2 Peter 3:9, “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” God is being so very patient with you. He doesn’t want anyone to be lost, but wants all people everywhere to change their hearts and lives. God desires that not one person, no matter who they have been in their past to have to endure eternal punishment for their sins they have committed during their lifetime. The question is; how does one receive the gift of eternal life through salvation? Instead of taking mankind’s answer for God’s plan, let us look at His Word for the answers.
First, one must HEAR the gospel message. Romans 10:17 states - “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” In this passage the message of the gospel and the Word is that which we have as the Bible today.
John 8:31-32, “Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. 32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” You see reader, once we know the truth and abide within the truth of God’s Word it sets us free. The truth is freedom from eternal condemnation.
Next, you must BELIEVE the message of God’s Word. Hebrews 11:6, “But 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. “ Faith or belief is essential. We will see as we study further we see that faith only is not God’s plan for eternal salvation.
Mark 16:16, “He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.” Acts 8:36-37, “Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, “See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?” 37 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.” In these passages we see that baptism is essential for salvation and belief is necessary for baptism. Note that in the account of the Ethiopian eunuch that he first heard the gospel message then he was baptized.
The third part of the gospel plan of salvation is that one must REPENT of their sins. To repent means not only being remorseful for your sins, but to turn away from that sin leading to death. Jesus makes this very clear to us in Luke 13:3 and in verse 5 of that chapter. I urge you to get your bible out and look these passages up for yourself. Please do not take my word alone. Looking into God’s Word we find Jesus speaking in Luke 13:3, “I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.”
Peter told his Jewish audience in Acts 2:38, “Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”
Again Luke writes in Acts 17:30, “Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent.”
And Peter writes in II Peter 3:9, “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.”
Another part of God’s plan of salvation is to CONFESS Jesus Christ as the Son of God. Again we go to God’s Word. Matthew 10:32-33, “Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. 33 But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.” You see, there is no middle ground with God. You are either are with Him or against Him. Listen to what Paul stated in his letter to the Romans in Romans 10:9-10, “that 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.” As we look into God’s Word and we allow it to teach each one of us and we take out the “I believe” or “my interpretation is...” it is easily seen that hearing the Word is essential; believing God’s Word is essential; repenting of our sins is essential; and the confession of Jesus is essential for eternal salvation. The question remains; Do we stop there? Is that all there is to salvation? Let’s continue through God’s Word to observe the entirety of the New Testament writings to determine the rest of God’s plan of salvation.
Baptism is essential to salvation. Several scriptures we have already looked at in this writing show the necessity of baptism. Scriptures such as Acts 2:38; Acts 8:36-37; and Mark 16:16. Yet, there are many others that reveal God’s plan.
I Peter 3:21, “There is also an antitype which now saves us—baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.”
Acts 22:16, “And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.’”
Romans 6:3-5, “Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? 4 Therefore we were 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. 5 For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection.”
In Conclusion
It is God’s desire that you search the scriptures daily and enter into a relationship with Him through Jesus Christ. We are to study to show ourselves approved to God, a workman that needs not be ashamed (2Timothy 2:15). One of the wonderful things about our Creator and our Savior is that we are given free choice. The choice is yours. What will it be? Will you follow one of mankind’s traditions that do not teach the fullness of God’s Word? Will you follow Gods plan of salvation as found in the scriptures?
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204 Long St,
New Johnsonville, TN 37134
(931) 535-2682
https://njvchurchofchrist.org/
Mailing Address: PO Box 203
New Johnsonville,TN 37134
Times of Service:
Sunday Bible Study 9 AM
Sunday Worship 10 AM
Sunday Evening 6 PM
Wednesday Bible Study 6:30 PM
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(931535-2049
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