Can we believe in God without believing in the Bible?
I am asking this because my Pastor told me today that Jesus never said to believe in the bible but to believe in him Jesus and God. I thought the Bible is the word of God. I am confused.
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Asked August 27 2013
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Anonymous
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Justin Adams
Supporter
John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.... 14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. 15 (John bore witness about him, and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.’”) 16 For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. John 3:16 “For God so loved the world,that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 18 Whoever BELIEVES in him is not condemned, but whoever does not BELIEVE is condemned already, because he has not BELIEVED in the name of the only Son of God. 19 And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. 20 For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. 21 But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.” The Bible is the inerrant WORD of God. Jesus is the WORD made flesh. Jesus teaches us that we should believe in Him only, who is the WORD. So we are told that whoever doesn't believe in the WORD of God, Jesus Christ, is condemned. Maybe you should call your pastor and ask him if he meant something else by this statement. Maybe he was trying to say something else and it came of incorrectly. If he holds to his statement, maybe lovingly show him in scripture how it tells us Jesus is the Word of God, which we have put together in a collection of Holy scriptures known as the Bible.
Seth Freeman
Supporter
Well Jesus never said to believe in the Bible because well, there wasn't really a Bible at the time now was there ;) Salvation comes through Christ, and Christ alone. We know this however, because the Bible tells us: John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. Seems an odd thing to say, and probably because we don't know the context in which he was saying it. My guess is that you misunderstood something, I would go back and talk to him if it's bothering you. He's right that Salvation comes through Christ, in whom we need to believe. However, we know this because the Bible tells us!
Robert Beaulieu
Supporter
2 Timothy 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: Now compare with John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. We would not know that without the Bible and pretty hard to fight the powers of darkness without His word. Psalms 119:11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. One of the reasons our world has so much demonic activity going on. A group felt they needed to control the word and keep it from the common people, they like being the boss of all. Now they are very scared at the world they created. They need a peace plan and reading the word is part of that plan. If I never meet you or never speak to you will you ever know me?
Joel Helbling
Supporter
At the time of Jesus' life, the "scriptures" consisted of the law and the prophets (i.e. the Old Testament). Consider John 17:12 where Jesus said, "...I have guarded them, and not one of them has been lost except the son of destruction, that *the Scripture might be fulfilled*." Also consider Matthew 5:17 where Jesus said, "“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them." In fact, throughout the gospels, Jesus constantly referred to scripture and taught using the scriptures. It's clear from his own teachings that the scriptures are important and reliable. To say otherwise is to say that Jesus is unreliable. And, as others have pointed out here, Jesus himself was identified as the Word. This is amazing, and one very clear implication of this (I believe) is that you cannot separate believing in Jesus from believing what is written in scripture. Scripture speaks about Jesus, and Jesus is completely consistent with scripture. You cannot discredit the one without destroying the credibility of the other. If Jesus is to be believed, then scripture must also be believed, and vice versa. Christ's identity as the The Word is amazing when we consider that the world was created by the spoken word of God; in Genesis we are told that God said, "let there be light." As God spoke at the beginning to create the world and bring forth life on it, so he spoke in the incarnation of Jesus Christ to bring forth salvation and new Life within us. These two speakings do not merely reflect each other, but, I believe, are both essential components of God's intent, and both have Jesus integrally involved, as the Gospel of John (1:3) teaches us: "All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made." Jesus and the written word we have concerning him are amazing!
Michael Tinsley
Supporter
The Bible is first of all the telling of Jesus's salvation acts which give us eternal and abundant life in our indestructible resurrection bodies. It starts in Genesis with the choice between the Tree of Life (Jesus) and the Tree of Knowledge of good and evil (the Adamic history) and ends with Revelation 1:7 and 1:8 describing Jesus's return and who He is. The Bible _is the Word of God but it always directs us to Jesus. Your pastor was right and you are confusing things. As far as believing in God and not believing in the Bible, why would the question even come up? James and faith without works, those passages have given believers a lot of unnecessary grief thinking they may not be doing 'enough' in God's eyes (and our own personal Church's eye too). We as believers are lead by Christ who indwells us and directs our thoughts _and deeds individually so that we are doing what He wants without us having to worry about it. Worry like that takes our hearts and minds off of Him and puts us into a legalistic quagmire wondering who's judging us. Jesus doesn't judge, He leads, and understanding His love for us powers our love for Him and what should drive our lives.
