Wise Men & Fruit

Mike Johnson

Here are two questions I would like for you to answer.  1. How many wise men came to visit Jesus when he was born in Bethlehem?  2. What kind of fruit did Adam and Eve eat when they sinned in the garden?

Most would probably say three wise men came to visit Jesus.  They might feel confident that the Bible says there were three.  However, Matthew 2:1 says, “wise men” came.  It does not say, here or elsewhere, how many came.  We can be sure there was more than one since it says “men,” but we do not know how many more than one there were.  Some assume that because there were three gifts (Mt. 2:11) that there were three men.  Yet two or four could have brought three gifts.

To the second question, most people would probably answer “an apple.”  They may feel confident that the Bible says that Adam and Eve ate an apple when they sinned.  The Bible (Gen. 2:17) calls the tree “the tree of knowledge of good and evil.”  The Bible,  however, never says the fruit was an apple.  Thus, we do not know what kind of fruit it was.

These two illustrations show us that it is possible to believe that some idea is in the Bible, yet that idea or concept may not be there.  People may think something is in the Bible and may have thought it for years, but a careful examination shows that it is not in the Scriptures at all.  Consider some other teachings that many people believe are in the Bible but, in actuality, are not.

1. Infant Baptism- Some believe the Bible teaches that infants should be baptized. However, the Bible does not teach infant baptism, but instead, it shows that candidates for baptism are to be penitent believers (note Acts 2:38, 8:12, 18:8).

2. Baptism Can Be Sprinkling– Others might be certain the Bible says baptism is administered by sprinkling, pouring, or immersion. Again, this is not in the Bible. The Bible teaches, instead, that baptism is immersion.   It is to be a BURIAL in water (Rom. 6:3-4; Col. 2:12).

3. Faith Only Can Save– Many believe the Bible teaches that we are saved by “faith only.” The Bible does not teach this. Instead, it explicitly says salvation is not by faith only (James 2:24).

4. It Does Not Matter How We Worship God. Some believe the Bible teaches that it does not matter how one worships God, as long as the person is sincere.  However, the Bible does not teach this.  It shows, in contrast, that worship must be in truth (Jn. 4:24) and that it is possible to worship God in a vain manner (Mt. 15:8-9).

We need to make sure that what we believe is in God’s Word.  We cannot assume something is located in the Scriptures just because we have always heard it is there or just because someone says it is.  We must make sure we avoid deception by others. Instead, we must search the Scriptures ourselves daily and prove “whether those things are so” (Acts 17:11).