not worthy of Me. He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for My sake shall find it (Ματθαίος 10:37-39, also Mark 8:34-35, Λουκ 9:23-24)
Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after Me, ας αρνηθεί τον εαυτό του, και σήκωσε τον σταυρό του, και ακολούθησέ Με. Γιατί όποιος θέλει να σώσει τη ζωή του, θα τη χάσει: and whosoever will lose his life for My sake shall find it (Ματθαίος 16:24-25, Λουκ 14:27)
Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it (Λουκ 17:33)
Jesus had given (and still gives) His disciples the commandment to deny themselves and to take up their cross and follow Him. He had given the commandment to lay down their old life and take on their new life and walk in it (Διαβάστε επίσης: ‘How to put off the old man?‘ και ‘How to put on the new man?'')
The power that Jesus has given to become the sons of God
He was in the world, and the world was made by Him, and the world knew Him not. He came unto His own, and His own received Him not. But as many as received Him, to them gave He power (authority G1832) to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God (Γιάννης 1:10-14)
Jesus not only gave them this commandment, but also the authority (εξουσία) to execute this commandment. But everyone has a choice, to either obey the words and commandment of Jesus or reject the words and commandment of Jesus.
The same power (authority (G1832)) that the Father had given to His Son Jesus Christ, has been given by God through Jesus Christ to His disciples.
To everyone, who believes in Jesus Christ and receives Him and becomes born again in Him and belongs to God, He has given the power (authority) to become the sons of God.
So many excuses are used by Christians to not have to change so that they can stay the old carnal man. But no one has an excuse to stay the old man and to take on a victim’s role and keep living as a slave of sin (Διαβάστε επίσης: ‘Τίνος σκλάβος είσαι?).
Because Jesus Christ has delivered everyone, που πιστεύει σε Αυτόν, from the power of sin and death.
Jesus has redeemed everyone, who through faith and regeneration in Him has become a new creation, from the power of darkness and transferred them into His Kingdom ((o.a. Ρωμαίους 6; 8:2-10, 1 Κορινθίους 15:34, 2 Corinthians 5:21, Εφεσίους 4, Κολοσσαείς 1:13, 1 Πέτρος 1:16, 1 Γιάννης 3).
No one has to remain a slave and a victim of sin and death and keep obeying and serving sin through the works of the flesh.
The authority to put off the old man and put on the new man
This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. But ye have not so learned Christ; If so be that ye have heard Him, and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness (Εφεσίους 4:17-24)
If ye then be risen with Christ, αναζητήστε αυτά που είναι παραπάνω, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Δώστε τη στοργή σας στα παραπάνω πράγματα, όχι σε πράγματα στη γη. For ye are dead, και η ζωή σου είναι κρυμμένη με τον Χριστό στον Θεό. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with Him in glory.
Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; πορνεία, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: For which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them. But now ye also put off all these; θυμός, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of Him that created Him: Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all (Κολοσσαείς 3:1-11)
Jesus has given to everyone, who believes in Him and is willing to deny themselves and follow Him, the power (authority) to lay down the old man and his works and put on the new man and his works and reign over unclean spirits of darkness (Ω. Σημάδι 1:27; 3:15; 6:7; 13:34, Λουκ 10:19).
If you are born again in Christ, you have received the power (authority) to resist sin and to put off the old man and put on the new man.
Ωστόσο, it’s all about whether you want to lay down the old man and his works or not. Since you are the one, who puts off the old man and put on the new man. Just like Jesus, Who laid down His own life and took it again.
Jesus has given the commandment and authority to you, but you decide whether you obey His commandment or reject His commandment.
Are you willing to lay down the will and works of the flesh and follow and obey the Word and because of that put on the new man? Are you willing to do what Jesus has commanded you to do? To whom do you belong? Who do you serve? In whose service are you and in whose service do you want to remain? Who reigns in your life as king? Jesus Christ or sin?
All power has been given to Jesus and you have received all power in Him
Τι τότε? θα αμαρτήσουμε, γιατί δεν είμαστε υπό το νόμο, αλλά υπό τη χάρη? Ο Θεός να το κάνει. Δεν ξέρεις, σε όποιον δίνετε τον εαυτό σας υπηρέτες για να υπακούσετε, δούλοι του είστε στους οποίους υπακούτε; είτε της αμαρτίας μέχρι θανάτου, ή της υπακοής στη δικαιοσύνη? Αλλά ο Θεός να είναι ευχαριστημένος, ότι ήσασταν δούλοι της αμαρτίας, αλλά έχετε υπακούσει από καρδιάς σε εκείνη τη μορφή διδασκαλίας που σας παραδόθηκε. Το να ελευθερωθείς τότε από την αμαρτία, γίνατε δούλοι της δικαιοσύνης. Μιλάω κατά τον τρόπο των ανθρώπων λόγω της αδυναμίας της σάρκας σας: γιατί όπως παραδώσατε τα μέλη σας υπηρέτες στην ακαθαρσία και στην ανομία στην ανομία; έτσι και τώρα δώστε τα μέλη σας υπηρέτες στη δικαιοσύνη προς την αγιότητα.
Διότι όταν ήσασταν δούλοι της αμαρτίας, ήσασταν ελεύθεροι από τη δικαιοσύνη. Τι καρπό είχατε τότε σε εκείνα τα πράγματα για τα οποία τώρα ντρέπεστε;? γιατί το τέλος αυτών των πραγμάτων είναι ο θάνατος. Τώρα όμως ελευθερώνομαι από την αμαρτία, και γίνουμε υπηρέτες του Θεού, έχετε τον καρπό σας προς αγιότητα, και το τέλος της αιώνιας ζωής. Διότι ο μισθός της αμαρτίας είναι θάνατος; αλλά το δώρο του Θεού είναι η αιώνια ζωή μέσω του Ιησού Χριστού του Κυρίου μας. (Romeinen 6:15-23)
And Jesus came and spake unto them, ρητό, All power is given unto Me in heaven and in earth. Πηγαίνετε λοιπόν, και διδάσκουν όλα τα έθνη, βαφτίζοντάς τους στο όνομα του Πατέρα, και του Υιού, και του Αγίου Πνεύματος: Διδάσκοντάς τους να τηρούν όλα όσα σας έχω προστάξει: και, ιδού, I am with you alway, ακόμη και μέχρι το τέλος του κόσμου. Amen (Ματθαίος 28:18-20)
If you stand in the service of God and belong to Jesus Christ and serve Him, you shall obey Him and therefore obey His words and commandments and walk in the authority He has given you
Through your obedience to Him and His words and commandments, you shall walk in the authority of Jesus Christ on earth and put off the old man and put on the new man.
As the new creation, as son of Θεός, you shall fulfill the great commandment in the Name of Jesus (His authority) and the power of the Holy Spirit.
«Γίνε το αλάτι της γης»
