Not adding to or taking away from what God said
How does the Bible begin? God put man in a garden and gave a commandment in Genesis 2:15-17. When Satan repeats what God said to Eve in Genesis 3:1-4, do you know the difference? He adds to it.
The Bible begins with the devil and man messing around with what God said. They start adding things and taking away things. They change the tone of something. They look at the restrictions of God, rather than His provisions. That all resulted in Adam and Eve eating the fruit they were not supposed to eat and God removed them from the tree of life. That’s a huge consequence for changing things that God said.
Now, how does the Bible end? Read Revelation 22:18-19 “For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; 19 and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.”
Notice the warning: We are not to take away from or add to anything that God has said. I understand this verse is specifically talking about the book of Revelation that was written to that generation (Revelation 1:1-4, 22:6-7). He is saying, “Do not add to it. Do not take away from it. If you do, God will take you away from the tree of life” – just like He did with Adam and Eve in the beginning.
The tone of the Bible is set in Genesis. When God speaks, we would do well to listen. When we begin to talk about God and what He said – we add a little, we take something away from it – we are endangering ourselves. Beginning to end and everywhere in between, the Bible is filled with warnings just like these. Let’s just look at a few of them:
In Deuteronomy 4:1-2 Moses is standing at the edge of the promised land: Giving them the law and some final instructions before going into the land of promise and this is what he said: “You shall not add to the word which I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you.” (of. Deut 12:29-32).
Then in Joshua 1:7-8, before entering the promised land God tells Joshua (their new leader) the same thing. “Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go.”
Proverbs 30:5-6 says, “Every word of God is pure [tested, proven true]; He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him. “6 Do not add to His words, lest He rebuke you, and you be found [proved] a liar.”
Every word of God is pure because it’s been tested and proven true. It is like before God ever said a word, He thought them through; where they would lead, what they would accomplish. He put them on trial, tested them, and purified them through fire to see if they were true (or not). Then He gives them to us. Then generation, after generation follows and proves them to be pure and safe. They are like a shield that protects you from harm and keeps you alive.
You have two options in your life: You can either participate with God’s witness who has proven His Word strong and true and protective. Or you will join everyone else in the world who will prove themselves a liar by adding to God’s Word.
Why does this matter for all of us? When God says something, we’d better listen up. When God specifically says for us to do (or not do) something, we cannot act like it does not matter or add our own opinion. When we talk about whether there is authority for the church to do or not do something, we cannot just shrug it off, or act like it does not matter. The Bible teaches that there are severe consequences to adding to or taking away from what God has said.
Visitors are welcome and valued. We meet at 15530 Herriman Blvd., Noblesville. Our phone number is (317) 219-5852. We meet for Sunday morning Bible Study at 10 a.m. and have classes for all ages. Worship begins at 11 a.m. and we have a Bible Study Wednesdays at 7 p.m. A warm welcome awaits!