GOD’S ETERNAL PLAN FOR SALVATION

“Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the LORD, “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool” (Isaiah 1:18).

Jesus Spilt His Blood on The Cross for Our Salvation. If We Get a Splinter Picking Up Our Cross, It Won’t Kill Us.

Christ died on the CROSS for WHOSOEVER would in faith believe and receive the gift of salvation. Jesus’ past workings on the Cross fulfills His promise to anyone today who will respond to it. Therefore, faith is believing God’s Word and acting upon it.

The Cross of Christ is the most urgent message this world will ever hear. In Galatians 6:14, the apostle Paul said, “But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.” In other words, all he had received through inheritance or accomplishments in life was nothing compared to His relationship with God through His Son Jesus. Paul’s position, riches, influence, reputation, and physical comfort lost their meaning when weighed against the redemption that was his through the crucifixion.

God’s ways are infinite, and we are finite in our knowledge of His preordained plans. Our carnal intellect wants a process to follow with, step-by-step-directions of God’s predestined will for our lives. Isaiah 55:8 states, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” says the LORD.”

The Good News is we do have a roadmap to follow, and it is the WORD of GOD. We are to study to show ourselves approved, rightly dividing the Word of Truth. (2 Timothy 2:15).

He also sent us the Holy Spirit to enlighten us, “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you” (John 14:26). If we lack understanding, ask God in prayer, and He will increase our faith to understand His wisdom and truth.

Salvation is summed up by Paul here in Romans, “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. For with the heart, man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth, confession is made unto salvation” (Romans 10:9-10).

SEVEN POINTS TO GOD’S PLAN FOR SALVATION

“For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.”

(Romans 3:23)

1.  We are all Sinners: If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and to forgive us [our] sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (I John 1:8-9)

All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned everyone to his own way, and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.   (Isaiah 53:6)

2.  The Result – Death:  For the wages of sin [is] death; but the gift of God [is] eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.  (Romans 6:23)

3.  The Solution – Christ’s Death: “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. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved” (John 3:16-17).

But he [was] wounded for our transgressions, [he was] bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace [was] upon him; and with his stripes, we are healed. (Isaiah 53:5)

But God commended his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.  (Romans 5:8)

4.  The Choice – To Accept or Reject Jesus Christ as Savior:  Come unto me, all [ye] that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke [is] easy, and my burden is light.  (Matthew 11:28-30)

5.  The Response – To Receive the Gift of Eternal Life:  For the wages of sin [is] death; but the gift of God [is] eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:23)

Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hears my voice, and open the door, I will come into him, and will sup with him, and he with me.  (Revelation 3:20)

But as many as received him, to them gave the power to become the sons of God, [even] to them that believe on his name: (John 1:12)

6.  Assurance of Salvation:  And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.  He that hath the Son hath life; [and] he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. (I John 5:11-13)

Therefore, if any man [be] in Christ, [he is] a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.  (2 Corinthians 5:17)

As far as the east is from the west, [so] far hath he removed our transgressions from us.  (Psalms 103:12)

7.  The Profession of Faith:  Whosoever, therefore, shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men; him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.  (Matthew 10:32-33)

ON THE DIVINE SIDE OF REPENTANCE: It is the gift of God. “If perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth…” (2Timothy 2:25).

“You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you” (John 15:16).

“Being justified freely by the grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus” (Romans 3:24). “Therefore, we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law” (Romans 3:28).

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God.” (Ephesians 2:8).

ON THE HUMAN SIDE OF REPENTANCE: It is our response to God’s gift of salvation.  Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. “And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:25-26).

Jesus’ atoning death was necessary for God’s eternal plan.  His forgiveness of our sins is possible through His death, burial, resurrection, and ascension. Although it is only by grace and faith, repentance is the beginning of the process of our response.  Conversion, forgiveness, justification, regeneration, and adoption, all take place at the same instant in God’s view.

THE THREE ASPECTS OF SALVATION

Salvation is instant from the spiritual side, but on the human side, it has three dimensions.  First is justification, (forgiveness) second is sanctification, (setting ourselves apart), and third is glorification (new heavenly bodies), which is at our union with Christ.

Past Aspect – frees us from the PENALTY of sin

• Predestination – Salvation has happened in the past (justified).

Present Aspect – frees us from the POWER of sin

• It’s happening in the present (sanctification).

Future Aspect – frees us from the PRESENCE of sin

• Will happen in the future (glorification).

Spiritually speaking, all three aspects took place simultaneously in God’s mind. For whom He foreknew He also predestined them who would come to this saving faith. Thus, a predetermined conclusion. IT IS FINISHED!

Physically speaking, we are to set ourselves apart from the world and put on the mind of Christ – To persevere toward our high calling in Christ Jesus. We still sin and must ask for forgiveness; we still have a thought life and must bring our thoughts under control. “For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:4-5).

So, salvation has happened in the past (justified), is happening in the present (sanctified), and will occur in the future (glorified). We need to have complete confidence in our salvation. There is no room for uncertainty about its adequacy or the durability of its protection. If our salvation hinges on anything but the finished work of Christ on the Cross, we are in deep trouble.

Don’t let Satan discourage you or rob you of the anticipation of the hope that makes you committed. We are free from the tyranny of a life mastered by the flesh that we might walk in fellowship with God through the Spirit.

CONVERSION

CONVERSION is that turning to God, and it stands for the human response to the call and gift of God.  It consists of two elements: repentance and faith.

REPENTANCE is the keynote throughout God’s Word and is an absolute condition of salvation. We unwrap the gift of eternal life with a repented heart. From the time Jesus began to preach and to say, “Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 4:17). “Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord” (Acts 3:19).

