Even after being begotten by God the Father, our own carnality with human nature is still there. "Because the carnal mind (the mind of the flesh) is enmity (hostile or unfriendly) against God. For it is not subject to the law of God". It is this mind of the flesh we call human nature that causes individuals to want their own way and rebel against God's laws, statutes, and government, that is described and outlined in His Word (Rom. 8:7).

We need to recognize that human nature leads to resisting authority. God identifies His chosen people as being stiff necked (rebellious). "Furthermore the LORD spake unto me (Moses), saying, I have seen this people, and, behold, it is a stiff necked people:" (Deu. 9:13). Moses never forgot that statement. He later passed it on to the Levites before he died. "Moses commanded the Levites, which bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD, Saying, Take this book of the law, and put it in the side of the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, that it may be there for a witness against thee. For I know thy rebellion, and thy stiff neck: behold, while I am yet alive with you this day, ye have been rebellious against the LORD; and how much more after my death? Gather unto me all the elders of your tribes, and your officers, that I may speak these words in their ears, and call heaven and earth to record against them. For I know that after my death ye will utterly corrupt yourselves, and turn aside from the way which I have commanded you; and evil will befall you in the latter days; because ye will do evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke Him to anger through the work of your hands" (Deu. 31:25-29). This human mind that's governed by carnality is hostile to God and out of harmony with His will. This mind continues to disobey the laws, statutes and government of God. This kind of hostility against God's law, statutes and government is opposite of the peace that comes to those who live in the spirit. "For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace" (Rom. 8:6).

In order to recognize human nature that leads to resisting authority. We must first understand that those in authoritive positions in God's church are not voted into office. "God put every one in His Church as it pleases Him". "But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him. Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues (1 Cor. 12:18,27-28). And in the letter to the Ephesians Paul wrote the reason for these offices. He reiterated what he said to the Corinthian Church. "And He gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into Him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:" (Eph. 4:11-13,15).

3. The true Church of God, will have the Fathers name "Church of God". (Act 20:28; 1 Cor. 1:2; 10:32; 11:16; 11:22; 15:9; 2 Cor. 1:1; Gal. 1:13; 1 Thes. 2:14; 2 Thes. 1:4; 1 Tim. 3:5; 3:15;) God's ekklesia (called out ones) will be kept in the Fathers name. " And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to Thee, Holy Father, keep through Thine own name those whom Thou hast given Me, that they may be one, as We are" (Joh 17:11).

4. The true Church of God's sign is keeping the Sabbath, His true Holy Days and the true new moon day for the calendar! "It is a sign between me and the children of Israel for ever: for in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed" (Exo. 31:17). "And it shall be for a sign unto thee upon thine hand, and for a memorial between thine eyes, that the LORD'S law may be in thy mouth: for with a strong hand hath the LORD brought thee out of Egypt" (Exo 13:9).

5. The true Church of God will have Jesus Christ as the head of His Church. He guides it, He directs it, and He will be the one to empower it. "The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance" (2 Pet. 3:9). "knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?" (Rom. 2:4).

7. The True Church of God's power at this present time is being broken. "And I heard the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven, and sware by Him that liveth for ever that it shall be for a time, times, and an half; and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished. And I heard, but I understood not: then said I, O my Lord, what shall be the end of these things? And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end. Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried (tested)" (Dan. 12:7-10).

Mr. Armstrong stated in his autobiography, "No person can receive all truth instantaneously. The human receives knowledge gradually. The child of God must grow in the knowledge of our Lord. "But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To Him be glory both now and for ever. Amen" (2 Pet. 3:18). Also he must have the spirit of repentance, always ready and willing to acknowledge error and to turn from it. The scriptures are profitable for reproof and correction, as well as instruction in knowledge new to us. And God corrects every son He loves (Heb. 12:6). I know of no church or sect or denomination that had ever publicly confessed error or embraced new truth. Yet plainly this would be a test of the true church". (Autobiography, Vol 1, 1967, page 344; Vol I, page 360 1986 Edition). "Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honour, that the name of God and His doctrine be not blasphemed. And they that have believing masters, let them not despise them, because they are brethren; but rather do them service, because they are faithful and beloved, partakers of the benefit. These things teach and exhort. If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to Godliness; he is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself" (1 Tim. 6:1-5). Does having a big income and a large following mean you are growing in godliness? "But godliness with contentment is great gain" (1 Tim. 6:6).

