I’d like to respond to this question by first rewording it a bit. Rather than responding to the question, “How much of the Bible should a person know before accepting Jesus as their Savior?”, I would like to respond to the question, “How much of special revelation must a person know before accepting Jesus as their Savior?” With this, I’m simply substituting “special revelation” for “the Bible”. In defending my reason for this substitution comes my response to the question.
The primary reason I wish to substitute special revelation for the Bible is because if we limit the dialogue to the Bible, then it would be impossible for Early Church believers, including the disciples of Christ, to be saved (as the New Testament wasn’t written at that point). It was knowledge of the person and work of Jesus Christ (also defined as special revelation) that is necessary for salvation. I believe that knowledge can come through various forms of special revelation alongside of the Bible. This does not mean to infer that these forms are equal to the Scriptures, rather, that other forms of special revelation can be used as a means for communicating the critical information necessary for conversion while being subordinate to the authority of Scripture.
Another dynamic at work in answering this question is the work of the Holy Spirit in the process of salvation. Salvation is primarily the work of the Holy Spirit (some argue that it is the Holy Spirit alone). Simple exposure to the specially revealed truths of Scripture that are necessary for salvation is not sufficient. It is an exposure paired with a repentant heart, which is made possible only through the work of the Holy Spirit.
After defining the function and means of special revelation as pertains to conversion, the knowledge necessary for salvation (which could be communicated via various forms of special revelation), I believe can be limited to four points. Each point highlights a Biblically defined (especially by Romans and other Pauline Epistles) dynamics at work in a comprehensive soteriology; namely, (1) Original Sin, (2) Justification, (3) Sanctification and (4) Glorification.
Original sin – knowledge and regretful recognition of sins and the sin nature along with its effects on human life.
Justification as pertains to both (a) knowledge of the person of Jesus Christ (namely his identity being characterized by a dual human/divine nature necessary for reconciliation between man and God) and (b) knowledge of the salvific work of Jesus Christ with special attention lent to his crucifixion (substitutionary death) and resurrection (hope for new life).
Sanctification – knowledge of the role and work of the Holy Spirit in regenerating the believer through restoration the Divine image characterized by faith, love and obedience
Glorification – knowledge of the hope of the glory and life of God to be manifest in the life of the believer beginning with conversion and continuing on until eternity.
It seems that with the elimination of any of these 4 points would mean an insufficient framework for conversion. I would hope that it also seems that while the necessary points are limited to four, that we need not add another. I believe these four points present the necessary information for conversion as revealed specially by God through His written and Living Word.
How much bible should a person know before? None! It is belief through faith! Receive on faith! It is “through faith for faith…He who through faith is righteous shall live” Romans 1:17 It is THROUGH faith that we can begin to SEE the evidence and feel the substance of God’s Spirit in our body, relationships and life. It is FOR faith that we begin to SEE the evidence of the Spirit of God in the word and in our lives! We say we believe on faith that it is true. We KNOW in our heart once we see the EVIDENCE and the SUBSTANCE in our lives!!!!!!!!
Note that I’m not presenting works righteousness and the work being knowledge of scripture. I’m talking about special revelation. The question is, How much of the person of Jesus must one know prior to being in a place where one’s faith saves? Must one know that he is 100% God and 100% man? Must one know of the virgin birth? Must one know of his works on earth in the first century? Must one know the details surrounding the events of the crucifixion? etc. What you have defended here and what I am presenting are two separate issues.
That’s called a straw-man argument.
Thanks for the thoughts!
Matt
I have no argument! I have no defense! I have Christ Jesus!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We are both right! All who have Christ’s Spirit are reflecting facets of the One Light of Christ!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Read my new post “God’s Mini Me” and you will see what I mean!!!!!!! Love to you my brother!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You have it totally wrong. You don’t need to know anything to be saved. What did the thief crucified on the right hand of Jesus know before becoming saved? when you begin to complicate salvation the very illiterate is disenfranchised. God bless you.
What, or who, was the thief on the cross putting his faith in that justified him for salvation? He had to know something, did he not? Did he not recognize that Jesus was the savior? You can’t put your faith in something you can’t know.
Your phrase “you don’t need to know anything to be saved” implies that one not know Jesus, not know of his salvific work on the cross, of the forgiveness of sins, etc. This implies that universal salvation, which is undoubtedly heretical.
What i mean is that it is an error to say one needs to know more than what the thief crucified on the right hand of Jesus knew to be saved, anything else complicates the gospel and disenfranchises some people.
I recommend you actually read the post and not just the title of the post. You’ll see that what you describe here is not what I’m saying.