THE AUTHORITY OF THE CHURCH

You see, every true church assembly (as represented by the leadership) has great authority in heaven because the church is the body of Christ. Jesus told the Apostles that whoever’s Sin the church forgives is forgiven and whoever’s Sin the church retains is retained (see John 20:23). He also told them that whatever the church binds on earth is bound in heaven (see Matt 18:17-18). Such is the authority of the apostolic church.Every believer has protection from Satan (the prince of this world) because he or she becomes a member of Christ’s body by virtue of his faith in the Lord. But if a church assembly decides to [temporarily] sever themselves from a member because of his embarrassing and shameful conduct, such a believer will no longer enjoy the covering and protection of the church, and will now be exposed to Satan’s assault.

If that believer was rightly judged by his church assembly, but rebelliously goes to join himself to another group of believers, if that group accepts him in spite of his rebellion, that group will share in his iniquity and share in his judgement because they have refused to discern the body of the Lord and have ‘laid hands on him suddenly'(see 1 Tim 5:22).Go into today remembering that the church of Christ has more authority than any human government and every member of this body has access to the authority of Christ.