Trusting God’s Word

10/03/23 – 10/07/23

A Plan for Victory

By Michael Youssef, Ph D.  10/03/23

Read Matthew 5:17-19.

There’s one whose authority far surpasses even the most distinguished and celebrated academic. Jesus Christ—God of very God, who existed from before eternity—was an eyewitness to all the events that took place in the Old Testament. He was there at creation. In fact, it was through Him that all things were created. And when He lived among us, when He walked the streets of ancient Israel, He affirmed that the Bible is the very Word of God.

As the Son of God, Jesus has perfect integrity—even non-Christians agree on the blazing integrity of Jesus—and yet He never said, “Well, you know the story of Noah and the flood? Well, that’s just an allegory.” He never said, “Jonah and the whale? Well, that was nothing more than a fish tale. It shouldn’t be taken literally.” Instead, time and time again, He stood upon the Word of God.

When Jesus was being tempted by Satan, He did not try to debate Satan’s theology, nor did He go after Satan’s credentials. Instead, He rebuked him with Scripture. And Satan never tried to discredit the Word of God. He never refuted it. He actually quoted it, twisting its words, yes, but using it all the same. And the Bible tells us that the demons believe and tremble (see James 2:19).

In Matthew 5:18, Jesus said, “For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.” Jesus upheld every jot and tittle of the Hebrew Scriptures, and He understood that they spoke of Him: “And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself” (Luke 24:27).

But what about the New Testament? In John 16:13, Jesus told His disciples, “But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.” And right on schedule, the Holy Spirit of God came on the Day of Pentecost. In the years that followed, He guided the apostles in the writing of the New Testament.

Let me tell you something: Either Jesus told the Truth about the Bible or He didn’t. If we accept that Jesus is who He says He is, then we must accept the Truth of Scripture—all of it.

Prayer: Lord, thank You that Your Word is trustworthy—affirmed by my Savior, who conquered death. Empower me by Your Spirit to walk according to Your Word. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished” (Matthew 5:18).