Subtitle: The Bible and Salvation

Excerpt: The Bible and Salvation

Author: Jeff Hilles

Quote Source — Medium Commenter

A Biblical Christian worldview perspective — I recently wrote a brief piece entitled, “Belief in the Bible is not a prerequisite for Salvation.” (article here). The above quote is part of one of the responses I received. The writer is implying that belief in our sacred Scripture is a necessity for salvation.

My First Response, In Part

“There will be millions of folks in Heaven that have never read one word from a Bible. There will be millions of folks in Heaven that don’t think the Bible is the inerrant word of God (as I firmly do).”

His Next Response, In Part

“Assurance of salvation and heresy do not mix. Dangerous to teach acceptance of Christ and the rejection of scriptures – is there a point in your message?”

My Second Response, In Part

I, again, respectfully stand by what I have said as theologically sound and supported by Scripture based on what it takes for a person to be saved and go to Heaven ( Eph. 2:8-9, Romans 10:9 – God’s grace and our faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior). We are not saved by reading the Bible, as verses such as 2 Peter on false teachers can attest. The Bible is critical for sanctification and certainly helpful for salvation. To imply that it holds any more responsibility for salvation is to suggest a works-based salvation, which I do not support.

Titus 3:4-5 – But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit,

Summary

Over the last three years, I have written more about the importance of the Bible in the life of the Christian than any other topic. The name of this publication is “Biblical Christian Worldview”. However, as Christians, we need to be concise and non-legalistic about what it takes for a seeker to become a born-again Christian. There is no Biblical mandate for reading the inerrant Word of God as a prerequisite for salvation. To express otherwise to seekers is to put on them a burden (Acts 15:10) that is contrary to the Bible.

There is, however, a tremendous benefit to God’s Word, which will not return void (Isaiah 55:10-11), if the seeker is willing and able to employ it in understanding salvation. Further, there is a critical need for the reading and studying of God’s Word in the process of sanctification, which follows salvation.