Last time, I said that we need to treat God’s Word as the holy thing it is. This is a very important subject. This series is focusing in the holiness of God. How do we know that God is holy? Because He tells us in His Word that He is holy. God reveals Himself to us through His Word. The Bible is the complete, inspired, inerrant revelation of God to Man. Even though the authors of the Bible used their own personal styles in writing, they were indeed writing what God laid upon their hearts to write, and at times, what God specifically told them to write. In II Peter 1:20-21, the apostle says, “Knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy came not by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.” As the complete revelation of a holy God, the Bible is the holy Word of God.
Since the Bible is the complete, inspired, inerrant Word of God, Man is not allowed to either add to it or take anything away from it. Deuteronomy 4:2 says, “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.” Deuteronomy 12:32 echoes this command. And then, at the end of Revelation, John issues a warning regarding the book he had just written; “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; 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” (Rev. 22:18-19). This command John recorded applies not only to the book of Revelation, but the entire Bible.
This contributes to the reason for Paul’s exhortation to Timothy. He instructed the young pastor to “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (II Tim. 2:15). For he who does not rightly handle the Word of God is, whether he realizes it or not, adding to and taking from God’s holy Word.
It is also a reason why James says, “My brothers, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we will receive a stricter judgment” (James 3:1). These instructions from both Paul and James emphasize the need to truly study the Word of God and to understand it. Particularly for those of us who would aspire to be teachers. Knowing that people will listen to what we say and follow our teachings, we must be careful to know, understand, and teach the whole counsel of God. For even though every man will give an account for his own actions, to lead people into sin through false teaching is a greater sin than that into which they are led.
Unfortunately, I believe a great many pastors and preachers in America today do not follow the instructions of Paul and of James. Many such preachers are televangelists who ascribe to the “health and wealth” movement that is running rampant through the body of Christ in America.
Such men claim that, as believers grafted into the vine that is Israel, we are entitled to the blessings God promised to Abraham. However, what they teach demonstrates that they lack knowledge concerning the believer’s relationship to the Abrahamic Covenant. More will be said about this next time.