Deuteronomy 4:2 “Do not add to what I command you and do not subtract from it, but keep the commands of the Lord your God that I give you.”
As Moses prepared the Israelites to enter the Promised Land without him, he charged them strongly to uphold every command God had given.
They must neither add to nor take away from God’s decrees, but fully obey all He instructed.
We are called to treasure Scripture as the authoritative, sufficient Word of the Lord. Not one jot or tittle can be altered without shaking the foundations of our faith.
Our preferences and agendas mean nothing next to the eternal precepts of God. We must prize all Scripture as His loving voice speaking into our lives. What right have we to tamper with the Almighty’s decrees?
Rejecting Human Traditions
Adding to God’s Word often takes the form of elevating human traditions and teachings to divine status.
When we insist on man-made rules as prerequisites for holiness and acceptance, we usurp the sufficiency of Scripture.
Rather than binding others with burdens beyond biblical mandate, we do well to focus on personally applying God’s commands with humility. His yoke alone brings rest.
Beware proposals of “new” revelation that contradicts the old. God’s Word is complete; nothing needs added. We must test all teachings by the Scriptures.
Embracing All of God’s Word
On the other hand, subtracting from Scripture happens when we dismiss, downplay, or deny parts we dislike or consider outdated. But we don’t get to pick and choose what we want from God’s Word while ignoring the rest.
A desire to be seen as “enlightened” and progressive does not justify rejecting biblical truths that make us uncomfortable. Our calling is to conform to God’s Word, not vice versa.
Loving God means obeying all His commands, not just the convenient, culturally acceptable ones. We must embrace Scripture in its fullness.
Standing on the Word
Storm winds of compromise, distraction and direct attack, batter followers of Christ. If our foundation is not firmly planted on Scripture alone, we will certainly fall.
By God’s grace, tenaciously defend and obey His complete Word revealed in the Bible. No additions, no subtractions.
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