How about...
A literal seven day creation?
A global flood?
The virgin birth?
That Jesus is the Son of God?
That God is three in one?
That God is one?
James 2:19 says, "Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
That is a very telling verse. The devils know the truth, but are not saved. I would venture to say that Satan even knows that the Word of God has been delivered to us in written form, the Bible, but that does not mean he or the devils are saved, even if they appear to be ministers of righteousness.
2 Corinthians 11:14-15 "...Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works."
The last part of that verse "whose end shall be according to their works" is key.
James 2:14 "What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?"
And about now you may be thinking, "Look at all the Bible verses you are using. You must believe that the Bible is the Word of God." Yes, I do. But I believe that because I am saved. One of the works of faith, is believing that the Bible is the Word of God.
James 2:17-18 "Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works."
And how are we saved?
Ephesians 2:8-9 "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.."
Hebrews 11:1 "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."
We are saved by faith, which is a gift of God. And what are we saved for the good works that God has ordained.
Ephesians 2:10 "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them."
Perhaps the question that should ask is not, "What do we need to believe to be saved?" but as the jail keeper asked...
Acts 16:30 "...Sirs, what must I do to be saved?"
And the response to that question was...
Acts 16:31 "And they said, 'Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.'"
And now we are back to belief. Maybe, but notice that the question was "...what must I do..." not "...what must I believe..." Perhaps, vs31 is acting on the faith that was given by God as a gift. As John says...
1 John 5:13 "These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God."
And what did John write about in 1 John. The works that those who are saved do...
1 John 1:5-7 "This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin."
A literal seven day creation?
A global flood?
The virgin birth?
That Jesus is the Son of God?
That God is three in one?
That God is one?
James 2:19 says, "Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
That is a very telling verse. The devils know the truth, but are not saved. I would venture to say that Satan even knows that the Word of God has been delivered to us in written form, the Bible, but that does not mean he or the devils are saved, even if they appear to be ministers of righteousness.
2 Corinthians 11:14-15 "...Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works."
The last part of that verse "whose end shall be according to their works" is key.
James 2:14 "What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?"
And about now you may be thinking, "Look at all the Bible verses you are using. You must believe that the Bible is the Word of God." Yes, I do. But I believe that because I am saved. One of the works of faith, is believing that the Bible is the Word of God.
James 2:17-18 "Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works."
And how are we saved?
Ephesians 2:8-9 "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.."
Hebrews 11:1 "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."
We are saved by faith, which is a gift of God. And what are we saved for the good works that God has ordained.
Ephesians 2:10 "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them."
Perhaps the question that should ask is not, "What do we need to believe to be saved?" but as the jail keeper asked...
Acts 16:30 "...Sirs, what must I do to be saved?"
And the response to that question was...
Acts 16:31 "And they said, 'Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.'"
And now we are back to belief. Maybe, but notice that the question was "...what must I do..." not "...what must I believe..." Perhaps, vs31 is acting on the faith that was given by God as a gift. As John says...
1 John 5:13 "These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God."
And what did John write about in 1 John. The works that those who are saved do...
1 John 1:5-7 "This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin."
But what about the Bible? Yes, if one is saved he will come to believe that the Bible is the Word of God, but I do not think that one "needs to believe the Bible is the Word of God to be saved."
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, throughly furnished unto all good works."
What we believe is important, but what we do with what we believe demonstrates our faith. And we are to be "...perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works."
