True story. Back in late 1976, events in my life put this crazy idea into my head, that idea being that I would like to learn about God. I took a novel approach, instead of asking family and friends, I decided to go to a store and and buy a Bible, read it and hopefully find out what I needed to know about God.
So, I went to a Bible Bookstore with some money in my pocket. I remember walking thru the door and being asked by the lady working there if she could help me. I told her I wanted to buy a Bible. Her next words were " A King James Bible?" Not knowing anything about the various versions/translations available in 1976 or wanting to admit that I didn't comprehend the implications of the question, I simply replied "yes". So minutes later I go back into my car with a King James Version of the Holy Bible, small print, Red Letter, leather cover, published by Thomas Nelson. I still have that Bible today in my collection.
Back at my dorm room, I spent about 4 or 5 weeks reading on my own the Holy Bible KJV. I had no real help or anyone to give me advice and soon became frustrated and started to feel that I was getting nowhere in this quest. A fellow on my floor one day showed me a copy of his Bible, the title was "The Way". It was the Living Bible with notes. A few days later I purchased a copy of the Living Bible in paperback ($2.99). This Bible had a topical index and the plan of salvation and it was using that Bible, the Living Bible, in March 1977 I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior.
I have been reading the Bible in various translations/versions including the King James since that time, I have about 85 Bibles in my collection. However, according to a pastor of a local KJVO church, it is impossible for anyone to be saved without the KJV. So, I guess I'm not saved even though I love the Lord and read from His book every day. This is because I didn't hang in long enough with the "correct" translation of the Bible and instead I used for the first 3 years of my Christian life a paraphrase of the Bible.
Salvation, according to this logic, is confessing sin, turning from sin, believing and and trusting in Jesus (His death/resurrection as the price of sin paid in full, believed in faith by the grace of God) for your salvation is not enough, you must have a certain translation of the English Holy Bible in your had at the time of conversion. Sin continues to blind me to the truth as I'm not trusting the holy words of nice folks like Sal and getting rid of everything except the KJB, 1769 B.Blaney edition AND again confessing Jesus as Lord of my life (for the second time) with said Bible in my hand. Believing the Gospel isn't enough, it has to be done with the 1611 KJV, revised in 1769, right Sal?