"CUT" and "PASTE"

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I grew up when "CUT" and "PASTE" required scissors and glue. Today's high-tech version is amazing, but I still miss the smell of white paste. Yet, even for novices like me, it's not long before we depend on the “CUT” and “PASTE” commands. We can take bits and pieces, cut from this and that, and paste it all together. When we’re all done, we think, “Hey, that really is amazing!"

"CUT" and "PASTE" may be good, but it is not good for the gospel.

A "CUT" and "PASTE" gospel amazed the Apostle Paul. He wrote to the Galatians, "I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel" (Galatians 1:6). Paul found Peter deserting the Truth for a different gospel. Peter withdrew from eating with the Gentiles in an effort to placate the Jews, the party of the circumcision. But, when Paul "saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel, [he said to Peter] in the presence of all, 'If you being a Jew, live like the Gentiles and not like the Jews, how is it that you compel the Gentiles to live like Jews ... knowing that a man is not justified by works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus" (Galatians 1:14,16).

Peter tried to cut pieces from the Old Law and paste them into the New Law, creating a different gospel. Like Peter, religious people today try to "CUT" and "PASTE" pieces from many faiths into the One True Faith. Paul rebuked Peter for the hypocrisy of a "CUT" and "PASTE" gospel. Like Paul, Christians must resist those who create a different gospel.

Remember, "Those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth" (John 4:24).

Remember, "Everything God does will remain forever; there is nothing to add to it and there is nothing to take from it..." (Eph.3:14).

Remember, "Everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book; if anyone adds to them... and if anyone takes away from the words; God will take away his part from the tree of life" (Rev. 22:18-19).

The message is clear - a "CUT" and "PASTE" gospel is not the saving gospel. We must not take our favored bits and pieces, gluing them together to create a different gospel. Therefore, we must must strive to know the complete and uncut gospel, so we will "not shrink back from declaring to you the whole counsel of God" (Acts 20:27). Then, we truly can say to God, "Consider how I love Your precepts. The sum of Your word is Truth, and everyone of Your righteous ordinances is everlasting" (Ps. 119:159-160).

No matter how we "CUT" and "PASTE," it just won't do. When it concerns the gospel, put away the scissors and glue.