x538......Jesus is the Only Rightful ruler!

15 Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords;
(1 Timothy 6:15, KJV).

We always like to call Jesus the King of kings and the Lord of lords. We dont' often call Him the "only Potentate"--right?

Why?

Maybe because it would confuse our ideas and operations of church rulership and authority.

I mean, if Jesus is the "only" ruler--then exactly how does the leader of the church have the right to "rule"?

the words "only" and "potentate" in Greek:

"ONLY".......

monos {mon'-os} adj

---- only 24, alone 21, by (one's) self 2; 47

1) alone (without a companion), forsaken, destitute of help,
alone, only, merely

"POTENTATE".....

dunastes {doo-nas'-tace} n m

---- mighty 1, of great authority 1, Potentate 1; 3

1) a prince, a potentate
2) a courtier, high officer, royal minister of great authority

(Jesus the only rightful ruler within Christianity)

The simple fact is that we, by our common and incorrect church tradition, have changed the basic Bible operation of the church. The church in the Bible was a body--a group of believers--who met anywhere--in any size group. They worked together as a group of equals--on a common level together. They prayed in the Spirit--and the Lord gave them a command--and they swiftly carried out His will. This was how Christ was the "head of the church"--

Mt 21:42 Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?
1Co 11:3 But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.
Eph 1:22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,
Eph 4:15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
Eph 5:23 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.
Col 1:18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
Col 2:10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:
Col 2:19 And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God.

Christ the "only Potentate". There were no rulers in the church of the Bible. No one exercised authority over another--

25 But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them.
26 But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister;
(Matthew 20:25-26, KJV).

25 And he said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors.
26 But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve.
(Luke 22:25-26, KJV).

They were following Jesus--directly--not in a hierarchy--all as brothers and sisters.

To what degree are we following after this high example?