God's Plan of Salvation
by
Kevin Haag
“Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to
our God” (Revelation 19:1).
In the daily grind of life we look for answers regarding our health,
financial situation, job, family and future. We devote time, energy and
resources in pursuing happiness and fulfillment in life (Matthew 6:21).
Whether you have all you could ever ask for or very little, this message
is for you. The message of the cross is for all people from every
nation. No matter where you are at in life, I hope you will think about
the two most important questions you will ever answer.
1. Do you know for certain that if you were to die today you would go to
heaven?
2. Suppose that you were to die today and stand before God and He were
to ask you, “Why should I let you into my heaven?” What would you say?
Every person will stand before God to be judged (Day of Judgment), “So
then, each of us will give an account of himself to God” (Romans 14:12).
Think about these questions seriously because they are a matter of
eternal life (in heaven) or death (in hell). If you are not sure whether
or not you would go to heaven, I have good news for you! The Bible tells
us that it is possible to know for sure that we have eternal life: “I
write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so
that you may know that you have eternal life” (I John 5:13).
How can we know for sure that we will have eternal life in heaven?
Let us closely examine what the Bible says about God’s relationship with
man and the doctrine of salvation. We begin our study by looking at some
of God’s attributes that He has revealed to us in His Word.
God’s Attributes
God is holy. No one compares to God (1 Samuel 2:2; Exodus 15:11).
God is one. He is the only true God. He has revealed himself as a
trinity of three persons – the Father, the Son (Jesus) and the Holy
Spirit, each of whom is equally God (Jeremiah 10:10; Isaiah 45:5).
God is eternal. He always has existed and he always will (Psalm
90:2; Revelation 1:8).
God is just. He is our Creator, Sustainer of life and Judge. His
justice is perfect (Isaiah 30:18; Psalm 97:2).
God is omniscient. He is all knowing. He knows everything in the
past, present and future (Psalm 119:168; Psalm 94:11).
God is omnipresent. He is present in all places at the same time.
God is fully aware of everything that happens everywhere. He knows what
we do and say and our every thought (Jeremiah 23:24).
God is omnipotent. He is all powerful. He can do all things
(Psalm 135:6).
God is sovereign. He is the sole and supreme ruler of the
universe (see Job 37:23; Daniel 4:35).
Why did this all knowing, all powerful, sovereign God create us? Why do
we exist? What is God’s purpose for us?
Mankind Was Created In God’s Image
“So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created
him; male and female he created them” (Genesis 1:27). Being created in
God’s image (likeness) does not mean we are “little” gods or that we
possess His supernatural attributes. God created mankind in His own
image to be a reflection of His holy character (personality). We have
the ability to reflect His character in our love, patience, forgiveness,
kindness, and faithfulness. “We love because he first loved us” (I John
5:6). Mankind was a unique creation of God that was set apart from the
rest of the created beings. God gave man the authority (rule) over all
other living creatures that He created (Genesis 1:28; Psalm 8:5-8). God
has the ultimate rule over all things but He has delegated this
authority to man.
God’s Purpose For Man
God’s purpose for mankind is that we honor, serve, and fellowship with
Him. “You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and
power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created
and have their being” (Revelation 4:11). Adam and Eve were the first man
and woman that God created. At the time of creation, man was perfect in
nature, reflecting God’s character. A perfect harmony existed between
God and man because Adam and Eve honored God by obeying His commands
(Genesis 2:16-17). In our world today, the image (likeness) of God in
man is not clear. The reflection of God’s character is dim.
What happened to destroy this perfect relationship? What went wrong? Why
do we need salvation?
Man’s Problem: Sin
God commanded Adam and Eve not to “eat from the tree of the knowledge of
good and evil” (Genesis 2:17). When they disobeyed God and ate from the
tree (Genesis 3:1-7), sin entered the world (Romans 5:12). Adam and
Eve’s sin passed to the entire human race, “for all have sinned and fall
short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Sin is rebellion against God.
It is breaking God’s law, “Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact,
sin is lawlessness” (1 John 3:4). Sin is individual acts of doing what
God has told us not to do or not doing what God has commanded us to do.
Sin is not limited to our actions but it includes what we think or say
(Matthew 5:21-48). Sin can also refer to a general human condition. The
perfect nature of mankind from creation no longer exists. We inherited a
sinful nature from Adam and we are born with it.
Is sin serious? Does sin have consequences? Does sin hinder our
salvation?
Sin’s Penalty: Death
God’s holiness demands a penalty for man’s sin, “For the wages of sin is
death” (Romans 6:23a). The consequence (result) of sin is death. The
Bible teaches that death resulting from sin separates a person from God.
Spiritual death separates a person from the life of God, “As for you,
you were dead in your transgressions and sins” (Ephesians 2:1).
Spiritual death begins at birth, man is born with a sinful nature, and
continues to sin throughout life until physical death. Physical death
occurs when a person’s soul separates from his or her body (Hebrews
9:27). Eternal death separates a person, both soul and body, from God
forever in Hell (Revelation 20:15). Hell is a “place of torment” (Luke
16:28b), it is a “fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and
gnashing of teeth” (Matthew 13:42).
How can we have eternal life and avoid damnation in Hell? Can we receive
God's salvation by being a good person?
Religion: Good Works
Are you a good person? Do you believe in God? Do you go to church?
Many people try to satisfy God’s judgment and attempt to gain or earn
eternal life many different ways. They think they are going to heaven
based on a system of belief (religion) or a moral code. We will examine
some common misconceptions.
