1. God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
The Salvation Puzzle
John 3:16
1 John 3:1
Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God!
Salvation is admittedly puzzling to many people, so it seems only fitting to use the illustration of a jig-saw puzzle to explain its components.

3. Grace is receiving something we don’t deserve

4. Ephesians 2:1-9; Titus 3:4-7
(1) You He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, (2) in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, (3) among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.
(4) But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, (5) even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), (6) and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,
(7) that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. (8) For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, (9) not of works, lest anyone should boast.
Mercy is NOT receiving something we deserve (i.e., punishment)

6. (8) God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (9) ...Having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. (10) For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.
Synonyms: justified (made straight), reconciled (made friends), redeemed (bought back), saved (rescued from punishment)
Romans 5:8-10

7. (1) I declare to you the gospel
(1) I declare to you the gospel ... (2) by which also you are saved, if you hold fast ...—unless you believed in vain....
1 Cor. 15:1-5;
1 Cor. 1:18
I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes....
1 Corinthians 15:1ff (3) that Christ died for our sins… (4) and was raised the third day… (5) and that He appeared…”to many people”
Romans 1:16

8. (5) ... According to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, (6) whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, (7) that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
Titus 3:3-7
This is a parallel passage to Eph. 2, mentioning the LOVE, KINDNESS, GRACE, and MERCY of God.
It also mentions the work of the Holy Spirit.
(Compare the spiritual rebirth in John 3 (Jesus to Nicodemus))

9. Matthew 5:3-6;
James 4:6-10
The beatitudes: Humility, meekness, sorrow for sin, the desire for pure things, etc.
2 Thess. 2:10
… They did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved.

10. (6) Without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
Hebrews 11:1-6
John 8:24
... If you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.

11. Repentance (that is, a change of mind toward sin)
Acts 17:30
Romans 10:9-10
Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent
Confession of your faith
If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
He who believes and is baptized, will be saved…
Mark 16:16

13. The Plan of Salvation Is Like a Jig-Saw Puzzle
Nothing/No One Else
Nothing/No one Else - Joseph Smith, Mohammed, a priest, Mary...
Acts 4:12 Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.
The Sinner’s Prayer. Where is THAT found? Not in the Scriptures! Paul prayed for three days, but still had sins to wash away (Acts 9:11-12; 22:16)
Ceremony – Naaman (2 Kings 5)
Nothing Less – Baptism without faith? Faith without the love of the truth? The death of Jesus without the renewing of the Holy Spirit?
1-2-3 of “He who believes AND is baptized SHALL BE saved.”
A jigsaw puzzle with missing pieces?
Nothing Only – James 2:22 – (Speaking of Abraham) Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect?
And, 2:24 You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.
Confession: “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.” (Matthew 7:21)

14. Acts 4:12 – Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.

15. Paul prayed for three days, but still had sins to wash away
Paul prayed for three days, but still had sins to wash away! (Acts 9:11-12; 22:16)
As long as there are tests, there WILL BE prayer in public schools!
As long as people sin, sinners will pray... and God will treat them just like Paul, put them in contact with a preacher who will tell them how to wash away their sins.

16. Remember Naaman. He was told to “
Remember Naaman? He was told to “...Go and wash in the Jordan seven times...”
Remember his anger? Naaman became furious, and went away and said, “Indeed, I said to myself, ‘He will surely come out to me, and stand and call on the name of the Lord his God, and wave his hand over the place, and heal the leprosy.’ “Are not ... the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them and be clean?” So he turned and went away in a rage.
As long as there are tests, there WILL BE prayer in public schools!
As long as people sin, sinners will pray... and God will treat them just like Paul, put them in contact with a preacher who will tell them how to wash away their sins.

17. Remember the wise counsel
Remember the wise counsel? “My father, if the prophet had told you to do something great, would you not have done it? How much more then, when he says to you, ‘Wash, and be clean’?”
Remember his humility and obedience? So he went down and dipped seven times in the Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God; and his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.
As long as there are tests, there WILL BE prayer in public schools!
As long as people sin, sinners will pray... and God will treat them just like Paul, put them in contact with a preacher who will tell them how to wash away their sins.

18. The Plan of Salvation Is Like a Jig-Saw Puzzle
Nothing/No One Else
Nothing Less
Nothing/No one Else - Joseph Smith, Mohammed, a priest, Mary...
Acts 4:12 Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.
The Sinner’s Prayer. Where is THAT found? Not in the Scriptures! Paul prayed for three days, but still had sins to wash away (Acts 9:11-12; 22:16)
Ceremony – Naaman (2 Kings 5)
Nothing Less – Baptism without faith? Faith without the love of the truth? The death of Jesus without the renewing of the Holy Spirit?
1-2-3 of “He who believes AND is baptized SHALL BE saved.”
A jigsaw puzzle with missing pieces?
Nothing Only – James 2:22 – (Speaking of Abraham) Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect?
And, 2:24 You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.
Confession: “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.” (Matthew 7:21)

20. The Plan of Salvation Is Like a Jig-Saw Puzzle
Nothing/No One Else
Nothing Less
Nothing “Only”
Nothing/No one Else - Joseph Smith, Mohammed, a priest, Mary...
Acts 4:12 Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.
The Sinner’s Prayer. Where is THAT found? Not in the Scriptures! Paul prayed for three days, but still had sins to wash away (Acts 9:11-12; 22:16)
Ceremony – Naaman (2 Kings 5)
Nothing Less – Baptism without faith? Faith without the love of the truth? The death of Jesus without the renewing of the Holy Spirit?
1-2-3 of “He who believes AND is baptized SHALL BE saved.”
A jigsaw puzzle with missing pieces?
Nothing Only – James 2:22 – (Speaking of Abraham) Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect?
And, 2:24 You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.
Confession: “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.” (Matthew 7:21)

21. Faith without works IS DEAD (3X in James).
Faith only?: James 2:22 – (Speaking of Abraham) Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect?
And, 2:24 You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.
Faith without works IS DEAD (3X in James).
Repentance without baptism...
is a DEAD MAN WALKING.
Baptism without faith... is simply not Biblical.
Confession only?: “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.” (Matthew 7:21)
“Only”... “only”... Doesn’t the Bible have something to say about “only”?