FAITH is the provision of forgiveness. The process of redemption through repentance began in Genesis 3:21, when God made coats of skins for Adam and Eve to cover their guilt, shame, nakedness, and sin. There is no other way to come to the knowledge of God. “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).

The condition of the heart is of paramount importance because “For as he (man) thinketh in his heart, so is he” (Proverbs 23:7).  The renewal of our mind, transformation into His image, and the knowledge of God all begin with the heart’s attitude changing.

“Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever” (1 Peter 1:22-23).

The extreme nature of Jesus’ statement concerning Himself and eternal life presents every person with a choice to be made. We must either accept or reject His claims. We must believe or disbelieve Him. What Jesus said demands that we form an opinion, and our view will ultimately fall into one of two camps. 1) He was either telling the truth or 2) He was lying. He was either the Son of God or He was a deceiver and a fraud. But the issue remains, are His claims true or false? Jesus is who He claimed to be, or He isn’t.

The Cross of Christ proves the length to which God is willing to go for our redemption. God will not redeem men except on terms which leave them men. He will not do away with their power of free choice. God will always honor your free choice, so choose wisely.

Forgiveness of trespasses shows both the liberation from the guilt and doom of sin and the introduction into a life of liberty, “newness of life,” and “Eternal Salvation.” The resurrection of Jesus guides us as we put off the old life and put on the new, as we conform to His image and seek God’s will. Living in the power of His resurrection helps to sanctify our lives, strengthens us in our trials, and prepares us for the glory to come.

Salvation is just the beginning of a relationship with God. After a person becomes a believer, he or she should develop a deeper relationship with the Father, learn more spiritual truth, and begin to serve the Lord with purpose and constant willingness.

Christ died once for all!  Our act of faith puts us into the state of being righteous in Him and justified unconditionally. Thus, freeing us from the bondage of sin, and we are no longer slaves to our sinful nature. This deliverance is from the guilt of sins, the power of sin, and the final death resulting from sin.

LET’S GET THE ELEPHANT OUT OF THE ROOM BEFORE MOVING FORWARD

The Unpardonable Sin is Blasphemy Against the Holy Spirit. The longer you sin, the easier it is to reject Christ. That is the road to the unpardonable sin. Continual rejection of the call of the Spirit will leave you hard and calloused. Eventually, as you continue the path of denial, it will be too late. You will die without Jesus, and pardon will be impossible. If you care and worry about if you have blasphemed the Holy Spirit, then He is still working on you. You haven’t committed the unpardonable sin. If you don’t care, who knows?

The UNPARDONABLE SIN is the rejection of the Holy Spirit’s Testimony concerning Jesus Christ, the Messiah, Lord, and Savior of the World. If we repent of our sins and receive Christ Jesus, we will inherit Eternal Life. Rejecting the Holy Spirit’s Testimony concerning Christ will separate us from God for all Eternity.

This Unpardonable Sin can only become a Forgivable Sin up to our last breath on earth. If our final words are asking for forgiveness, then we have made a death-bed confession, and God will receive us into His Kingdom. Remember, the First Fruit of Jesus’ Labor was the one thief on the Cross that confessed and entered Paradise with Him that very day. 

The free choice is ours to make, to faithfully believe, and receive unto salvation or reject and deny unto eternal damnation. Remember, God doesn’t send anyone to hell; we make that decision alone. There are NO-DO-OVERS once we’ve left this earth.

IT IS ALL FINISHED, PAID IN FULL!

The Christ who died on Calvary’s Cross, will not have to die again for our new sins or to offer a new atonement for any transgressions we may yet commit. The fulfillment of all things happened when Jesus became the target of God’s wrath and judgment of sin, when, “He who knew no sin became sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Corinthians 5:21).

God the Father laid upon God the Son all the guilt and wrath our sins deserved, and He bore it in Himself perfectly, totally satisfying the wrath of God for us. He successfully offered Himself as a substitute sin offering for all humanity. He then prepared to yield His life and die, having finished the work.

Christ has offered himself, and died and suffered in our stead, and gone into His glory in heaven. If we cannot depend upon Him, what more would we have him do? Shall He come and die again? If we rejected Him once; would we reject him if He died twice?

So, when Jesus had received the sour wine, He spoke three words, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His Spirit. John 19:30. He had finished the eternal purpose of the Cross. His finished work became the foundation of all believer’s faith, grace, hope, peace, and Eternal Salvation.

So, having begun, He continues His work in our lives. He’s the author, the finisher, the beginning, the end. He said, “I am the Alpha and the Omega; the beginning and the end.” That is true of creation and faithful of God’s new creation in us. He is the author of it, and He is the finisher of it.

Pressing Toward the Goal: “Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me” (Philippians 3:12).

PROMISE

“Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6).

THE “BORN AGAIN” PRAYER

If you don’t know Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior, you can receive Him into your heart by faith today. To receive Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior, pray this simple prayer:

“Father in Heaven, I believe you sent your Son, Jesus, from heaven; I believe He died for my sins on the Cross; I believe He rose on the third day and sits with you in heaven even now.

Please forgive me for my sins. Jesus, please come into my life as my Lord and Savior and guide me with Your Holy Spirit. Thank you, Father.” In Jesus’ name, I pray, AMEN!

“Welcome to God’s kingdom, and may we fellowship throughout eternity.”

DISCIPLESHIP

A – Amen – Prayer (our way of communicating with God)

B – Bible – (God’s primary method of communicating with us)

C – Church – (God’s way to foster fellowship)

D – Discipleship – (God’s way of talking to others through us)

E – Evangel – (God’s way to reach the world through us)

Written by, Brad Wyrick