Not to belabor the point, but: Belief that God is the one true God and Jesus is his son who died for our sins and rose again–believing that we are sinners in need of a savior and asking Jesus to save us–that’s ALL that’s required for salvation, right? So, the question is–all the other stuff that people read, interpret, come to believe as doctrine, or accept as fact is separate and apart from that basic requirement of belief and acceptance, isn’t it? No matter how wrong we end up getting everything else, as long as we meet the most basic requirement of our faith–which is belief–we’re saved, right?
Right. As long as we don’t let any of the “other stuff” become a necessary addition or modification to the belief He requires, we can be certain of our salvation. In John 6:28 Jesus said the only work God requires of us is that we believe in the One He has sent. Many other verses confirm this truth, and none deny it.
Paul said we’re saved by grace through faith, not by works so that no one can boast (Ephes. 2:8-9).