The Scriptures Are All Sufficient
The apostle Paul reminded a young Timothy…”And that from a child you have known the holy scriptures, which are able to make you wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.” (2 Tim 3:15). Truly, the scripture is all sufficient to save a man from all unrighteousness. Allow the scriptures prove it.
One can be saved by reading the Bible only. If he never reads the creeds or catechisms of men, he can find what he must do to be saved by reading the Scriptures. “Sirs, what must I do to be saved” (Acts 16:30,31). “Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, men and brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:37,38).
John wrote “that you might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name” (Jn. 20:30,31). Are the Scriptures sufficient to that end, or did John fail? Further, Peter said that God “Has given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness” (2 Pet. 1:3). So, one can be saved by taking the Bible alone. One can be saved without ever hearing of Joseph Smith or Ellen G. White. Can the same be said about the Bible?
The apostle Peter tells the Christian to add to his faith virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness, and charity. He then commands him to “give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if you do these things, you shall never fall (2 Pet. 1:5-10). The Scriptures, therefore, are complete; they are all that is essential for the child of God to continue in a saved condition.
The scripture can’t make you a Catholic, a Baptist, a Methodist, an Adventist, a Mormon or any other denomination. The scripture can only make you a Christian and sufficiently make you prepared to be added to the Lord’s church, the church of Christ (Acts 2:37-47). The scripture is truly all sufficient. Notice what Paul continued to say to Timothy on this subject: “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” (2 Tim. 3:16,17). There is nothing any preacher could or should add to this scripture to make it more plainer than that!