Plan of Salvation

SALVATION:  -  In understanding Salvation, we must first realize Salvation is not something, but SOMEONE. "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) Salvation is God's only Son, whose saving name was ready for Him as soon as He entered the world to die as its Savior. "Thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins." (Matthew 1:21) Why would Jesus, who was so rich in heaven willingly become poor on earth? According to His own declaration in Luke 19:10, "For the Son of Man is come to seek and to save that which was lost." Salvation, then, can be described as "JESUS CHRIST On a Supreme Mission to Save the LOST."

WHO ARE THE LOST?:  -  The Lost are all of us who sin and are shut up to God's perfect Salvation. We were born into a lost sinful world. Sin originated with Lucifer (Satan) when he became filled with pride and desired equality with God. Sin entered the world through the Fall of Adam in the Garden of Eden. Since sin's entrance into the world, it has become universal, resulting in physical and spiritual death. "Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned." (Romans 5:12)

ALL HAVE SINNED?:  -  "For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23) This is the most clear-cut statement about sin in all Scriptures. All have fallen short. There is none righteous; no, not one. Man is a sinner by birth, but is not responsible for this; but when he becomes a sinner by practice, he is responsible to God and must pay for his sins.

WAGES OF SIN:  -  "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." (Romans 6:23) Sin pays wages and the pay is DEATH. But in contrast to the horrible wages of sin, there is the gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. "But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8) Some might die for a friend, a child, or a good person, but Christ died for sinners. By His blood-shedding, death, and resurrection, Jesus secured a perfect Salvation for a sinning race. He gave His life a ransom in order to save us. On Calvary's cross, the guilt of our sins was dealt with and forever canceled by Jesus who became the propitiation of our sins.

HOW DID WE EARN SALVATION?:  -  WE DIDN'T! Man's own worth or works are useless as avenues of Salvation in the sight of God. "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) GRACE is the cause of Salvation and FAITH is the process by which we receive that Salvation. Grace is sometimes described as God's riches given unto men at Christ's expense. Men merit hell, not eternal life; but Christ alone procured eternal life and gives it freely to all who believe.

WHAT MUST WE DO TO BE SAVED?:  -  When the Apostle Paul was asked this question, he answered the jailer, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house." (Acts 16:31) Paul's answer to the jailer let him know he must "believe" rather than "do" to be saved. When the people asked Jesus, "What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?" Jesus replied, "This is the work of God, that ye "believe" on him whom he hath sent." (John 6:29) Man is not saved by works, but by the work of "believing". "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." (Romans 10:9) Jesus came as a revelation of the Father. To believe and receive Him as that revelation is the sum and substance of Salvation and eternal life. On the Day of Judgment, one word will determine if our destiny will be heaven or hell. That one word is "Believe". "For with the heart man believeth into righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto Salvation." (Romans 10:10) Salvation can only be received by faith. Faith does not earn a Savior; faith accepts a Savior. All that is required is the act of believing; proof is the act of confessing Him. We only need to receive Him and confess Him. Salvation is for "whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord." Anyone who calls upon the name of the One and Only shall be saved. In most situations, those who "Are Called" are the "elect". In Salvation, those who "Call" are the "chosen".