God's Plan of Salvation

Few questions are more important than this one: "What must I do to be saved?" The answer is found in God's plan of salvation. To appreciate that plan, we must first understand the problem it was designed to solve.

1The Problem of Sin

God created man to enjoy fellowship with Him, but sin separates man from God. Isaiah wrote, "Your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden His face from you" (Isaiah 59:2). Sin is a violation of God's will. To be separated from God means to be out of fellowship with Him, lost, and subject to everlasting destruction (2 Thessalonians 1:7-9).
The Bible teaches that all accountable people have sinned (Romans 3:23). The consequence of sin is spiritual death and separation from God. "For the wages of sin is death" (Romans 6:23). Left untreated, sin will keep a person from God in this life and condemn him in eternity.
Thankfully, God did not leave mankind without hope.

2The Plan of Salvation

The plan of salvation involves both God's part and man's part.
God's part began long before Jesus came into the world. We see the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit at work in this plan. Throughout history, God (The Father) worked providentially to bring about the coming of the Savior. "When the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son" (Galatians 4:4). Jesus (The Son) lived a perfect life and willingly died on the cross for our sins (1 Peter 2:24). After His death, burial, and resurrection, the Holy Spirit guided inspired men to reveal God's message in the Scriptures (John 16:13; Ephesians 3:3-5). Through the Bible, we can learn what God has done for us and what He requires of us.
Man's part is to respond obediently to God's grace. Salvation by faith alone is a popular doctrine that the Bible refutes. John 1:12 says about Jesus, "But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name." Notice that one who believes in Jesus as the Christ does not automatically become a child of God but rather, he has been given the "right" to become a child of God. Even demons believe and tremble, yet they are not saved (James 2:19). James went on to state in verse 24, "You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only" (James 2:24).
Becoming a child of God and therefore getting saved is presented as a process throughout the New Testament. We can see the first converts experiencing this process step by step to finally receive the remission of sins. The New Testament teaches that one must first hear the Gospel (Romans 10:17; Titus 1:3; 2 Thessalonians 2:14), believe that Jesus is the Christ (John 8:24), repent of sins (Acts 17:30), confess faith in Christ (Romans 10:9-10), and be baptized for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38; Acts 22:16; Mark 16:16). We see this process clearly in Acts chapter two where those Jews heard (verse 37), believed (verse 37; they were cut to the heart), repented (verse 38), and were baptized (verses 38, 41). When a person obeys these commands from a sincere heart, he is forgiven of his sins and becomes a child of God. Comparing Acts 22:16 with 1 Peter 1:18-19 shows us that it is at the point of baptism that the blood of Jesus cleanses our sins.
Yet God's plan does not end at baptism.

3The Perseverance of Saints

Calvinism teaches that once a person is saved, he can never so sin as to lose his salvation. But the Bible's version of the perseverance of the saints is that Christians must continue faithfully serving the Lord. Some teach that it is impossible for a saved person to fall away and be lost. However, the Scriptures repeatedly warn Christians about the danger of departing from the faith.
Simon the sorcerer believed and was baptized (Acts 8:13). According to Mark 16:16, one who believes and is baptized shall be saved. Simon was therefore genuinely saved. Later, as a saved person, he sinned and was told that he was going to "perish" (Acts 8:20 – "your money perish with you"). Simon was told to repent and pray for forgiveness (Acts 8:22). His case demonstrates that a Christian can fall into a lost condition; it also shows how a Christian can receive God's forgiveness after sinning. Acts 8:22 coupled with 1 John 1:9 demonstrates that when a child of God sins, he will be forgiven and cleansed once again when he repents, confesses, and asks God to forgive him.
Peter warned of those who had escaped the pollutions of the world through Christ but became entangled in them again. He said their latter end was worse than the beginning (2 Peter 2:20-22). James likewise wrote that a brother can wander from the truth and needs to be brought back (James 5:19-20). Note there that the one who wanders from the truth is a "sinner," is in "error," and his soul is dead (James 5:20). To be reconciled with God once again he must repent, confess his sin, and pray to God for forgiveness (Acts 8:22; 1 John 1:9).
Because falling away is possible, Christians are repeatedly exhorted to remain faithful. Jesus said, "Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life" (Revelation 2:10). The writer of Hebrews urged Christians to hold fast their confidence steadfast to the end (Hebrews 3:12-14). Hebrews 10:38-39 states, "Now the just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him. But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul." To "live by faith" means to remain faithful to the Lord. "Draws back" means to become unfaithful from the Lord, and the result is "perdition" (eternal condemnation) if one does not repent, confess, and pray for forgiveness (Acts 8:22; 1 John 1:9). "Believe to the saving of the soul" means to be faithful to the Lord till death (Revelation 2:10), and this is required of every saved person.

God's plan of salvation is both wonderful and simple. Sin separates us from God. Christ provides the remedy. We receive that salvation through obedient faith, and we must continue faithfully serving Him until life's journey is complete.

Have questions about God's plan of salvation? We would love to study the Bible with you.

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