What are the dangers of adding or subtracting from God's commandments? Key Passage: Deuteronomy 4:2 “Do not add to what I command you, and do not subtract from it, so that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your God that I am giving you.” Why the Warning Matters • God alone sets the standard for truth and righteousness. • Altering His commands changes the very foundation of our faith. • Obedience flows from trust; tampering signals distrust. What “Adding” Looks Like • Creating extra rules that God never gave (cf. Mark 7:6-9). • Elevating human tradition to Divine status (Mark 7:13). • Supposing new revelations override Scripture (Galatians 1:8-9). What “Subtracting” Looks Like • Ignoring inconvenient commands (James 2:10-11). • Redefining sin to fit culture (Isaiah 5:20). • Silencing sections of Scripture as “outdated” (2 Timothy 3:16-17). Six Dangers of Tampering with God’s Word 1. Distorted Picture of God – “Every word of God is flawless… Do not add to His words, lest He rebuke you and prove you a liar.” (Proverbs 30:5-6) 2. Loss of Covenant Blessing – “See, I set before you today blessing and curse…” (Deuteronomy 11:26). Blessing is tethered to accurate obedience. 3. Spiritual Blindness and Hardened Hearts – When truth is diluted, conviction fades (Hebrews 3:12-13). 4. Misleading Others – “Whoever causes one of these little ones… to stumble…” (Matthew 18:6). Adding or subtracting multiplies error in others. 5. Divine Judgment – “If anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues written in this book.” (Revelation 22:18-19) 6. Erosion of Gospel Hope – A tampered message cannot save (Romans 1:16). Only the pure gospel is “the power of God unto salvation.” Scripture Echoes of the Same Warning • Deuteronomy 12:32 – “You must diligently observe everything I command you; do not add or subtract.” • Joshua 1:7 – “Do not turn from it to the right or to the left.” • Matthew 5:17-19 – Jesus upholds every “jot and tittle.” • 2 John 1:9 – “Anyone who runs ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ does not have God.” Safeguards for Our Hearts • Daily immersion in Scripture—letting the text interpret us. • Humble submission to the Holy Spirit’s illumination. • Regular corporate study where brothers and sisters can lovingly correct drift (Hebrews 10:24-25). • Testing every teaching—even cherished traditions—against the written Word (Acts 17:11). Living It Out Today The God who spoke at Sinai still speaks through His unchanging Word. Treasuring it as-is keeps us anchored, fruitful, and free. |
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