Do we need the Bible for salvation?

[aussigirl]

I was having a discussion with a friend about the necessity of the bible. He said it was needed for salvation, and I said the opposite. So I thought I would post the question here and see what others have to say.

[This Little Light of Mine]

That is a great question! I guess if you are referring to the New Testament Gospel, my thought is that there were so many saved before it was even written! - we have account of them and the early church in the New Testament. Not to mention... I have friends who were missionaries in New Guinea. The people/believers of the tribes were saved well before they had a Bible. My friends primary job was working there for many years helping the saved people to translate a Bible into their language. Also, I don't think it says anywhere in the Bible that we have to literate to believe - there are plenty of examples of uneducated people that are and were believers too! I think a Bible is not necessary for salvation, only repentance and faith - but it sure helps out with the walk that follows! I am so interested to hear more answers from our readers!

[Jacquie]

I'm gettin' in line behind you on this one, Jen! :-D There's loads of lovely verses, particularly in John's books, which relay that believing in Jesus is what's necessary for our salvation. (John 5:24/ 1 John 5:5 are a couple) Generally in our society, we are aware of these truths and verses because we've read them in the Bible, but as you said, it's not written that we must have the Bible to be saved, just that we believe in Jesus! :-D It's Very Difficult to "grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" (2 Peter 3:18 NAS) without the Bible, though! This IS a great question, aussigirl, and like Jen, I'm interested to see how others answer! :-D

[aussigirl]

I'm gettin' in line behind you on this one, Jen! :-D This IS a great question, aussigirl, and like Jen, I'm interested to see how others answer! :-D

Dear Jacquie & Jen. Thank you for your interest in the question. I am a bit supprised that there have been no other replies so far. Anyway, I have been doing some researsch on this subject and will have more to share with you soon.

The answer to my original question hinges on the answer to another more basic one: where did the bible, as we have it today, come from? More later.

[PaintingLady]

I think the question "Is the Bible necessary for salvation?" and where the Bible came from are key issues to consider. Maybe we should ask if this comes down to "faith" and what faith means? The Bible in my mind is the most direct artifact left from those who knew Christ when he walked on the earth (New Testament). The Old Testament is, for me, inspired by God as the written record of the Jewish people, God's rules for men. Which because men are imperfect and failed in these commands (look at how many times God sets the rules and men fail throughout the Old Testament) required the gift of Christ. But this Bible was from the Jewish tradition, then a collection of separate Books (the New Testament) then translated into modern language, where words and phrases may not have been translated exactly (Yikes!) to give us what we have today. (FYI when the Bibles separate books were put together some books were not included... and when I was at a service not at my home church the Bible there had books which my churches Bible did not have!) Yet it is for me the best we have to know God's wishes for us. We are not born with instructions, but my mother put this guidebook in my hands and it has helped me when I have been lost. For me this is faith, faith that the Bible will be an opening to understanding what I need to do each day as I await my time for salvation. In that respect, I believe, to keep me on track, to teach others, the Bible is a necessary tool to know God, one that goes hand in hand with prayer, community, and blind childlike faith.

[bkimi]

We have already been saved...but...when the day comes when we re-live all of our thoughts, words and actions and explain them to God how will we answer? How do we explain it all? I believe, no, the Bible is not necessary, but unless you have a photographic memory we need to constantly refresh our understanding, application and knowledge of God's word by reading the Bible (hopefully) everyday. What's the best way of being accountable for our actions in our life? Living according to absolute truth. That absolute truth is God's word. God's word is the Bible. This is just my belief and the attitude that has been working for me in deepening my walk with the Lord. God bless!

[Vickie Lynn]

My opinion from what I read in the bible is that if the gospel isn't preached by men God will raise up stones, the gospel will go forth through God's power...we are only the messengers if willing. We need the bible to show ourselves approved because the Law of God in written in His words through his prophets to show us what sin is that we can turn from it and to learn new truths....One can be saved without the bible but to be a messenger of God in the fullest we need to be equipped with Knowledge of Him and His plan and it is in the bible given to us by the Lord himself...LOL

[Andy]

Can a person be saved apart from what is said in the Bible? Absolutely not. Can you be saved when someone shares the Gospel with you, and they don't have a Bible with them? Yes

I think Romans 10 is a great passage for this kind of question. Romans 10:17 says, "So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.". We have the word of Christ in the Bible. So, if someone is trying to give you a different gospel than that which is from the Bible, it's wrong. It's a different Jesus and not our risen savior.

In the beginning of Romans 10 it talks about how the Israelites have zeal for God, but not in accordance with knowledge. They established their own righteousness rather than following after God's righteousness. And how Paul's prayer is that they may be saved! Today, so many are preaching Jesus, but totally discount the Bible, or at least everything "negative" in the Bible. And so again, people are trying to have zeal for God, but not in accordance with the knowledge of who God is and His righteousness.

I may be going beyond the question, but my point is that the Bible is so so so important. Like King David, we should love God's statutes, his law. We should meditate on the Word day and night. We should love the Lord our God with all our heart, mind and strength. That happens the more we learn how incredible He is, and how unworthy we are, and the more we see His Word playing out in our lives.

As people that are so blessed to have the Word of God readily available to us, our reaction should not be if we need it, but we should thank God that we have it, and get to know our great and mighty Lord as good as we can

[This Little Light of Mine]

Awesome Andy

[Believer2011]

Is not the Bible GOD's WORD and as it was stated before in Romans 10:17 "Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of CHRIST." And in Ephesians 6:17 it states "Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the SPIRIT, which is the word of GOD..." So, yes the Bible is needed, we must have our own "sword" or hearing the WORD of the "sword". We need our "sword" in doing battle with satan, along with the pieces of the "Whole Armor of GOD".
In John 1:1 it says "In the beginning was the WORD, and the WORD was with GOD and the WORD was GOD." Our salvation is found in CHRIST, who was the "WORD" in the flesh. There is no getting around the fact that we need a Bible for salvation for how do we come to salvation without the WORD (be it by reading the physical book or from hearing someone else quoting scripture from it). For salvation is a continous "process" (an onging relationship) in CHRIST, salvation doesn't stop after you give your life to HIM but continous through this lifetime until HE returns.