Many dismiss concerns about having authority for all that we say and do as Christians as mere legalism. They belittle these concerns as Pharisaical, nitpicky and antithetical to grace. While they mean the phrase “legalist” in a derogatory sense, in a non-derogatory sense, wouldn’t one not a “legalist” be an “illegalist”—hence, a Christian outlaw?

Contrary to the idea of being a “legalist,” Jesus Himself recognized the importance of speaking and acting with authority. He says, “For I have not spoken on My own authority; but the Father who sent Me gave Me a command, what I should say and what I should speak. And I know that His command is everlasting life. Therefore, whatever I speak, just as the Father has told Me, so I speak” (John 12:48-50). If the Lord saw the need to demonstrate the authority for His words and actions, should we not also see that need?

Another classic contrast of acting with or without authority is seen in the following accounts. Prior to sending His twelve apostles out into the surrounding towns and cities to heal and preach, Jesus, “gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases” (Luke 9:1). They successfully went out healing, preaching and casting out demons (Luke 9:6, 10).

In another account, we read about that, “some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists took it upon themselves to call the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, ‘We exorcise you by the Jesus whom Paul preaches.’ Also there were seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, who did so.” The text goes on to say, “And the evil spirit answered and said, ‘Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?’ Then the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, overpowered them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded” (Acts 19:13-16).

In one case, they acted with the Lord’s authority and were blessed in their effort. In the other case, they merely, “called the name of the Lord Jesus over those” they were casting out demons from, thus acting without the Lord’s authority. These were not blessed. Consider this in light of our Lord’s warning in the sermon on the mount, which says, “Not everyone who says to me ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness” (Matt. 7:21-23).

To practice lawlessness is to be a Christian outlaw, which Jesus clearly condemns! Therefore, it is a good thing to be sure you have the Lord’s written blessing from His word for your words or actions. “Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father though Him” (Col. 3:17). Someone who asks for authority (i.e., book, chapter and verse) for the words you speak or the deeds you propose to do or have done is not an enemy, but a friend, for they would not see you fall to the same condemnation of those the Lord spoke of in Matthew 7:21-23. Think about it...