Did God Really Say?

God had given Adam and Eve the command to eat of any tree “of the garden, but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for on the day you eat from it, you will certainly die”. (Genesis 2:16-17 CSB) If you know the narrative then you know what happens next: taking the form of a serpent, Satan approaches Eve and asks the simple question: “Did God really say?” casting doubt on the veracity of God’s spoken Word to His creation. Adam and Eve then fell — “The Fall of Man” or the teaching of “Original Sin.” That is what Satan does, he casts doubt on the Word of God and the truth that is contained in it. It is a worldview sadly that has been taught by false teachers (see 1st Timothy 4:1 and 2nd Timothy 3 and 4 for a more in-depth study on the issue) throughout the centuries and it is especially prevalent in the modern church today.

“Did God really Say?” that Jesus Christ is the only way to Heaven? Well, ask the average person on the street if they are going to Heaven and the answer would be “yes.” When you ask the follow up question of “How do you get to Heaven?” The answer is based on their “good works” which stands in direct opposition to what Scripture says: “I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died for nothing”. (Galatians 2:16 CSB) Without Christ and His finished work on the cross our “righteous acts” (our goodness) is but filthy rags in God’s sight. (Isaiah 64:6) 

​But, a “works salvation” is taught in some form of our churches, no matter the denomination, and across our nation every Sunday morning and Wednesday night. Why is that you may ask? Because these preachers and teachers have bought into the lie of “Did God really say?” A works salvation lights our flesh on fire with: “Look at me, look at how well I obey God.” “Lord, I thank you that I am not like that other person, look at how they struggle so much with sin.” (See Luke 18:11) And the list can go on and on. A works salvation appeals to our pride, it appeals to man's need to be validated before God by their own merit.

Another “Did God really say?” issue is the inerrancy of God’s Holy Word. Both Peter and Paul writing under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit both affirm that Scripture comes from God. Read 2nd Peter 1:20-21 and 2nd Timothy 3:16-17 to familiarize yourself with this truth. But, the question still remains for you, the reader, “Did God really say?” Do you believe Scripture to be the truth from Almighty God because if you do, well, that is another article. May The Lord bless you and keep you in His mercy and grace.

By Scott Doran

Scott is pastor of Lynch Station Baptist Church in Lynch Station, Virginia.