God's Simple Plan of Salvation

The churches of Christ Greet You (Romans 16:16)

Jesus is truly the Son of God (Matt. 27:54), but He is also God the Son (John 1:1, 14). Deity came to earth in the form of lowly man (Matt. 1:21-23; Phil. 2:6-7). He dwelt on this earth in the flesh about 33 years (cf. Luke 3:23).  He spent His three year ministry reaching out to men (human beings). He reached out to the rich and poor; the old and young; and the Jew and Gentile. Those who become His followers are to imitate Him in all things (1 Pet. 2:21; 1 Cor. 11:1).

As Jesus completed the work the Father gave Him to do (John 17:4), He went to the cross and died for the sins of the world (Rom. 5:8). He died to cleanse and forgive your sins and mine by His blood (Matt. 26:28; Rev. 1:5). But thankfully, as hopefully you know, the Good News doesn’t stop there. Jesus was buried (like any dead man should be - cf. Rom. 6:1-7), but on the third day He rose from the dead (1 Cor. 15:1-4) never to die again (Acts 13:34).

The resurrected Lord appeared too many people (1 Cor. 15:5-8). Before His ascension, He told His followers to GO INTO THE WHOLE WORLD preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ (Matt. 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-16; Luke 24:46-48). He then ascended on high (Acts 1:9) to the right hand of the Father (Rom. 8:34). There, He reigns over His kingdom (His church - Matt. 16:18-19) as Lord of lords and King of kings (Rev. 11:15; 17:14; 19:16).

Jesus is coming again (1 Thess. 4:13-18; Acts 1:11)! When He comes, He will judge the world in righteousness (Rev. 19:11). When He comes, His people will be taken home to glory (Rom. 8:18; cf. Matt. 25:34, 46). When He comes, the lost souls will perish...they will be ushered into eternal destruction (2 Thess. 1:7-9). However, God does not want anyone to perish (2 Pet. 3:9).

God, therefore, uses His people to tell others the Good News about Jesus. We are to tell the lost how to get INTO Jesus so their sins can be forgiven (Rom. 6:3-5; Matt. 26:28)...so they can be added to the body of Christ - i.e., the church of Christ (1 Cor. 12:13; Eph. 1:22-23; 4:4; Matt. 16:18)...so they can receive the indwelling gift of the Holy Spirit (Eph. 3:16-17).

To become a Christian a person must believe in Jesus (John 3:16, 14:1) and obey His word (cf. John 3:16; Heb. 5:9; Matt. 7:21; Luke 6:46). Our belief comes by hearing the Word of God - the Bible (Rom. 10:17). Our obedience comes as we submit to and learn to love God (John 14:15).

To become a Christian a person must hear and believe that Jesus died for our sins, was buried, and rose again on the third day (Acts 18:8; 1 Cor. 15:1-4). A person must believe these facts about the Son of God (John 8:24). This heartfelt belief in Jesus will cause an honest person (Luke 8:15) to confess Him as God’s Son (Matt. 10:32-33; Rom. 10:9-10), repent of their sins (change their mind about doing wrong - Luke 13:3, 5), and submit their body to be immersed/ buried in water (Col. 2:12) to rise as a new creature in Christ (2 Cor. 5:17, Gal. 3:26-27).

Coming up out of that grave of water, the person is born again (John 3:3-5). He is forgiven of past sins (Acts 2:38; 22:16). He is saved (1 Pet. 3:21; Mark 16:16). He is added to the church which Jesus built (Matt. 16:18; Acts 2:41, 47). He receives the indwelling gift of the Holy Spirit as an earnest of his salvation (Acts 5:32; Eph. 1:13-14; Rom. 8:9-11).

SUMMARY:

What must an alien sinner do to be saved?

Hear the word -- Romans 10:17; John 17:17
Believe in Jesus -- John 3:16; Heb. 11:6 (Faith includes works of obedience -- James 2:14-26)
Repent of sin -- Acts 17:30; 2 Pet. 3:9
Confess Jesus as Lord -- Rom. 10:9-10; Matt. 10:32-33
Be Baptized for forgiveness of sin -- Acts 2:38; 22:16
Be faithful unto death -- Rev. 2:10

Baptism is:

A Death – Rom. 6:3

A Burial (immersion in water) -- Acts 10:47-48; Rom. 6:4; Col. 2:12;

A Resurrection -- Rom 6:5; Col. 2:12

For Salvation -- Mark 16:16; 1 Pet. 3:21

NOTE:

A saved person may become unfaithful, and thus, sin and be lost – Acts 8:13, 18-24; Gal. 5:4; 2 Pet. 2:20-22
Repentance, confession and prayer will bring forgiveness to a saved person – Acts 17:30-31; 1 John 1:6-10; James 5:16, 19-20

May God bless you to obey from the heart the things you now understand (Rom. 6:17).

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