Man says, “I believe in God."
The Bible says, “You believe that there is one God. Good! Even
the demons believe that – and shudder” (James 2:19). Believing that God
exists is a good start but that alone will not get a person into heaven.
“For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave
thanks to him” (Romans 1:21).
Man says, “I am a good person and I do good deeds (help others,
sacrifice time and effort, donate money to church/charity).”
The Bible says, “All of us have become like one who is unclean,
and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags” (Isaiah 64:6a). Giving
of time and money and helping others are “good” things to do but they
will not save us from eternal death in Hell. Remember that we were all
born with a sinful nature so it is not what we do but who we are (Titus
3:5; Ephesians 2:8-9).
Man says, “I go to church, worship God and take place in
religious ceremonies (traditions).”
The Bible says, “There is a way that seems right to a man, but in
the end it leads to death” (Proverbs 14:12). Going to church and taking
part in religious ceremonies or ordinances (i.e. communion) again are
“good” things but they do not take care of man’s sin problem.
Churchgoing folk may even fool a lot of people, including themselves,
into thinking they are “good”. On the outside (actions, speech) people
may even appear to be Christians but God knows the heart of all men. “He
(Jesus) said to them (Pharisees) “You are the ones who justify
yourselves in the eyes of men, but God knows your hearts. What is highly
valued among men is detestable in God’s sight” (Luke 16:15).
Man says, “I am not as bad as so and so nor do I commit major
sins (murder, adultery, robbery).”
The Bible says, “Who can say, “I have kept my heart pure; I am
clean and without sin” (Proverbs 20:9). God is perfect and therefore all
sin is serious in His sight. The Bible teaches that sin is not limited
to just actions but also includes thoughts and words. “He (Jesus) went
on “What comes out of a man is what makes him ‘unclean’. For from
within, out of men’s hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality,
theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander,
arrogance and folly. All these evils come from inside and make a man
‘unclean’” (Mark 7:20-23).
Man is powerless to save himself from sin’s penalty of death. Our best
efforts will not pay the debt of sin demanded from us by a holy and just
God.
“What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death”
(Romans 7:24)? What is God's plan of salvation?
Christ’s Payment
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that
whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John
3:16). God hates sin but He loves sinners. God sent His Son, Jesus
Christ, to pay the penalty for our sins by dying on the cross in our
place. Jesus, who is God, became a man and lived the life (without sin)
that we cannot live. “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so
that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians
5:21) (Hebrews 4:15). Jesus died the death that we could not die. “But
God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still
sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). We have learned that our best
efforts, all of our righteous acts, cannot restore our relationship with
God. When Jesus died on the cross, He provided a way for us to have a
right relationship with God here on earth and in heaven. “For there is
one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus” (1
Timothy 2:5).
How can Jesus Christ become your Savior? How do we receive salvation?
Trust In Christ
If you want to enter into a right relationship with God and have eternal
life in heaven you must receive Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior.
Jesus said in John 14:6 “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one
comes to the Father except through me.” In order to receive Jesus Christ
as Lord and Savior, you must repent of your sins and put your trust in
Jesus Christ alone as the only hope of eternal life.
Repent
The Bible teaches us that all people “must turn to God in repentance and
have faith in our Lord Jesus” (Acts 20:21b). When we repent of our sins,
God forgives us and wipes our slate clean. “Repent, then, and turn to
God, so that your sins may be wiped out” (Acts 3:19a). Repentance is
more than just asking God for forgiveness, it is also changing our
attitude toward sin. We must now live in a way that is pleasing to God.
Believe
“That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in
your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it
is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with
your mouth that you confess and are saved” (Romans 10:9-10). When you
put your trust in Jesus Christ, it means that you believe that He is the
Son of God, who died for you on the cross and rose from the dead. It is
a transfer of trust from your own good works or religion to Christ as
the only way of salvation. “For everyone who calls on the name of the
Lord will be saved” (Romans 10:13).
What are the results of our salvation?
God’s Promise: Eternal Life
Jesus said in John 5:24 “I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and
believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he
has crossed over from death to life.” What an awesome promise for those
that put their faith in Christ alone! Jesus tells us that the believer:
1) will have eternal life, 2) will not come into God’s judgment (not be
condemned), and 3) has passed out of death into life – no longer being
separated from God but living with Him forever in heaven. Do you have a
desire to have a relationship with God? Will you receive Jesus Christ as
your Lord and Savior today? No matter the time or the place you can pray
to God now.
How do you receive God's salvation?
Admit that you are a sinner, confess that you have sinned against God
and ask Him for forgiveness.
Believe that the Lord Jesus Christ is the Son of God Who died for you on
the cross, rose from the dead, and is Lord.
Call upon Jesus Christ to be your Lord and Savior enabling you to turn
from sin and to live for Him.
If you made the decision today to trust Jesus Christ as your Lord and
Savior, we rejoice in your salvation and encourage you to walk with God
daily! Pray to God, read the Bible, and join a Bible believing church to
spiritually grow in your Christian faith. Share with others the Gospel
of Jesus Christ so they too may know of God's love and gift of eternal
life.
“Then he said to them all: “If anyone could come after me, he must deny
himself and take up his cross daily and follow me” (Luke 9:23).
About the Author
Kevin Haag is the webmaster of
New Testament Christian,
a site that explains the true Gospel and encourages spiritual growth.
Permission is granted to reprint this article as long as it is
distributed in its entirety, including links and copyright information.
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