One of the great obstacles to true unity is the great variety of religious sources of authority. The problem of unity has always been a desired status, even our Lord desires unity, cf. John 17:20-21, “20 Neither for these only do I pray, but for them also that believe on me through their word; 21 that they may all be one; even as thou, Father, (art) in me, and I in thee, that they also may be in us: that the world may believe that thou didst send me.” (ASV)
Philippians 2:2, “ make full my joy, that ye be of the same mind, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind;” (ASV)
Acts 2:46, “And day by day, continuing steadfastly with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread at home, they took their food with gladness and singleness of heart,” (ASV)
Acts 4:24, “And they, when they heard it, lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, O Lord, thou that didst make the heaven and the earth and the sea, and all that in them is:” (ASV)
The above, inspired writers of the New Testament, all encouraged their hearers and readers to submit to the authority of God
NOTE: Peter and the apostles declaration to the doubters on the day of Pentecost:
Acts 2:14-17, “14 But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and spoke forth unto them, (saying), Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and give ear unto my words. 15 For these are not drunken, as ye suppose; seeing it is (but) the third hour of the day. 16 but this is that which hath been spoken through the prophet Joel: 17 And it shall be in the last days, saith God, I will pour forth of my Spirit upon all flesh: And your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, And your young men shall see visions, And your old men shall dream dreams:” (ASV)
Jesus Christ claims “all authority” now, cf. Matthew 28:18, “And Jesus came to them and spoke unto them, saying, all authority hath been given unto me in heaven and on earth.” (ASV)
This declaration by Christ after he had risen from the dead is the same authority that we are willing to accept today. This is the authority that insures us when we believe and obey the gospel that we are saved from our sins –cf. Hebrews 5:8-9, “8 though he was a Son, yet learned obedience by the things which he suffered; 9 and having been made perfect, he became unto all them that obey him the author of eternal salvation;” (ASV) Indeed, whatever Christ has said and whatever He has caused to be written is our religious authority today. To suggest that there are other acceptable religious authorities is to deny the authority of Jesus Christ and bring upon man a condemnation from God Almighty.