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"Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God" (1Jn.5:1). Is this the inspired word of God? Yes, it is a part of the inspired word of God and we can believe it as such. But what we should not do is to take this as an independent, stand-alone statement of truth to mean what it appears to say, that all we need to do in order to be born again is to accept that Jesus is the Messiah. That would nullify what the Bible says in other places about being born again. Another verse that is quoted independently in the same manner is, "if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved" (Ro.10:9).

If we take verses such as these to understand what we need to be saved, we will come very short of salvation. The whole Bible has been given to us to show us the way of salvation which God has prepared for us. It is when we read all of it that we understand what salvation is, and what we need to do to receive it. (Some people will stop me right there, telling me that salvation is a gift from God, and that I am teaching 'works'!)

First of all, salvation is primarily from our sins (Mt.1:21). The death of Jesus on the cross was for the punishment of our sins. We cannot earn this salvation with rituals, penance or good works, but God offers it as an unmerited, undeserved favour towards us. Not everyone receives this gift, even though it is offered to the whole world, except those who go to God in humility, acknowledging that what they deserve for their sins is judgment and showing gratitude for what Jesus has done for them. Since they realise that it was their sins that placed Jesus on the cross, they wish with all their heart that they could stop sinning. It is going to God with this attitude that qualifies them to receive the gift of salvation. If someone just believes that Jesus is the Messiah whom God raised up and declare Him with the mouth as Lord, has he dealt with the subject of sin in his life at all? Has he gone to God as a sinner seeking salvation?

Those who go to God for salvation know that Jesus is the Messiah and that He died and rose from the dead. That is a part of their belief about Jesus. But does just knowing those facts bring anyone salvation? No!

There are several other examples where people take parts of the Bible and bring out doctrines, claiming that they are basing their teachings on the inspired word of God. However, by not seeing everything as merely parts of the big picture revealed in the Bible, and not seeking to see the big picture first before looking at the smaller parts, they go wrong. If somebody has not had the opportunity to go to a Bible school in order to get the big picture, at least should they not study the Bible themselves in order to make sure that what they preach is in line with the whole purpose of God? When we hear preaching, let us also examine it from the viewpoint of the whole Bible.

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