DO NOT ADD OR TAKE AWAY FROM GOD’S WORD!

DO NOT ADD OR TAKE AWAY FROM GOD’S WORD!

You shall not add to the word that I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the LORD your God that I command you. —Deuteronomy 4:2

See that you do all I command you; do not add to it or take away from it. —Deuteronomy 12:32

Do not add to his words, or he will rebuke you and prove you a liar. —Proverbs 30:6

I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this scroll: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to that person the plagues described in this scroll. And if anyone takes words away from this scroll of prophecy, God will take away from that person any share in the tree of life and in the Holy City, which are described in this scroll. —Revelation 22:18-19

            It is easy to identify liars if you know what God’s Word says.  When people intentionally add to God’s Word or take away from God’s Word, they are in danger of judgment.  This is exactly what the first temptation was all about.  God had said to Adam—

“You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.” —Genesis 2:16-17

            Ok, let’s look at this.  God said Adam—

• Was free to eat from any tree in the garden
• That he was not to eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil
• That he would surely die when he ate from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil

Now let’s see what Satan did with God’s Word and how he interacted with Eve—

• Satan said— “Did God really say ‘“You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?”
• Eve responded correctly when she said— “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden” and that they “must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden.”
• But then Eve added, “you must not touch it, or you will die.”
• It was not the touching of it that would cause death, it was the eating of it.
• This is what Satan was going to use to draw her in— “You will not certainly die.”
• Satan suggests that God was keeping the best from them— “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

The woman added to the Word of God.  Satan absolutely went contrary to the Word of God and suggested God was not being honest with them and keeping the best from them!  The result— disobedience to the Word of God and judgment— Genesis 3:6-24— and that is how we got to where we are in our present world.  To add to God’s Word or take away from it will always lead to destruction.  That is seen in so many ways in our world today as people add to His Word (cults), take away from His Word (world religions) or deny His Word (non-religious).  Those are dangerous places to me. Jesus is the only way— https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VXIBP2BdYR8 

Dear Father, may I cling to Your Word, not adding or taking away from it.  May I simply seek to faithfully communicate what You say.  That is my heart’s desire.  May this be so by the power of Your Holy Spirit and in the authority of Jesus.  So may it be! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pYZw0dfLmLk