Does The NIV Teach A Works Salvation?

Does The
NIV

Teach A
WORKS
Salvation?
Judge for
Yourself

FRIEND, IT IS ONLY THROUGH GOD'S WORD, the Bible, that a person learns how
   to get saved and go to Heaven when they die. Therefore, it is important that God's
Word be clear and concise, free of ambiguities. We can't very well trust our eternity-
bound souls to a Bible whose uncertainties can easily lead to misunderstandings.
Of course, the devil would love for us to misinterpret God's Word. The Bible, referring
to Satan, says, "Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field
which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman [EVE], Yea, hath God
said[?]" (Gen. 3:1). From the beginning, the devil has always tried to cast doubt on
God's Word; often, in a very subtle way. That's why the devil loves the confusion
created by all the different Bible versions on the market today. The most popular among
them is the New International Version, also known as the NIV.
If you use an NIV, perhaps you bought it because it is advertised as a translation that
strives for "the fidelity to the thought of the biblical writers." Perhaps you first tried to
read the King James Version (KJV), with its emphasis on "word-for-word translation,"
and felt it was difficult to understand. However, it's more important to know God's
exact words than the writer's "thoughts or intent." The NIV's attempt to provide the
thought-behind-the-words has led to verses whose wording is ambiguous and
misleading to the reader. As you will learn, such ambiguities subtly work in Satan's
favor.
For example . . .
In Heb. 4:6, the KJV states that many are trying to "work" their way into Heaven, and
thus have never entered "God's rest," because of their "unbelief" in the Gospel. They
don't believe that Christ died on the cross to pay for their sins. They don't trust in the
fact that their sin debt was paid in full by the shed blood of Christ. They refuse to
believe that God has already provided a Saviour for their lost, hell- bound souls. For
many, admitting that ONLY Christ can save them would insult their pride. Most would
rather try meriting Heaven through his/her own "goodness," even though the Bible
says, "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves:
it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast." (Eph. 2:8-9)
Now, the devil is aware of man's desire to boast. So, along comes the NIV, in Heb. 4:6,
and uses the word "DISOBEDIENCE" instead of "unbelief[.]" The word "disobedience"
insinuates a works salvation. For while belief means TRUSTING what God says (salvation
by faith), being obedient, to most, means DOING what God says (salvation by works).
The person who's already trying to earn his/her way into Heaven reads "disobedience"
and is subtly encouraged to "keep up the good work". Whereas "unbelief" forces him
to consider whether salvation is indeed by faith alone.
LET'S LOOK AT MORE EXAMPLES as we compare the NIV against the very accurate
King James Version (KJV). You will see how clearly defined, and "black and white" the
KJV is compared to the NIV. And as we examine these two Bibles, ask yourself:
Who benefits from the NIV's subtle and ambiguous wording, God or Satan?
If it were YOUR SOUL on the line, which version would you rather trust, considering
  the fact that God will judge you according to His exact Words? (John 12:48)
As a professing Christian, if you were leading someone to Christ, which Bible would
  clearly define that salvation is by faith and not by works?
Which version would give that someone an excuse to trust in their good works?
Judge for yourself . . .

IN HEBREWS 3:18, WE FIND another instance in which the
NIV substitutes "disobedience" for the word "faith."
KJV - "And to whom sware he that they should not enter into
his rest, but to them that believed not?"
NIV - "And to whom did God swear that they would never
enter his rest if not TO THOSE WHO DISOBEYED?"

In John 12:47, we find a similar, also subtle, substitution:
KJV - "And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I
judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save
the world."
NIV - "As for the person who hears my words BUT DOES NOT
KEEP THEM, I do not judge him. For I did not come to judge
the world, but to save it."
The NIV changes "believing" into "keeping." To most people,
"keeping God's Word" requires effort on their part. It is
something they must do--a works salvation.

There are other subtle ways in which the NIV implies a works
salvation. Consider 2 Corinthians 11:3:
KJV - "But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled
Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted
from the simplicity that is in Christ."
NIV - "But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the
serpent's cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray
FROM YOUR SINCERE AND PURE DEVOTION to Christ."
The KJV refers to the "simplicity" of the Gospel. God wants
us to admit that we are lost, helpless sinners that need to
simply trust the fact that Christ has ALREADY paid for all our
sins. Sadly, most will refuse to repent, change their minds,
and forsake their sinful, proud attitude of trying to earn their
way into Heaven. To them, just believing is "too simple." They
are more inclined to believe the NIV, which states that it is
his/her, "Sincere and pure devotion to Christ" that will get
them saved.

2 Timothy 2:12 . . .
KJV - "If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we
deny him, he also will deny us:"
NIV - "IF WE ENDURE, we will also reign with him. IF WE
DISOWN HIM, he will also DISOWN US."
In context, this verse refers to persecution; suffering for
the sake of Christ. Furthermore, the KJV exhorts us not to
deny Christ during such persecution. The NIV, on the other
hand, uses the word "endure," a word that many will assume
means "holding out to the end" and/or "hanging on to your
salvation." In fact, "works" is further implied by using the
word "disown." "deny" can be nothing more than not verbally
admitting that you are a Christian. Whereas "disown" could
mean forsaking Christ altogether.