Larry Pittman
Supporter
Like the Pharisees were warned by Jesus in John 5: 39 “You search the Scriptures because you think they give you eternal life. But the Scriptures point to me!", perhaps your pastor was trying to warn you. The Pharisees had no problem believing in the Scriptures, they trusted (and knew them) them for sure. But that's as far as their faith took them and they failed to trust in the One who the Scriptures point to. We must fall in love with and submit to the Lord God himself, not just the book. Jesus said to the woman at the well in John 4: 24 "For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth.” which means that we cannot worship Him in truth alone, but also in spirit, and this could be what your pastor could've have been trying to warn you about. You should get clarification from him. So approach the Bible as the written representation of Jesus, beautiful and trustworthy as He is, but it is not Jesus himself. -Larry
Andy Mangus
Supporter
I would have to answer this question with an emphatic "No"! For "In the beginning was the WORD, and the WORD was with GOD and the WORD was GOD". Many times in His Holy Word, God tells us that His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, was and is our substitute and His eternal sacrifice to blot out, to take away our sins, to be the Savior that only He can accomplish in our undeserving wretched state of sinfulness in order for each of us to be "found blameless in His presence having been cleansed of all unrighteousness". The main point is this: "In the beginning was the WORD and the WORD was with GOD and the WORD was(is) GOD. "God, the Father; God, the Son and God, the Holy Spirit are ONE. The main principal precept to understand is this: GOD's truth is His divine WORD. ~~Andy~~
Meluleki Maphosa
Supporter
Forgive me my friend if this may sound arrogant, but it is all intended for good: We can ask this question, "Can I know my father without my mother telling me this is your father?". You cannot believe in God without hearing it from the bible. How can you believe in something that you do not know? The bible tells us who God is, how He wants us to relate to Him, how He wants us to relate to one another. In short the bible shows us the will of God in our lives. Through reading His (word) bible, we communicate with God. Have you ever wondered why we do not have prophets like it was during the old Testament times? It is because everything that God ever wanted to say to humanity, he has said it in the bible. There is nothing new. Faith comes by hearing, hearing the word of God. I am afraid if we disregard the bible we will lose our faith.
tee miller
Supporter
Jesus wants us to read his word (the bible) and study it and know it bc that's the ONLY way we can defeat the enemy. The bible says that man shall not live by bread alone but every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God! Read your bible. It's the only weapon we have when it comes to living on this evil earth....Matthew 4:4
David Whitley
Supporter
All humanity knows God - this was true before the Bible was put to ink and paper. Romans 1: 19-21 says; For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible at- tributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. The Bible however is His inspired word to reject it is to reject Him. John 1:1-5 tells us; In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. We know good (God) and we know evil (Satan) it is written on our hearts. To reject the word of God is to reject God. Knowing God and believing in God is not the requirement of God - God demands an active faith, a daily walk rooted in "obedience" doing His will. James clearly tells us that belief without action is dead and worthless, James 2:14 says; What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him?
Child of God
Supporter
Sure, many many people do. But in order to believe in the right god you must read the bible and overcome the sinful nature. Or else we are on a dark blind date. Regardless of how good we think we are we are missing out on a huge great deal of truth and be deceiving ourselves without the word of god. Remember there are many gods (false gods) read the bible and make sure you are worshiping the right god. Unbelief? Pray ask god to reveal himself to you... the bible isn't a rule book it's freedom www.dictionaryofdoctrine.com
Lloyd Rowlands
Supporter
Yes, you can believe in God without believing the Bible......plenty of people do. Muslims for example believe in God but they do not believe the Bible. Of course, their view of God is incorrect...but they do believe he exists. You cannot have a correct view of God without the Bible, and you cannot have a saving knowledge of God without the Bible.
Lexie Duncan
Supporter
No! The bible is Gods word. The bible is the thing that brings us closer to God because it reveals who he truly is to us. If we didn't have the bible, we would know nothing.
Anonymous
Jesus is the word of God made Manifest if you believe in Jesus you already believe in the bible
Arthur Boi Quartey-Papafio
Supporter
"And He was clothed with a vesture dipiped in blood: and His name is called the Word of God" Rev.19:13 "For the scriptures say...So faith cometh by hearing: and hearing by the Word of God" Romans 10:11-17 I want to believe perhaps your pastor statement has been taken out of context or misquoted otherwise I want to asked which source does he prepare his message and derive inspiration from. As believers, the Holy Scriptures - the Bible is our singular authority from which God has chosen to make Himself known to us. "...hath in these last days spoken to us by His Son - the Word- ..." Hebrew 1:1-2. Finally, let me iterate without the slightest remorse that if it is exactly as you are saying are the words of your pastor, then I'm afraid for the salvation of the souls under his care and doubt which Jesus or God he preaches as the apostle Paul said and I quote "But 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 He reaffirms this in verse 9 as well.
Michael J Wilson
Supporter
In my opinion, belief is deeper than acknowledging existence, and it appears you may be wondering if it's possible to acknowledge God's existence without believing in the Word of God (the Bible). The answer is yes. However, if you are asking whether you can BELIEVE in God without believing in the Bible, then the answer is a huge, resounding NO! But it sounds to me like your pastor is exhorting the congregation to have a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ rather. If that is the case, he is absolutely correct because lots of people read the Bible but have no personal relationship with God. Conversely, anyone with a personal relationship with God knows that He speaks to them and guides them through His Word. See II Timothy 3:16. Please ask your pastor to clarify that what he meant. Sometimes when we teach, the words that proceed from our lips don't always match up with the thoughts that caused the words to be spoken. I am confident that your pastor will be happy to explain and will probably feel bad that he confused you.
Dorcas Sitali
Supporter
Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God Romans 10:17. Jesus is the living, breathing Word of God, for the Word which was in the beginning and was with God because flesh and we all have beheld the Glory of the only begotten of God namely Jesus the Christ.
Vincent Mercado
Supporter
The Word of God is not a book, but a person. It's so easy to make this mistake. Although a lot of people insist in going by the Word of God, they mistakenly equate it to the bible.
Danny Hickman
Supporter
Jesus answered this question when He said 'You search the Scriptures because in them you think you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me.' John 5:39. When He said that He made it clear that He is God. The Scriptures begin by saying 'God created the heavens and the Earth'. If the Scriptures testify of Him then He is the One who created the heavens and the Earth. Can you believe in God and not believe in the Scriptures that testify of God, when God has said 'these scriptures testify of Me'? I don't see how you can.
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