Matthew 28:18. Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.”
People are destined to fail because they are unaware of seven essential truths. Humanity was created in the image of God (Genesis 1:27), and therefore, true happiness can only be found in knowing God.
However, all have sinned and fallen into the hands of Satan. As a result, the image of God within them was broken, and spiritual death entered their lives, cutting them off completely from the glory of God (Genesis 3:1–10; Ephesians 2:1–2; John 8:44).
Consequently, failure, death, and suffering became permanent parts of human life (Genesis 3:11–20). Everyone is a sojourner, passing through life, eventually returning to the Creator God to spend eternity either in heaven or in hell (Luke 16:19–31).
To restore life and the broken image of God in us, Jesus came to destroy the power of Satan, sin, and hell (1 John 3:8; Mark 10:45; John 14:6). How was this possible?
Because Jesus was both God and man (John 1:14). He is the Christ—the Anointed One! This is why, when one receives and believes in Jesus as the Christ, all problems of the past, present, and future are resolved once and for all (Matthew 11:28).
Understanding the authority of Jesus Christ, our relationship to it, and how to use it is key to living a victorious life. Knowing His authority means we also possess spiritual authority. Without it, we cannot help those still under the power of the devil (Acts 10:38). In other words, true evangelism will not take place.
The greatest challenge in life is overcoming the authority of evil spirits, which seek to bring failure into our lives. But the authority that breaks Satan’s power belongs to Christ—and God has given that same authority to those who believe: “Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.” (John 1:12)
Receiving and believing in Jesus as the Christ changes everything—our identity and our authority. Jesus possesses all authority in heaven and on earth (Matthew 28:18), and with His authority, nothing is impossible. There is nothing we cannot overcome in the name of Jesus.
Jesus also has authority over sin: “But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins” (Matthew 9:6). Everyone is burdened under the curse of sin. But as the True Priest, Jesus broke the power of sin and death by giving His life as a ransom for us all (Mark 10:45).
When you experience the authority of Jesus—your True King—defeating Satan in your life, you will be amazed: “What is this? A new teaching—and with authority! He even gives orders to impure spirits and they obey him.” (Mark 1:27)
Scripture says Jesus came to destroy the devil’s work (1 John 3:8). But what exactly is the devil’s work? According to Genesis 3:1–10, it’s planting pride and unbelief in people’s hearts. This is how Satan led all of humanity to rebel against God. And he continues to use the same tactics today, leading the world astray (Revelation 12:9). This is the very work Jesus came to destroy.
To this end, God sent His Son to rescue us from the dominion of darkness and bring us into the kingdom of His beloved Son (Colossians 1:13). What is the dominion of darkness? It is the power of hell. As our True Prophet, Jesus transferred us from hell to heaven through Himself (John 14:6).
Our eternal destiny is determined by the authority of Jesus, the ultimate Judge: “And he has given him authority to judge because he is the Son of Man” (John 5:24). Truly, His name and His authority are remarkable—God made it so.
Through Christ, God opened the way for us to experience heaven here on earth: “Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete” (John 16:24).
We have full access to what’s in the kingdom of God: “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven” (Matthew 16:19).
As a good Father, God has given His children the master key to His house. That master key is the name and authority of Jesus Christ, our Lord. And He wants us to use it.
Prayer. Father, I thank You for the authority You gave me when I believed in Your Son, Jesus, as the Christ. Now I know that nothing is impossible through His name and His authority. So I will go and make disciples of all nations, just as You commanded. Lead me to the places You want me to go with the gospel.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.