PLAN OF SALVATION

It is very difficult to put together a brief written summary of God's plan, without sounding trite or "canned." Following is my best attempt to avoid this while answering the question: "What must I do to be saved?" (Acts 16:30, KJV).

• THE PROBLEM
  • God created people perfect, but the first people sinned. Since God is perfect, he cannot be near sin. This caused (and continues to cause) us to be separated from Him.
    • "But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear." (Isaiah 59:2, KJV)
  • No matter how hard we might try, none of us can live a perfect life; none of us can bridge this gap on our own.
    • "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23, KJV)
    • "As it is written, 'There is none righteous, no not one.' " (Romans 3:10, KJV)
    • "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us." (1 John 1:8, KJV)
  • The ultimate consequence of this sin is death.
    • "For the wages of sin is death..." (Romans 6:23, KJV)
    • "But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death." (James 1:14-15, KJV)

• GOD'S SOLUTION
  • From the beginning, God's original law required the sacrifice of animals to obtain a temporary forgiveness for sins.
    • "And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission." (Hebrews 9:22, KJV)
  • Jesus was one with God. He was the only perfect person to live on this planet.
    • "I [Jesus] and my Father are one." (John 10:30, KJV)
    • "For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin." (Hebrews 4:15, KJV)
  • As a perfect sinless person, he took our sins upon himself, and became the perfect once-and-for-all sacrifice, taking our place for the punishment we deserved.
    • "All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all." (Isaiah 53:6, KJV)
    • "But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him." (Romans 5:8-9, KJV)
  • Jesus is now our Savior, and the only way to bridge the gap between us and God. This is a gift that could never be earned, but is free to all.
    • "Jesus saith unto him, 'I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.' " (John 14:6, KJV)
    • "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." (Ephesians 2:8-9, KJV)

• OUR PART
  • HEAR: We must first hear the good news of God's plan to save us.
    • "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." (Romans 10:17, KJV)
  • BELIEVE: We must believe that Jesus is God's Son, and that He paid the price for our sins.
    • "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned." (Mark 16:16, KJV)
    • "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16, KJV)
  • REPENT: We must repent of our sins.
    • "And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent." (Acts 17:30, KJV)
  • CONFESS: We must confess before men that Jesus is the Christ, the son of God.
    • "Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven." (Matthew 10:32, KJV)
  • BE BAPTIZED: We receive Christ into our lives at the time of baptism.
    • "Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." (Acts 2:37-38, KJV)
    • "Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life." (Romans 6:3-4)
  • BE FAITHFUL: We must faithfully live as God directs.
    • "And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not." (Galatians 6:9, KJV)
    • "Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life." (Revelation 2:10, KJV)

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