I was horrified. I felt like my breath got knocked out of me and I was suddenly really scared. I thought, “How could I have done it?” I had just found out in Bible study that Apostle Paul’s name had never changed from Saul. Although so many sermons have spoken about how God changed Paul’s name to Saul, it is not true. But I believed this distorted view and I too had espoused this teaching and even wrote about it in one of my articles. I truly regret this, and I apologize to you, my readers. You may say that this may not have been a big deal, but let us never forget that it is the little foxes that spoil the vineyard. Satan is subtle and he is a great manipulator. He knows that it is the truth that sets us free, but the father of lies wants to keep us in bondage. We must never dilute the Word of God or add or take away from it to make it sound good to those who hear a sermon or read an article.
You shall not add to the word which I am commanding you, nor take away from it, so that you may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I am commanding you. Deuteronomy 4:2
I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, 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 will take away his part from the tree of life and from the holy city, which are written in this book. Revelations 22:18-19
From near the beginning of the Bible to the end we are warned not to add or take away anything from the Word that God has spoken or else there will be dire consequences. God does not play with His Word so neither should we. When I found out I was ignorantly not telling the truth as Acts never stated that Paul had a name change, but rather it seems like He was called Saul around the Jews and Paul when he went on his trips to the Gentiles, I thought what else could I be getting wrong.
Several years ago, after my friend told me the well-known adage, “Cleanliness is next to godliness,” I told her it was not in the Bible. She was shocked as that was the reason she cleaned her room when she was a teenager. Well at least she had a clean room, but a clean room is not going to get us any closer to God. However, a clean heart will. Nevertheless, it is still good to have a clean house. On the subject of a clean house I would love it if God really “helps those who help themselves” because I would love Him to help me when I have some house cleaning to do. Unfortunately, that too is not in the Bible. Actually, it is quite opposite of what the Bible tells us.
Therefore I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in distresses, in persecutions, in difficulties, in behalf of Christ; for when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:20
When we are weak, God’s Holy Spirit empowers us. In our weaknesses we can experience the grace and sufficiency of God. And, because of His grace, “God does not give us more than we can handle,” right? Wrong! That too my friends is also not in the Bible. However, there is good news.
No temptation has overtaken you except something common to mankind; and God is faithful, so He will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it. 1 Corinthians 10:13
This is what the Bible tells us. And it is wonderful to know that God is faithful and offers us a way of escape when we are tempted. However, if we do not choose the way of escape and give in to temptation, we will have problems. And please do not say, “This too shall pass” thinking you are quoting a Bible verse, because it isn’t. Neither did Eve eat the forbidden apple in the garden of Eden. I would rather think it was a mango, but no type of fruit like this was specified. Plus, the three wise men did not show up at the manger as so many nativity scenes show, but rather an unknown number of wise men went to the house where Jesus stayed with his family months after he was born. They gave three types of gifts.
And after they came into the house, they saw the Child with His mother Mary; and they fell down and worshiped Him. Then they opened their treasures and presented to Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Matthew 2:11
Now, sayings like “Love the sinner. Hate the sin”, “God’s works in mysterious ways”, and “Be in the world and not of the world” are not in the Bible, but there are verses that can support these sayings. Then, there are also parts of Bible verses that get taken away as in, “Money is the root of all evil,” and “God works all things for good.” It is the love of money that is the root of all evil and God works all things for good to those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. So please, let us not believe everything said to us, but rather let us be diligent in reading the Bible ourselves, while making sure that we are not misinterpreting the Word of Truth.
Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a worker who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth. 2 Timothy 2:15
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