In using "disown," the NIV implies that you can lose your
salvation if you don't endure. But if you have to hold on to
your own salvation, then Christ hasn't saved you all by
Himself, making you a co-Saviour--and that translates into a
works salvation.
In 1 Timothy 4:9-10, we find the NIV implying a works
salvation, when the real issue is suffering persecution:
KJV - "This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation.
For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach,
because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of
all men, specially of those that believe."
The KJV says that all those who trust Christ as Saviour,
will "suffer reproach[.]" Yet this is not what we learn
when we read the same verse in the NIV:
NIV - "This is a trustworthy saying that deserves full
acceptance (and for this we LABOR and STRIVE), that we
have PUT OUR HOPE in the living God, who is the Savior of
all men, AND ESPECIALLY of those who believe."

Hebrews 9:28 . . .
KJV - "So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many;
and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second
time without sin unto salvation."
NIV - "So Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of
many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear
sin, but TO BRING SALVATION TO THOSE WHO ARE
WAITING FOR HIM."
The NIV makes it sound like you can't know, right now, if
you're saved; you have to wait to see if Christ grants you
salvation. To many, this implies a works salvation, where one
has to wait and see if they earned their way to Heaven.

1 Peter 4:18 . . .
KJV - "And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where
shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?"
NIV - "And, 'If it is HARD FOR THE RIGHTEOUS TO BE
SAVED, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?'"
Why does the KJV say, "the righteous scarcely be saved"?
Because most people refuse to repent and receive, by faith,
the free gift of salvation that Christ has bought for them. The
NIV gives a totally different meaning, implying that it is not
easy to earn your way to Heaven. Most who are striving to
earn Heaven will immediately agree with the NIV's implication.
The next verse uses the same subtle approach. Mark 10:24:
KJV - "And the disciples were astonished at his words. But
Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, Children, how
hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into
the kingdom of God!"
NIV - "The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said
again, 'Children, HOW HARD IT IS TO ENTER the kingdom
of God!'" [Reference to trusting in riches is missing]

Ephesians 1:12 . . .
KJV - "That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first
trusted in Christ."
NIV - "In order that we, WHO WERE THE FIRST to HOPE IN
CHRIST, might be for the praise of his glory."
Trusting Christ as Saviour is what believing on Him is all
about. Anyone can agree with the fact that Christ died on a
cross to pay for his/her sins. The real question is whether
someone is trusting his/her eternity-bound soul to that fact.
Trusting in Christ is how one gets saved, and the person who
has been "saved" knows it--it's a sure thing.
The NIV's use of the word "hope" implies a whole different
meaning, making it sound as if you can't know for sure if you
are saved--you can only hope you are. We find the same
substitution used in Matthew 12:21:
KJV - "And in his name shall the Gentiles trust."
NIV - "In his name the nations will PUT THEIR HOPE."

1 Corinthians 1:18 . . .
KJV - "For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish
foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power
of God."
NIV - "For the message of the cross is foolishness to those
who are perishing, but to us WHO ARE BEING SAVED it is the
power of God." According to the NIV, are you still "being
saved," but not quite saved yet? If so, then the implication is
that salvation is by works.

Matthew 7:21-23 . . .
KJV - "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall
enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will
of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that
day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in
thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many
wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I
never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity."
NIV - "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter
the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my
Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day,
'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your
name drive out demons and PERFORM MANY MIRACLES?'
Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from
me, you evildoers!"
Changing "works" to "MIRACLES" makes it sound as if
only Pentecostal preachers will hear "I never knew you[!]" But
the sad fact is, anyone trusting in their "many wonderful
works" will be in for a shock on that fateful day of
Judgment.

The Bottom line . . . When it comes to any issue relating to salvation, "God is not
the author of confusion" (1 Cor. 14:33), but there is one who
is: "...the serpent beguiled Eve through his
subtilty..." (2 Cor. 11:3). When you open your Bible, you
don't normally find scholars standing around, ready to clarify
any ambiguous wording. Nor will any NIV translator stand
beside you on Judgment Day, taking responsibility for any
fatal misunderstanding you may have had. It will be strictly
between you and God. So it is important to use a Bible that
is clear and concise, and doesn't lead you to any erroneous
and fatal assumptions. From looking at just these few
examples (and there are many more), the NIV is not the Bible
any eternity-bound soul should be trusting.

IF you were to die today, are you 100% SURE
you would go to Heaven? The Bible says
YOU CAN BE SURE (1 John 5:13).
BUT FIRST, you must realize that what keeps you
from going to Heaven are your sins, because:
"...your iniquities [sins] have separated
between you and your God," Isaiah 59:2.
In fact, in God's eyes YOU ARE A SINNER: "For
all have sinned, and come short
of the glory of God;" Romans 3:23.
SECONDLY, you must realize that there is
NOTHING you can do to save yourself and earn
Heaven: "For by grace are ye saved through
faith; and that not of yourselves: it is
the gift of God: Not of works, lest any
man should boast." (Eph. 2:8-9) Baptism, good
deeds, church membership, self-righteousness are
all examples of good works that cannot save you,
because, "Not by works of
righteousness which we have done, but
according to his mercy he [Christ] saved
us," Titus 3:5.
THE ONLY WAY you can get saved is through
Jesus Christ. He said: "I am the way, the
truth, and the life: no man cometh unto
the Father, but by me." (John 14:6) THAT'S
WHY: "...while we were yet sinners, Christ
died for us." Romans 5:8-9
THEREFORE: You must REPENT (change your
mind); admit that you are a Hell deserving sinner
and can't save yourself. And call upon Christ, and
Him alone, to save you. "if thou shalt confess
with thy mouth the Lord Jesus [REPENT], and
shalt believe in thine heart [TRUST] that God
hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be
saved." Romans 10:9
SEND THE LIGHT
P.O. Box 815 Fargo, ND 58107

[ Christian Helps Ministry (USA) ] [ Christian Home Bible Course ]