Key Verse: 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.”

These words came from Moses (Lk. 24:44) to the people of Israel. This was a new generation of people, ready to enter the promise land with a new leader Joshua. These words are very similar to the words that Paul gave Titus. Paul told Titus to appoint elders (new leadership) in every town and train leaders who would “hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it.” (Titus 2:9)

There seems to be an important theme when passing a baton to a new generation. That important theme is the integrity of the Word of God.  Paul instructed Titus to hold fast to the faithful word. What did Paul mean by “hold fast?” Hold fast has a couple of meanings. One of the main meanings is to hold oneself opposite. Which means anyone who comes in and directly opposes the integrity of the Word of God, we cannot give in by letting someone or the culture to add or subtract from the Word of God. The Church needs to stand in direct opposition to that type of influence.

What exactly are we suppose to stand in opposition against? Here are two thoughts on this subject.

Salvation by works. We need to stand against a culture who strongly believes that the good that we do will bring salvation and a relationship with God.  People that believe this will one day ask: was the life I lived a life worth living? Or a salvation by works will lead people to disillusionment, and the meaning of their life will be meaningless. This is a perverted doctrine of salvation that leads to a life without meaning or a life that struggles to have meaning.  The only meaning of life comes through Jesus Christ who paid the ultimate cost for our meaning and purpose – death on the cross. (See Gal. 1:6-9)

Selfish ambition.  Which kingdom do we want to build? Do we want to build God’s kingdom or our kingdom?  We should always have an attitude of contentment of who we are and where we are at in God’s will.  So that we can teach the Word of God without the need to be grow our influence at all costs. We add or subtract from the Word of God, to make the Word of God more appealing and more adaptable to the culture around us which could help us move up the corporate ladder or stand in front of a bigger crowd. We need to be satisfied and content and become more concerned about the integrity of the Word of God then our popularity polls. The pure Word of God will bring true wealth. 

(See I Tim. 6:1-6, Phil. 4:11-13)