Queen's Road Cell

I thought it was best for us to focus on a theological study of the Great Commission in Matt 28:18-20. Jesus starts by telling his disciples, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me". "Authority" refers to the right to command someone. In Jesus' case, He not only has the right, but the power to issue and enforce the command. The extent of His authority is exhaustive. He is given "all" authority in heaven and on earth". He has authority to build and to destroy, to save and to kill (c.f. Jer 1:10). That authority is "given" to Jesus as the God-Man, in a way that He did not have before His death and resurrection (c.f. Phil 2:6-11). It is distinct from His rights and powers as the Eternal Son of God, the second Person of the Trinity. Jesus sends us out as the pre-eminent Sovereign One. In His name we have the right to tell the world how to behave and what to believe. We have the right to compel obedience to the Gospel (R...

I felt we should begin the study by looking at 1 Co 7 and 2 Co 6 first. 1 Co 7 is admittedly difficult. Paul writes in response to a question raised by the Corinthian church (v.1) and talks in the chapter about marriage and singlehood. He strongly affirms the worth of singlehood: "I wish that all were as I myself am" (v.7, 26, 37). The one who has singleheartedly and willingly refrains from marriage does 'even better' than the one who is married. The reason Paul gives for this is because the single person can devote himself or herself solely to please the Lord, will not be anxious about worldly things and will not have divided interests.(v.32-34). Paul certainly does not disapprove of marriage (v.28, 38, cf. Eph 5:22-33, 1 Ti 4:1-4), but his perspective (and therefore God's perspective) of the superiority of singlehood as a spiritual choice is quite counter-cultural. Both singlehood and marriage are spiritual gifts of grace (charismata), which require the exercis...