Is the Bible sufficient for our salvation? Do we need anything else to aid us in salvation? The denominational world teaches us that we do. The Mormons believe the Book of Mormon is needed in addition to the Bible. The Methodists rely on the Methodist Discipline for their answer. Other denominations use their creed books to decide the rule of faith. Do we need these creed books written by man to find the answers for salvation? Absolutely not! The Bible gives us the answer for everything spiritually. Notice these observations about the Bible.
The Bible Is Inspired of God. No other book in the world can claim inspiration. Joseph Smith “said” that the Book of Mormon is inspired, but it has been found full of errors and contradictions. The Bible, however, has been proven to be genuine. Paul states in 2 Timothy 3:16-17, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” Since the word of God completely furnishes man, he does not need anything in addition to the Bible.
The Bible Supplies Our Needs. Peter writes: “According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue” (2 Pet. 1:3). God’s “divine power” is His word (Rom. 1:16) and it gives us all things for life and godliness. This covers the entire scope of our lives. Do we need something in addition to the Word of God? Absolutely not! Creed books cannot supply these needs, only God’s Word can.
The Bible Is Pure. Psalms 119:140 records, “Thy word is very pure, therefore thy servant loveth it.” The word pure means, “free from defilement, uncontaminated.” In Proverbs 30:5-6, Solomon writes, “Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar,” Those that add unto the pure word of God will be reproved (Rev. 22:18-19). Creed books are not pure because they contain many things contrary to the Word of God and they also contradict themselves.
The Bible Is Right. The Psalmist affirmed this in Psalms 33:4 when he wrote, “For the word of the LORD is right; and all his works are done in truth.” Since the word of the Lord is right, there is no reason to follow a “creed” of man.
The Bible is Able To Save. In 1 Peter 1:22-23, Peter wrote, “Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.” A person is saved by obeying the truth by being born again through faith in the word of God (Rom. 10:17); repenting of his sins (Luke 13:3); confessing his faith (Rom. 10:10) and being baptized into Christ for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38; 47, 1 Pet. 3:21). No creed book can substantiate such a claim. The Baptist manual contradicts itself by saying the salvation is “wholly of grace” (Hiscox, p. 61) and “solely through faith” (Hiscox, p. 62). Is it “grace only” or “faith only”? Neither! A person is saved by grace through the act of faith in obedience to God’s Word (Eph. 2:8). Other creed books have similar errors concerning salvation.
The Bible is sufficient for all our needs. We do not need a manual, discipline, catechism or any other creed for salvation. The Bible completely satisfies God’s requirement for salvation.
John West
-submitted by Jerry Sturgill
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