God saved me using the NIV,
Praise God! His grace is amazing.
Some KJV-only believers will testify that they were initially saved by a Modern Bible, too.
I believe that a Christian can be saved by God's grace and even holy to a good degree by a Modern Bible.
You said:
but also lead me to study the Bible in parallel when that became accessible. Different translations helped me to learn and understand the Bible the best way (for me, anyway - some people might not want to set aside that much time).
Again, praise God. I also have had amazing discoveries in God's Word through the use of Modern Translations (Although if a translation differed from the KJV at times, I would of course side with the King James Bible).
I see Modern Bibles like a shattered mirror that was put back together with glue. Some pieces are the true words of God and other pieces are not and they are the words of men. Some pieces are even missing altogether (like 1 John 5:7).
Note: Consider, why would Textual Critics try to hide the fact that they removed this verse? They place some of the words in 1 John 5:8 that say "
For there are three that testify:" and put these words in the place of 1 John 5:7. To me, this makes it seem like they do not want to alarm the new reader of the missing verse that teaches about how the Trinity (Godhead) is true.
Anyway, I disagree with KJV-only believers in that they do not believe we can gain any spiritual benefit from Modern Bibles.
I know that they have helped me on numerous occasions in seeing what the KJV was saying because of its archaic wording (Which I believe God chose).
I am Core KJB. The King James Bible is my core foundational text that is without error and perfect but I believe it is a MUST to use Modern Translations and older dictionaries to help flesh out what the KJB says.
Some of my fellow KJB-only brethren will say that the KJB is not that difficult to understand. I disagree with them on this point strongly.
But I still love them in Christ, even if we disagree here.
You said:
I think it isn't so much the translation that's most important. What's most important is that you have God guiding you in Bible study. He wants you to learn to trust Him and His guidance over anything else including choice of Bible translation. Plus it helps build up your fellowship with Him!
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Jesus talks about jots and tittles. He said not one jot or tittle will pass from the Law until all will be fulfilled. This would be the Law and the prophets. So while the Old Law was fulfilled, the prophets' portion of the "Law and the Prophets" still has yet to be fulfilled. There are prophecies in the Old Testament that speak of the End Times (Which are yet future).
Jots and tittles are like the smallest marks in Hebrew lettering. It would sort of be like the crossing our "t's" and the dotting of our "i's" in English. So if Jesus cares about such small details, then logically it must conclude that there must be a fine-tuned detailed Word in existence today. Granted, keep in mind that Scripture says that God chooses the foolish things of this world to confound the wise. What could be more foolish in people's minds if God chose 1600s English to preserve His words? Well, that is what I believe anyway. You are free to not believe as I do (of course). I would still fellowship with you even if we disagreed on this topic because you understand sin and salvation correctly. Having an accurate understanding of the principles outlined in the Bible on this matter is truly essential and meaningful to me.
May God bless you and your family.