Day 24 – God’s Word Not to be Changed
(Pro 30:5) Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. (Pro 30:6) Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.
When I was first saved, I came across so many people, saved and unsaved, who believed that God’s words could be found in the Holy Bible. However, as time has passed in my almost 28 years of salvation, the numbers are decreasing by leaps and bounds. Is it any wonder that we do not see true repentance anymore? We see many who say the sinner’s prayer but their hearts are far from sincere. Their lives don’t change. They still sin the same old sins. They go on with their lives as if nothing ever happened. They don’t have the peace that comes with salvation. Instead, they have only managed to experience a temporary “feel good” event and they will search for that same “feel good” event over and over. They will continue to go to church and perform the same religious routine hoping that they have covered all their bases. But where is assurance of their salvation? There is none because they base their salvation on their church or something they did. True assurance of salvation comes with complete peace and eternal security because all of it rests on Jesus Christ’s work on the cross. It is He who paid the price for our sin – completely. Nothing we can do or say can add or take away from Christ’s gift of grace to us.
God’s Word is so important and it is the only thing that can reach the lost. (Rom 10:17) So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Is it any wonder that focus on God’s Word has been shifted in today’s world to different “versions” and compromises between “religions”? Jesus said, (Luk 4:4) And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God. If we are to live by every word of God as if it were food, it stands to reason that we would be provided with that word/food so we can live by it. Correct? Just as God provided manna to the Jews in the wilderness, how much more will He provide us with our manna through the Bible in our wilderness journey as pilgrims here on earth?
Jesus also said Luk 6:40 The disciple is not above his master: but every one that is perfect shall be as his master.Therefore, there is nothing that man can do or say which will be above His word. To say that magisterium and tradition supersede or even work “in conjunction with” the Bible is a lie. Jesus says that man is not above Him. No pope – no magisterium – no tradition is above Him. His Word is final. His Word is complete. He is our Master and His word is above all. The latter part of the verse says that everyone that is perfect shall be as his Master. How can we be perfect? Let the Word define it for us: (2Ti 3:16) All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: (2Ti 3:17) That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. This is not talking about sinless perfection but about how we can live by God’s words and can be guided by them because we have the perfect Word of God with us.
It’s important to understand that the Lord has left us equipped with His words and we will be judged accordingly. Many households in the United States have a Bible on their bookshelves – some have several. But how many people ever read that Bible? It amazes me that it is still the number one seller on the book market yet our world is getting more evil with each passing day! It’s important to do the things which are commanded within the Bible’s pages but how can you do them unless you read? Luk 6:46 And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say? Over and over we are commanded in God’s Word to DO the things which God says. Over and over, the Word speaks of obedience to God and His word – not obedience to men and the traditions of men. God will not allow compromise, my friend! He is not a compromiser and certainly will not compromise His Word! Why would God say one thing in His Word and then 300 years later, through the pope or the councils, that it’s O.K. to do differently than He had previously commanded or add to what He previously commanded?
Anyone who allows church traditions and cult leaders to guide them are being led by a lie. We do not have to be blind – God has left us the light of His Word to guide us. Luk 6:39 And he spake a parable unto them, Can the blind lead the blind? shall they not both fall into the ditch? These liars preach just enough of the Bible to set a trap for their “following” and then they lead them straight to hell. But the responsibility does not lie with these liars. The responsibility lies with the one who allows himself to be trapped into their lies. We each must take responsibility for what we hear and what we believe. The sincere heart will be led by the Spirit of God to salvation. But the insincere heart will be sucked into every wind of doctrine. (Eph 4:14) That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; (Eph 4:15) But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: Therefore, it is important to remember that we have the correct doctrine found in the Word of God. Paul encourages the Ephesians not to be tossed about with false doctrines. How can you encourage someone to recognize false doctrine unless you have the real thing right then and there for them to compare with?
Old slew foot has corrupted the Word of God from the beginning and he is still hard at work. (Luk 8:11) Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. (Luk 8:12) Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved. Notice it is the devil – the father of lies, the great deceiver – that takes away the word out of their hearts! It is this same devil that caused Eve to question what God had said in the Garden. It is the same devil that worked in Cain’s heart to provide his own method of sacrifice instead of doing what God had commanded. It is this same devil that tried to twist the Scriptures when he tempted Christ in the wilderness. The devil’s main priority is to corrupt the Word of God. Is it so hard to understand? The devil knows how powerful the Word is. He knows the Word probably better than most – he quoted from the Scriptures repeatedly as he tried to tempt the Lord. But Satan’s attempts will be to cause doubt as to what God actually says. Satan’s attempts will be to add “a little something to make it more palatable”!
However, Christ makes it clear that we must obey the Word of God! (Luk 8:21) And he answered and said unto them, My mother and my brethren are these which hear the word of God, and do it. (Luk 11:28 ) But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.He did not say to obey tradition or men’s words, my friend. Jesus Christ repeatedly tells us in the Gospels that we are to hear God’s Word and obey it. Why would Christ allow something so important to be repeated over and over and then change it later on through false doctrine, magisterium or tradition? God’s Word is so important that He doesn’t leave us in the darkness – He has made it quite clear. There’s an old saying, “Repetition sharpens a dull mind.” This is very true! When the unsaved read over and over how important God’s Word is to us, they will come to realize that it supersedes anything man could ever invent!
God tells us that His Word cannot be broken. (Joh 10:35b) … unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken; His Word is final – nothing can come before it, after it, or in place of it. (2Co 2:17) For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ. Paul exhorted the Corinthians not to follow after those who corrupted the word of God but to follow after him – who spoke in Christ – who spoke the uncorrupted word of God! The Apostles would not have allowed tradition to supersede God’s Word. Paul even chastised Peter for compromising. (Gal 2:11-16) But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed. (11) For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision. (12) And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation. (13) But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews? (14) We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles, (15) Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. (16) God forbids us to add to His Word. Jesus Christ is the beginning and the end. There is nothing else that needs to be done – nothing else needs to be added to salvation – nothing else needs to be taken away! All is complete in Him. God’s Word is complete and cannot be changed. It cannot be compromised with man’s words.
The Apostle Paul shows us that it is not his words that are truth but God’s words! (1 Th 2:13) For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe. Man’s words will not sanctify us. Man’s words will not cause us to be spiritually minded. However, God’s words will. (1 Ti 4:5) For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer. It is not man’s words that have power to help us overcome sin. It is not man’s words that will pierce our hearts and change us from within. However, God’s Word can. (Heb 4:12) For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. No wonder the devil hates God’s Word. He knows that is will change us. It is the Word that pricks the heart and causes change. The Word leads us to salvation in Christ alone – not a church – not of works – but Christ alone! A church or man’s words will not lead one to be born again – but the Word of God will. And this Word is alive today and is promised to abide forever! ( 1Pe 1:23) Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.
So what happens to one who tries to change this precious Word of God? (Rev 22:18 ) For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:
(Rev 22:19) And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. There is no tradition or magisterium that will be found standing at the end – but God’s Word will. (Isa 40:8 ) The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.
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