I was reading today through an awesome book I have titled, “SWORD SCRAPBOOK II,” a compilation by Dr. Viola Mae Walden (1915-2007) of bits of wisdom, Scriptures, devotion and truths from THE SWORD OF THE LORD articles written by Dr. John R. Rice over the decades. The book was published in 1969. The Sword Of The Lord was founded in 1934. WHAT A BLESSING! The following is from page 8:
THINGS THAT AREN'T IN THE BIBLE:
PURGATORY is not in the Bible.
LIMBO is not in the Bible.
BURNING CANDLES FOR THE SICK is not in the Bible
SPRINKLING or POURING FOR BAPTISM is not found in the Bible.
A SECOND CHANCE TO GO TO HEAVEN AFTER DEATH, is not found in the Bible.
PRAYERS TO MARY OR TO ANY OF THE SAINTS TO HELP US, is not in the Bible (I Timothy 2:5).
SPEAKING IN TONGUES TO BE SAVED, is not found in the Bible.
BE GOOD AND YOU WILL GO TO HEAVEN, is not in the Bible.
BE SINCERE AND YOU WILL GO TO HEAVEN, is not in the Bible
BE BAPTIZED IN WATER TO BE SAVED, is not in the Bible.
JOIN THE CHURCH TO BE SAVED, is not in the Bible.
CONFESSION TO A PRIEST OR PREACHER FOR FORGIVENESS, is not in the Bible. END
I would like to add the following things that AREN'T IN THE BIBLE:
TURNING FROM SINS TO BE SAVED, is not in the Bible.
REPENTANCE AS A CHANGE OF LIFE OR ACTIONS TO BE SAVED, is not in the Bible (see, metanoia).
CONFESSING 'JESUS AS LORD' TO BE SAVED, is not in the Bible (Matthew 7:21-23).
SURRENDERING “ALL” TO CHRIST TO BE SAVED, is not in the Bible (Romans 12:1).
CONFESSING JESUS BEFORE MEN TO BE SAVED, is not in the Bible (John 12:42-43).
INVITING JESUS INTO YOUR LIFE TO BE SAVED, is not in the Bible.
PRAYING TO BE SAVED, is not in the Bible, you simply 'BELIEVE' (John 6:28-29).
I was resting today, listening to Alexander Scourby read the King James Bible. Do you know, if you'll just listen to the King James Bible, giving it your undivided attention, it is so clear that salvation is solely by faith. I heard the following passage of Scripture today (Please notice the last part of verse 9). Philippians 3:7-9, “But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith.” Amen! THE RIGHTEOUSNESS WHICH IS OF GOD BY FAITH!!!
BELIEVING THE GOSPEL is in the Bible (Romans 1:16).
The Bible doesn't mention anything about turning away from one's sins to be saved. Rather, we are taught that God's righteousness saves us, and not our own self-righteousness! We are saved BY FAITH! That's it, by faith in the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ! The Gospel is defined in the Bible as Christ's DEATH on the cross for our sins, His BURIAL, and His bodily RESURRECTION three days later (1st Corinthians 15:1-4). Believe this Good News, Oh sinner, and you are saved! Simply receive Christ's payment on the cross for your sins, believing that He raised up from the dead the third day, and you are saved! 1st Thessalonians 4:14, “For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.” And please consider Galatians 3:2, This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit (capital “S,” the indwelling Holy Spirit) by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?” That is, we are saved simply by BELIEVING THE GOSPEL when we hear it preached. Could the Scriptures be any plainer? I think not.
