The Plan of Salvation

David Sain

A careful and open-minded study of the New Testament clearly reveal how we are saved.

1. We are saved by the love of God, whose love for the world is so great that he gave his only begoten Son as a sacrifice for the sins of all men (Jn. 3:16; Rom. 5:7-8).

2. We are saved by the grace of God (Eph. 2:8-9). Without this gift from God, we would have no hope of salvation, for there is nothing that we can do that would earn our salvation or obligate God to save us. All the good that we do, and the best we can live, will still leave us in desparate need of his mercy.

3. We are saved by the blood of Christ (Mat. 26:26-28; Rom. 5:9). Without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sins (Heb. 9:22), and the blood of the lamb of God was offered for our sins (Heb. 9:28).

4. We are saved by the gospel (I Cor. 15:1-4; Rom. 1:16). The facts of the gospel are the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus, but those facts, in and of themselves, do not save us from sin. Through his sacrificial death upon the cross, he became the propitiation for the sins of the whole world (I Jn. 2:2), thereby making it possible for us to be reconciled unto God (Col. 1:19-22).

5. We are saved by hearing the gospel (Rom. 10:17). In order to be saved by the gospel, we must hear the gospel. Note the hearing of the gospel in the Biblical examples of conversion, either specifically stated or implied, in Acts 2:36-37, 8:35-36, 10:33, and 16:30-33. However, hearing the gospel does not, within itself, save us from sin.

6. We are saved by believing that Jesus is the Son of God (Acts 16:30-31). Jesus proclaimed that those who believe the gospel are the ones who shall be saved (Mk. 16:15-16), and the “golden text” of the Bible declares that “…whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (Jn. 3:16).

7. We are saved by repenting from sins (Acts 2:38; Acts 17:30-31). The gospel brings the good news of the goodness of God in our behalf, and his goodness leads us to repent (II Cor. 7:10). However, let it be noted that repentance is far more than being sorry for sin; it is the turning away from sin. Repentance is the changing of one’s will that results in the changing of one’s life (e.g., Mat. 21:28-31).

8. We are saved by confessing our faith in Christ (Rom. 10:9-10). This confession that is unto salvation is not the confession that “God has, for Christ’s sake, forgiven me of my sins,” as is taught and practiced in some denominations. Such a confession is not taught in the scriptures by command or example, and it would be premature to make such a confession before being baptized, because our sins are not forgiven until we are baptized (see point 9). Instead, the confession that one makes unto salvation is the confession that “I believe with all my heart that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.” The conversion of the Ethiopian Eunuch provides a beautiful example of this confession (Acts 8:35-39).

9. We are saved by being baptized for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38). In this text, Peter commanded two things — repent and be baptized. And they are both modified by the prepositional phrase, “for the remission of sins,” which means that the purpose of repenting and the purpose of being baptized is “for” (i.e., in order to obtain) the remission of sins.

In Matthew 26:28, Jesus said he shed his blood “for the remission of sins,” (meaning, obviously, that he shed his blood so that man could obtain the forgiveness of sins). And Peter used the same words to signify the purpose of baptism. Therefore, we must conclude that until one is baptized for the remission of sins that he does not obtain the remission of sins.

Jesus made the relationship of baptism to salvation crystal clear in Mark 16:16. He said, “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned,” which unmistakably establishes baptism as a prerequisite of salvation. Jesus could not have made it any clearer — the one who shall be saved is the one who believes and is baptized!

It should be noted that many religious groups teach and practice baptism that is not according to the Scritpures. For example, some teach that one is baptized as “an outward expression of an inward renewal.” In other words, they believe that one is saved before baptism. However, this is not what the Bible teaches. One is not saved and then baptized! Instead, the Bible clearly and emphatically teaches that one is saved when he is baptized (Mk. 16:16; Acts 2:38; Acts 22:16; I Pet. 3:21; et al).

Another common and popular practice among denominations is that of “baptizing” babies. Such a practice is wholly of human origin, having no Scriptural authority, by command or example. Instead, the New Testament teaches that the one being baptized is one who believes (Mk. 16:16), and repents (Acs 2:38), but, a baby does not have the capacity to believe or the need to repent (Mat. 18:3).

Also, many denominations teach and practice sprinkling or pouring water upon a person as a “mode” of baptism. However, this practice is not Biblical baptism. Biblical baptism is set forth to be a burial, or immersion, in water (Rom. 6:4; Col. 2:12), and the sprinkling of water as a form of baptism is of human origin, and not authorized by the Lord.

Furthermore, when we are baptized, it is to be into the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit (Mat. 28:19).

Misconceptions About The Plan Of Salvation

Regarding salvation, there are some false views commonly believed which need to be noted and clarified:

1. We are saved by faith alone. The Bible does not teach that we are saved by faith alone. To the contrary, the Bible declares that we are not saved by faith alone (Jas. 2:24).

The faith that saves is the faith that is expressed in obedience to the Will of God (Heb. 5:8-9). James cited Abraham as an example of one who was justified by faith when his faith “wrought with his works” (Jas. 2:21-23).

2. We are not saved by works. Those who say that we are not saved by works usually contend that, if we are saved by works, then we earn, or merit, our salvation. This conclusion most likely grows out of a misapprehension of the works that are commanded by the Lord.

The works that one does in response to the commands or promises of God are not works of merit. They are, rather, works of righteousness (e.g., Jas. 2:21-23).

For example, when one is baptized because God has commanded him to do so and because God has promised to forgive his sins when he does so (Acts 2:38), that act of being baptized is an act of righteousness, in which one relies upon God to keep his promise. And the merit in the action is not with the one who is baptized; the merit is with the one who commanded the baptism and makes it efficacious.

To say that we are not saved by works is to deny the plain truth of God’s Word. Consider: The inspired writer of Hebrews said that Jesus is the author of salvation to all them that obey him (Heb. 5:8-9), and Paul wrote that eternal destruction awaits those who do not obey the gospel (II Thes. 1:7-9). Furthermore, Jesus taught that those who will enter the kingdom of heaven are those who do the will of the Father (Mat. 7:21), which obviously teaches that obedience is essential to salvation.

A Biblical Illustration

When the Israelites crossed the Jordan river into the promised land, the first city they conquered was Jericho, as recorded in Joshua, chapter 6. Note three things about the capturing of that city:

1. God gave the city to Israel (Joshua 6:2), but not unconditionally. There were conditions to be met in order to receive the city.

2. Israel believed God (Heb. 11:30), but the city was not their’s the moment they believed the promise of God.

3. Israel did what God commanded (Heb. 11:30).

Jericho was given to Israel by God’s grace, when the Israelites believed God, and expressed their faith in obedience to his comands.

And, likewise:

1. God gives us salvation, but not unconditionally. There are conditions to be met in order to obtain salvation.

2. We must believe God in order to receive salvation, but salvation is not our’s the moment we believe the promise of God.

3. We must do what God commands.

Salvation is given to us by God’s grace, when we believe God, and express our faith in obedience to his comands.

Conclusion

Praise God for his marvelous scheme of redemption. Because of his incomprehensible love, and through his amazing grace, Jesus died on the cross and shed his atoning blood for our sins!

Those who believe in him, and obey the gospel, are saved and are added to the church of Christ (Acts 2:36-47). Those who do not believe in him, and do not obey the gospel, shall die in their sins, and shall be punished with everlasting destruction (II Thes. 1:8-9).