Articles
God’s Plan Of Salvation
It is not man’s plan of salvation; it is God’s plan. Of course, for thousands of years men have taught various and conflicting plans of salvation. However, the only one that we are interested in knowing and following is the one revealed upon the pages of inspired Scripture.
The reason man needs a plan of salvation from God is because of our sins against Him (I John 3:4; Isaiah 59:1-2). All have sinned, and the wages of sin is death (Romans 3:23; 6:23). Man cannot save himself from his sin predicament (Eph. 2:8-9; 1:7).
God loved His creation so much “that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). In fact, Jesus was “the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world” (Rev. 13:8). This divine plan involved Jesus becoming a man, suffering and dying on the cross, as our sinless sacrifice (John 1:29; 19). God’s plan of salvation begins and ends with Jesus Christ, as He is both the author and finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:2).
The majority of professed Christians today would be in agreement up to this point. However, there is sadly much divergence and disagreement with what comes next in God’s plan of salvation – man’s response.
Jesus plainly declared that men must do the will of His Father to go to heaven (Matt. 7:21). So many believe man can do nothing when it comes to his salvation. We read in the New Testament of those on Pentecost, Paul, and the Philippian Jailer asking what they must do to be saved (Acts 2:37; 9:6; 16:30). All of these and many more were told they must DO specific things to receive salvation from the Lord.
In fact, Jesus said men must hear the preaching of His gospel (Mark 16:15; cf. Rom. 1:16; 10:17). Then, men must believe that He is the Christ, the Son of God (John 8:24; 20:30-31). Jesus commanded men to repent or they would perish (Luke 13:3; cf. Acts 2:38; 17:30-31). The Lord also spoke of the necessity of men confessing Him before others (Matt. 10:32; cf. Rom. 10:9-10). Finally, and the most controversial, Christ taught that men must be baptized to be saved (Mark 16:16).
One puts on Christ in baptism (Gal. 3:27), is forgiven of their sins (Acts 2:38), since the sinner comes in contact with the redeeming blood of Christ in the act of baptism (Romans 6:3-4). Our sins have not been washed away, unless we have been baptized into Christ (Acts 22:16). Then to inherit eternity in heaven, the Christian must remain faithful to the Lord all the days of their life (I Cor. 15:58; Rev. 2:10).
This very likely is not “the plan of salvation” that you were taught. But if you are honest with the Scriptures and yourself, you will acknowledge and accept that this is GOD’S plan of salvation. So you will obey God’s plan of salvation, or remain lost (Heb. 5:9)?
