David's Deliberations . . .

Just prior to His ascension to the Father, Jesus said to His apostles, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age" (Matthew 28:18-20).

Jesus said these words to comfort and encourage some of the apostles who were having doubts about Him (Matthew 28:17). Jesus has all authority. It should be a comfort to us to know that someone is in charge, someone all powerful and all knowing. In 1 Corinthians 15:27, the apostle Paul, quoting from Psalm 8 writes, "For He [God the Father] has put all things in subjection under his [Jesus] feet."

In the Old Testament, God through Moses, spoke of the authority Jesus would have: "I will raise up a prophet from among their countrymen like you [Moses], and I will put My words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him. It shall come about that whoever will not listen to My words which he shall speak in My name, I Myself will require it of him" (Deuteronomy 18:18-19). The apostle Peter refers to these words when preaching Christ to the Jews in Acts 3:18-23.

In the first two verses of the Book of Hebrews we are reminded again of Jesus authority: "God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world."

How is it that today, God "has spoken to us in His Son"? Before Jesus' death, He told his apostles that He would be going away, but that the Father, in Jesus name, would send the Holy Spirit to "teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you" (John 14:26). These apostles and others were inspired by the Holy Spirit to write the truth down for us: "But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one´s own interpretation, for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God" (2 Peter 1:20-21) and "All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work" (2 Timothy 3:16-17). These words of Jesus, brought by the Holy Spirit from the Father, are recorded in the New Testament.

The entire New Testament is the truth that was promised by Jesus to His apostles. The entire New Testament is His Word (not just the red words). His word will judge us (and everyone) on the last day: "...the word I spoke is what will judge him at the last day. For I did not speak on My own initiative, but the Father Himself who sent Me has given Me a commandment as to what to say and what to speak. I know that His commandment is eternal life..." (John 12:48-50).

His commandment is eternal life. If we would obtain eternal life, we must accept the authority of Jesus and keep His commands.

—David Carl Swanson