God’s Plan for Salvation? What Sayeth The Word About... God’s Plan for Salvation?
All Are in Need of Salvation God is Holy (Psalm 99:5) God calls us to holiness (1 Peter 1:16) But all have sinned (Rom. 3:23) God cannot co-exist with sin (Hab. 1:13) Sin has horrible consequences: It separates us from God (Isa. 59:2) It condemns us to Hell (Matt. 7:21-23)
God Desires Our Salvation God wants to be close to us (Isa. 59:1) God is both just and merciful “Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God” (Rom. 11:22) “A just God and a Savior” Isa. 45:21 God’s mercy desires reconciliation to Him (2 Peter 3:9) Jesus reconciles us to God in His sacrifice Bears the retribution for our sins (Isa. 53:4-6) Reconciles us to God (1 Peter 3:18) Provides continual cleansing from sin (1 John 1:7)
What is God’s Plan for Salvation?
Salvation Comes Through Faith Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. (Rom. 5:1) For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: (Eph. 2:8)
But Not Faith Alone! “Faith only” is a prominent doctrine in protestant denominationalism The term “faith only” found only once: Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. (James 2:24)
Faith Comes Through God’s Word So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. (Rom. 10:17)
The Hearer Must Believe I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for except ye believe that I am he, ye shall die in your sins (John 8:24 ASV)
Belief Leads to Repentance And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: (Acts 17:30)
Repentance Leads to Confession That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. (Rom. 10:9, 10)
Confession Precedes Baptism Then Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may." And he answered and said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him.” (Acts 8:37-38)
The Believer Must be Baptized He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. (Mark 16:16) 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. (Rom. 6:4)
What Does Baptism Do? Remits our sins (Acts 2:38) Puts us “into” Christ (Gal. 3:27; Rom. 6:3) We are added to the church (Acts 2:47) The church is His body (Eph. 1:22, 23) We are members of His body (Eph. 5:30) Brings salvation (1 Peter 3:21)
I was saved, then later I was baptized. Which Comes First? I was saved, then later I was baptized. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved Mark 16:16
God’s Plan for Salvation Hear the word of God Believe God’s word Repent of your sins Confess Jesus as the Son of God Be baptized for the remission of sins Then…
Remain Faithful Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you (Matt. 28:20) Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. (Rev. 2:10)
Obedience is Urgent! And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? (Acts 8:36) And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord. (Acts 22:16 NKJV)
All This Leads To A Question Of Eternal Importance ??? All This Leads To A Question Of Eternal Importance
What Hinders You From Being Baptized?