Take Care — Not To Think Beyond What Is Written!
“Now these things, brethren, I have figuratively transferred to myself and Apollos for your sakes, that you may learn in us not to think beyond what is written,” 1 Corinthians 4:6.
The surest way to avoid error and deception is by ensuring “not to think beyond what is written“.
One day, the Sadducees, “who say there is no resurrection,” came to Jesus with what they must have thought was the most intelligent argument against the resurrection, (See Matthew 22:23-33).
But Jesus silenced them with divine wisdom, initially telling them pointedly: “You are mistaken [deceived], not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God,” (Matthew 22:29).
We must know the Scriptures and keep to the Scriptures in all things, at all times so as not to be “mistaken [deceived]”. And we must know the power of God and depend on the power of God in all things, all times so as not to be “mistaken [deceived]”.
When tempted by the serpent, Eve failed to say what God said, but then said what God did not say, (See Genesis 2:16,17; 3:2,3).
Eve failed to mention the specific tree when responding to the serpent’s crafty questioning. For there were two trees “in the midst of the Garden”, but she fudged it by saying generally, “but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die,’ ” (Genesis 3:3).
Furthermore, as above, she ADDED and attributed to God something He did not say: “nor shall you touch it…”
“And The LORD God commanded the man, saying, “Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die,” Genesis 2:16-17.
That was all God said…..
God never said “nor shall you touch it…” Eve was “mistaken [deceived], not knowing the Scriptures”, (Matthew 22:29).
The same thing is happening today profusely. Many are mistaken [deceived], not knowing the Scriptures; they fail to say what God said, yet say what God did not say!
Do not subtract from The Word of God…. Do not add to The Word of God as Eve did.
Thinking and/or saying what God has not said in His Word, swiftly gets one into deception and sin as was the case with Eve.
“But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ,” 2 Corinthians 11:3.
Therefore, by The Holy Spirit, we must always ensure “not to think beyond what is written“, (1 Corinthians 4:6).
“Beware lest anyone cheat you [plunder or take you captive] through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ,” Colossians 2:8.
We must, “by reason of use, have [our] senses exercised to discern both good and evil,” (Hebrews 5:14).
Indeed, “we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor handling The Word of God deceitfully, but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God,” (2 Corinthians 4:2).
When the devil tempted The Last Adam, our LORD Jesus Christ in the wilderness, all that The LORD did was to say with authority what is written. And the devil left Him…..
We must do only what The LORD did.
When we do, the devil will certainly leave us. I experience this daily.
“The LORD Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Grace be with you. Amen.” 2 Timothy 4:22.
“Farewell” Acts 15:29.
~ Jacob Awagah
“And having been perfected, He became The Author of Eternal Salvation to all who obey Him,” Hebrews 5:9.
Wonderful brother. Thank you.