TBC Notes | thebereancall.org

T. A. McMahon

“CHRIST SUPPLEMENTED IS CHRIST SUPPLANTED”

Here is another note from William MacDonald, who is now home with the Lord. He wrote in his Believer’s Bible Commentary about his grave concern regarding Christ being supplemented which resulted in Christ being supplanted. That insight says volumes beyond the mere five words printed on the book’s page. First of all, what do those words mean? Supplemented means something has been added. Added to whom? Jesus Christ. By whom? Someone other than Jesus Christ (who is, by the way, the Word). What does “supplanted” mean? According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, it means “to take the place of and serve as a substitute for.” The dictionary also provides synonyms for people to choose: replace, supercede, substitute, displace, relieve, usurp, displant, preempt, cut out.

Which word would you choose for the One who said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life…”? That’s a critical question for the church, because it is working overtime in adding to the Scriptures—from the latest books by popular authors to the latest forms of visual entertainment, especially movies. Many pastors today are oblivious to the clear teaching that any addition to God’s Word is a denial of both its authority and its sufficiency. "According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue” (2 Peter:1:3). What within one’s life and godliness is the exception to all things? Furthermore, adding to and subtracting from biblical truth carries dire consequences (Proverbs:30:6; Revelation:22:18-19).

T. A. McMahon

Executive Director