The Plan of Salvation

GOD'S SIMPLE PLAN OF SALVATION.

My friend, if you were faced with the question, "Are you saved?" what would be your answer? If I asked, "If you died right now, where would you spend eternity?" would you be able to say "Heaven," or would you have to say "Hell"?

In John 3 we are told of a man who was faced with this question. Nicodemus was a very wise man, a teacher of the Jewish religion. He saw Jesus perform miracles and knew that this was from God. When this man when to Jesus one night to talk with Him, he was faced with a very strange statement.

"Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." John 3:3

In John 1: 12 and 13, Jesus explains more about the new birth: "But as many as received him (Jesus), to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name, who were born not of blood, nor the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God."

My friend, have you been born again? Are you a son of God? Have you received Jesus Christ as your personal Saviour? If you are not a Christian, God requires you to know some Bible truths before you can be saved.

THE BIBLE SAYS EVERY MAN IS A SINNER.
"For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God." Romans 3:23
"As it is written, there is none righteous, no not one." Romans 3:10
These verses leave no exceptions to the fact that every man is a sinner. Adam and Eve were the first sinners and all humans are their descendants and are, likewise, sinners.
"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

THE BIBLE SAYS BECAUSE WE ARE SINNERS, WE ARE CONDEMNED.
"For the wages of sin is death." Romans 6:23
This is the spiritual death, not physical death, eternal separation from God.
In the Garden of Eden, God commanded Adam: "And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat. But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it; for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die." Genesis 2:16-17.

Adam died spiritually, not physically. The spiritual death is in Hell. "And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire." Revelation 20:14-15

THE BIBLE SAYS THAT JESUS DIED ON THE CROSS TO PAY FOR OUR SINS.
"But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8
"For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." II Corinthians 5:21

SALVATION IS A GIFT THROUGH JESUS CHRIST.
"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

WE CANNOT BE SAVED BY ANY WORKS WHICH WE PERFORM.
"Not by works of righteousness which we have done. But according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and the renewing of the Holy Ghost." Titus 3:5

THE BIBLE ALSO TELLS US HOW WE MAY ACQUIRE THE GIFT OF ETERNAL LIFE.
"That 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

There was a man in the Bible who was saved by following this Bible plan. Let's see what he did and then notice the result.
"And the Publican, standing afar off, would not lift so much as his eyes to Heaven, but smote upon his breasts saying, 'God, be merciful to me a sinner.' I tell you, this man went down to his house justified farther than the other: For every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted." Luke 18: 13-14

FIRST, this man knew he was a sinner. "...to me a sinner."
SECOND, he knew because of his sin he was condemned. "Be merciful to me."
THIRD, he knew that God could save him, otherwise, why did he bother to approach God about it? By going to God, he proved he believed.
FOURTH, he not only believed, but exercised faith through calling upon God in prayer.

NOW NOTICE THE RESULT:
This man went down to his house justified (saved)!

Isn't it natural to assume that if God saved the Publican through this plan, that He will save you the same way? Why not try it? Bow your head right now and pray the Publican's prayer from your own heart:

"For whomsoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." Romans 10:13

If you prayed this prayer and meant it in your heart, God saved you. Remember, God cannot lie. If you have been saved, let me encourage you to follow the Lord in Believer's Baptism in a Bible preaching, New Testament, local church.

Read your Bible, pray often and witness for Him every opportunity you get.

Please feel free to contact me (Pastor Loren Richmond) about your decision. Also, consider visiting us at the East Denver Bible Baptist Church in Denver, Colorado.

Thank you for the time you have allowed us during this reading.