Is the Bible Sufficient?

David Sandlin

Does the Bible contain God's Word, and if so, is it sufficient for our salvation? Most religious people would readily agree that the Bible is God's Word. However, popular consensus does not make it so. Let's look at what the Bible says. The Bible is very clear about the manner in which truth has been revealed to man. The writer of the epistle to the Hebrews begins with this statement; "God, Who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by His Son, Whom He hath appointed Heir of all things, by Whom also He made the worlds" (Hebrews 1:1-2). As Jesus spoke to His apostles before His death, He said: "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me" (John 14:6). He continued to explain to them, "These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you. But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, Whom the Father will send in My name, He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you" (John 14:25-26). "...When He, the Spirit of truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth..." (John 16:13). There are many other passages of Scripture that we could refer to, but these will suffice to show that truth if from God and has been revealed to man through the prophets, through His Son, and through the Holy Spirit unto the apostles. Any writings produced after the apostles are not from God because Jesus, in speaking to the apostles, said: "He will guide you into all truth." The word ALL is defined by Webster's Dictionary as the entire thing; every one of the total. There is no room for adding anything else, and there is no provision for taking anything away from it. It is complete. The Bible is the record that we have of this complete Word of God to man. It does not contain contradictions.

Since most people believe that the Bible is God's Word, why are there so many other books, used as creeds in many denominations? Why are there books written by men, who are not apostles, who are not inspired of God, who claim to have additional revelation from God? Any revelation from God would certainly not conflict with the true Word of God. Since Jesus said that the Holy Spirit would guide the apostles into all truth, there is no need for more truth. In fact, any such claim of an additional revelation would contradict the real truth because Jesus said we have all of it. Go did not make a mistake when truth was revealed. He did not forget something that needed to be added later. We have all truth in the Bible, and God, the Giver of all Truth, cannot lie (Titus 1:2).

It is a dangerous thing to attempt to change the Word of the Almighty God. The apostle Paul, when writing to the Galatians, said: "though we, or an angel from Heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed" (Galatians 1:8). That point is so important that he repeated it again in the next sentence. And then he asked the question: "do I now persuade men or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I yet pleased men, I should not be a servant of Christ. But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ" (Galatians 1:10-12).

The Pharisees of Jesus' day had a problem with applying their traditions as the commandment of God. Jesus rebuked them sharply calling them hypocrites, and quoting the prophet Esaias, He said: "This people draweth nigh unto Me with their mouth, and honoureth Me with their lips; but their heart is far from Me. But in vain they do worship Me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men" (Matthew 15:7-9).

Do not allow yourself to be carried away with the doctrines of men. They are powerless to save you. Warning is given by the apostle Peter, "But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of who the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you" (2 Peter 2:1-3). Yes, the Bible is sufficient to save your soul.