Carnal nature likes to argue against God's laws, statutes and government!! Moses who wrote the first five books of the Bible tells us of an experience he had with Korah. Korah was the son of Izhar, the brother of Amram, the father of Moses and Aaron, making him a cousin to these leaders of Israel. (Exo. 6:21; Num. 16:1-49) Korah was the main leader in a conspiracy against Moses and Aaron. It seems Korah and those who followed him were influenced with jealousy over the privileges Moses and Aaron shared in the priesthood and the authority over civil affairs.

Korah reasoned that Moses and Aaron had set themselves up as the spokesmen for God. "And they rose up before Moses, with certain of the children of Israel, two hundred and fifty princes of the assembly, famous in the congregation, men of renown: And they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron, and said unto them, Ye take too much upon you, seeing all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the LORD is among them: wherefore then lift ye up yourselves above the congregation of the LORD?" (Num. 16:2-3). Korah and those who were supporting and following him did not recognize Moses and Aaron as being the direct representatives of God. Their human carnal nature looked at Moses and Aaron as their equals. They did not recognize that the office they held was appointed to them by the Living God. Read the rest of this chapter and see the rebellious attitude of the people toward God's anointed and appointed. We read in verses 28-32 "And Moses said, Hereby ye shall know that the LORD hath sent me to do all these works; for I have not done them of mine own mind. If these men die the common death of all men, or if they be visited after the visitation of all men; then the LORD hath not sent me. But if the LORD make a new thing, and the earth open her mouth, and swallow them up, with all that appertain unto them, and they go down quick into the pit; then ye shall understand that these men have provoked the LORD. And it came to pass, as he had made an end of speaking all these words, that the ground clave asunder that was under them: And the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up, and their houses, and all the men that appertained unto Korah, and all their goods". That rebellion against God's chosen servants didn't pay. Moses and Aaron did not have personal ambitions. Korah and his followers who rebelled with him didn't understand that God's laws, statutes and government in His Church is divinely appointed from God the Father and through Jesus Christ who is the head of the Church.

Human reasoning today has not changed, unless we have enough of the spirit of Christ in us. Without the help of God's Holy Spirit we can begin acting in the same manner as Korah did. We have to continually question our attitude and nature, asking ourselves if we have begun to, "Put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true Holiness" (Eph. 4:24). Jesus Christ describes this new man's path as a strait and narrow road, "Which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it" (Matt. 7:14).

Your Bible, (God's Word) warns of those who will not accept His authority, His statutes or His government. There have been some who have slipped into God's Church with just such an attitude. Peter made note of this in His second Epistle saying, "Chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities" (2 Pet. 2:10). Does that sound like Korah? Turn to Jude 11 "Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, (Cain was not respectful) and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core". These examples are of people who "are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men's persons in admiration because of advantage" (Jude 16). Jude did not stop there, telling those who had destructive attitudes against government. He said, "Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ" (Jude 3-4). Jude is speaking to those who will not acknowledge God's written word as their authority!!

God's government is theocratic which means a government by God having structure with Christ as Head of the called out ones and God's chosen elders. These responsibilities are fulfilled through Christ. It is a government of faith in which the leaders submit their will to God and His Word. The members trust God through faith to administer His Church through those elders, with God the Father as Supreme Commander. "Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved Me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for My Father is greater than I" (John 14:28).

Jesus Christ establishes authority in His Church. He is the boss and the Living, Active, Ruler of it! God the Father put Christ over the Church. "And hath put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be the head over all things to the church" (Eph. 1:22). "For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and He is the Saviour of the body" (Eph. 5:23). God the Father never turned His Church over to men. We can read where some of the disciples had doubts about the authority Christ had over the Church. "Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them. And when they saw Him, they worshipped Him: but some doubted. And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen" (Matt. 28:16-20). This is a direct command to His eleven disciples!!

In the past and present we have seen the atmosphere of disrespect toward authority. Everyone is wanting to do what is right in his own eyes. The Apostle Paul in his letter to the Romans had to address issues like this, he said, "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service" (Rom. 12:1). Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake. (Korah and all his friends found that statement to be true). For this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing. Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour" (Rom. 13:1-7).

Paul is talking about those servants God has set in governmental offices within the Church. The body of Jesus Christ, explained Paul, is made up of many members, having many differing functions, or administrations. Yet it is one body! "But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased Him. And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues" (1 Cor. 12:18,28). Let me encourage you to read the entire 12th chapter of I Cor. We are shown the organizational pattern in the letter to the Ephesians, "And He gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:" (Eph. 4:11-12). This is why Church government is necessary. God's Church is a spiritual organism. It's officers occupy spiritual offices that have spiritual power and authority. This is the vital principle Korah and the others who rebelled with him, did not understand.