22. The Plan of Salvation Nothing/No One Else Nothing Less Nothing “Only”
God
Love, Kindness, Grace, Mercy
Jesus Christ
Life and Death (i.e., the Gospel)
The Holy Spirit
Renewing
The Person
Attitude, Faith, Obedience
Nothing/No One Else
Nothing Less
Nothing “Only”
Nothing/No one Else - Joseph Smith, Mohammed, a priest, Mary...
Acts 4:12 Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.
The Sinner’s Prayer. Where is THAT found? Not in the Scriptures! Paul prayed for three days, but still had sins to wash away (Acts 9:11-12; 22:16)
Ceremony – Naaman (2 Kings 5)
Nothing Less – Baptism without faith? Faith without the love of the truth? The death of Jesus without the renewing of the Holy Spirit?
1-2-3 of “He who believes AND is baptized SHALL BE saved.”
A jigsaw puzzle with missing pieces?
Nothing Only – James 2:22 – (Speaking of Abraham) Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect?
And, 2:24 You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.
Calling on the name of the Lord: “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.” (Matthew 7:21)

23. To find these materials:
MyPreachingPen.com

24. Learn the pattern... From the Gospel Accounts: Hearing Believing
Repenting
Confessing
Being Baptized
Matt. 7:24
John 3:16
John 20:30-31
Luke 3:7-8
Luke 13:3
Matthew 10:32-33
Matthew 16:16
John 18:36-37
Matt. 28:18-20
Mark 16:16
John 3:5

25. Learn the pattern... Baptism now saves you (NASB; RSV)
Baptized into His death; rise to ... newness of life
From the Letters to Churches and Christians:
Hear
Believe
Repent
Confess
Be Baptized
Rom. 10:14
Eph. 2:8
Heb. 11:6
2 Cor. 7:10
Gal. 2:20; Gal. 5:24
2 Peter 3:9
Rom. 10:9-10
1 Tim. 6:13
Romans 6:3-4
Galatians 3:27
Ephesians 4:5; 5:26
Col. 2:11-13
1 Peter 3:21
Titus 3:5
Baptized into Christ
One baptism; Washing of water by the word
The circumcision of Christ, buried with Him in baptism
Washing of regeneration

26. Learn the pattern... From 10 examples in Acts.
Notice that the thief on the cross lived TOO EARLY to be an example for us. He lived BEFORE ...
Jesus even died,
Jesus was raised,
Jesus told His apostles to “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved...”
Jesus ascended, and
The apostles preached the first gospel sermon after the Holy Spirit was poured out.

27. Heard the gospel Believed Repented Confessed Were Baptized
3000 Jews, 2:1-47
:37
:38
Samaritans, 8:5-12
:12
Simon, 8:13
:13
(:14)
Ethiopian, 8:26-40
Saul, 9 & 22
9:6
9:9 (:20)
9:18; 22:16
Cornelius, 10 & 11
10:43
10:47-48
Lydia, 16:14-15
:14
:15
Jailer, 16:25-34
:31
:33
Corinthians, 18:8 :8
Ephesians, 19:1-7 :4 :5
YOU, Today ?

28. What comes AFTER salvation?
Joy (Ethiopian; jailer)
Fellowship and association (Pentecost; Simon; Cornelius; Lydia; jailer)
Work (Ongoing repentance of the Corinthians; preaching of Paul)

29. “I don’t think I need to be baptized.”
That IS true... if you’ve never done anything to separate yourself from God.
1 Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, That it cannot save; Nor His ear heavy, That it cannot hear.
2 But your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden His face from you, So that He will not hear.” (Isaiah 59:1-2)

30. Do something doubting that it is right.
What Condemns a Person?
We sin when we . . .
Do evil.
1 John 3:4 – ... Sin is lawlessness.
Genesis 4:7 – If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it.
Do something doubting that it is right.
Romans 14:23 – He who doubts is condemned..., because he does not [act] from faith; for whatever is not from faith is sin.
Fail to do what is right.
James 4:17 – To him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.

31. “I don’t think I need to be baptized.”
That IS true... if you’ve never done anything to separate yourself from God.
That would be true... IF baptism had nothing to do with salvation.
“In the days of Noah... eight souls, were saved through water. 21 There is also an antitype which now saves us—baptism....” (1 Peter 3:20-21)

32. “I don’t think I need to be baptized”
If the command were “light a candle to show you want God’s light so you can escape the darkness,” would you do it?
Rather, it IS, be “buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.” (Romans 6:4)

33. What does it take to obey?
Know you’re lost; know the Way back
Love the truth
Gladly receive the truth
Humble yourself and obey (Jesus did so “to the point of death” – Philippians 2:8)
Commit to become Jesus’ disciple (follower; learner); “Take the plunge”