Paradise Primitive Baptist Church, Arlington Texas- Services Every Sunday 10:30 AM - Elder Keith Ellis Pastor

Morning Thoughts Daily Devotionals by Elder Philip Conley

Genesis 3:2-3, "And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die."

This morning, God's word is under attack from all quadrants. People are seeking about to change the commandments of the Lord, they are denying the eternal Sonship of Jesus Christ, claiming that the Lord created the universe by evolutionary methods, denying the virgin birth, and the list goes on and on.  Unfortunately, this is not a new concept. Solomon said that there is nothing new under the sun.

The Lord commands us not to add to or diminish from His word. (Deuteronomy 4:2) However, look at Eve's response to the serpent. She adds to and takes away from the word of the Lord. The Lord never once commanded the man and woman that they could not touch the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Eve told the serpent that the Lord had commanded such. Men today add to the word of God and lay burdens upon men's shoulders that ought not to be borne.

Eternal salvation is the easiest example here. Man has no burden of eternal deliverance, because Christ has finished that work that was placed before Him. Also, notice that Eve diminished from God's word as well. She left out the word freely. The Lord told man that he could eat of all the trees FREELY. Eve left that out. Oh, how beautiful it is to know that the Lord has freely given us all things. How joyous a knowledge it is to have understanding of FREE grace and mercy.

The beauty of the doctrine of grace is not just that it brings life, but that it brings life freely. God's riches are ours, and we possess everything that Christ possesses since we are joint-heirs with Him. May we never leave off this all important theme to salvation and the goodness of the Lord. Changing the word of the Lord got man into trouble in the first place, and may we ever strive to hold fast those things that we have learned and earnestly contend for the faith that was once delivered to the saints.

In Hope,

Bro Philip