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God’s plan of Salvation is the answer. Everyone must ask because we simply do not possess the answer to this question within ourselves. Such knowledge is not instinctive and God does not directly communicate the answer to each member of the human race.
JEREMIAH 10:23
O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his step.
– We know that it is a legitimate question, because there is no record in the scriptures, of the apostles ever rebuking anyone for asking it.
ACTS 2:37
Now when they heard this , they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do.
ACTS 16:30
And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?
– The task of spreading the “Good News” of the Gospel has been assigned to every Member of the Church.
MATTHEW 28:19
Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
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The following Outlines God’s Plan of Salvation:
• Which defines the steps each person MUST take in order to be saved - key word(s) highlighted in blue
• We have also included answers to frequently asked questions.
Please allow us to stress that following each step, beginning with “We must have Faith” is a verse or listing of verses, which provide Biblical support. It is further emphasized that there MUST be a "Thus saith the Lord" or scriptural substantiation for each step that is to be accomplished.
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• We must have FAITH. Specifically what is FAITH?
FAITH is defined in the book of Hebrews.
HEBREWS 11:1
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
HEBREWS 11:6
But without faith [it is] impossible to please [him]: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and [that] he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
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• How do we get FAITH?
The answer is found in the book of Roman.
ROMANS 10:17
So then faith [cometh] by hearing, and hearing by the word of God
___________________________________________________________ • Specifically what is the meaning of HEARING?
HEARING is either listening to the words of a Minister in a service of the Church or by carefully studying the Bible, which teaches us all need to know regarding God and his Will for our lives.
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• After we have acquired our FAITH, we truly BELIEVE that Jesus is the Son of God.
LUKE 1:35
And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.
MARK 16:16
He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
JOHN 6:47
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.
JOHN 11:25
Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.
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• We must REPENT of our sins and admit that we have sinned against God. Repentance is required of all men and women, since the only sinless individual to have ever walked the earth was Jesus Christ. True repentance is a change of heart in our attitude regarding sin. The Greek word for repentance is “metanoeo” which means to change your mind or purpose, forsaking evil and following righteousness. A change of heart that desires to do that which is right and is sorrowful when its does things that are wrong.
ROMANS 3:23
For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
LUKE 13:5
I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
ACTS 2:38
Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
2 PETER 3:9
The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
2 CORINTHIANS 7:10
For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.
LUKE 15:10
Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.
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• We must CONFESS our Faith and Belief in Jesus, as the Son of God, before men. This is a simple confession of Faith, which is made just before your baptism. The minister will ask, a question such as; “Do you believe that Jesus is the Son of God, with all your heart.” You simply answer yes.
ACTS 8:37
And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
ROMANS 10:10
For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
MATTHEW 10:32-33
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.
1 JOHN 1:9
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us [our] sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
___________________________________________________________ • We must be BAPTIZED. What does it mean to be BAPTIZED? – Webster’s defines BAPTISM as the sprinkling, pouring water on an individual or the immersion, in water, of an individual. However, the examples provided in Bible clearly indicate that in the view of God only complete immersion is acceptable. The Greek word for BAPTISM as used in the Scriptures “baptizo” means, “to plunge or submerge”. Since we must strictly follow the instructions in order to be saved, it is clear that we must be BAPTIZED by total immersion only. When a person is BATIZED, he or she goes into the water a sinner, is buried in the water and raised sinless through the blood of Christ.
ACTS 8:38
And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.
GALATIANS 3:27
For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
JOHN 3:5
Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and [of] the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
___________________________________________________________ • Once an individual has been BAPTIZED.
– He or she has been forgiven and is saved from their sins.
1PETER 3:21
The like figure whereunto [even] baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:
– He or she has been added to the Church.
ACTS 2:41
Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added [unto them] about three thousand souls
– He or she has been Born Again. In the same manner as the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus, so God raises us up from the watery grave of BAPTISM in newness of life.
ROMANS 6:3-4
Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
– The moment after YOU have arisen from BAPTISM, YOU have been Born Again and have begun your new life in Christ. Happy Birthday!
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• What shall I Do? I have already been baptized.
The baptism you received may not be scriptural and therefore would have no force or effect. You, along with a large percentage of the population, may have been at one time or another been Baptized by Immersion. Please do not assume that your original baptism is acceptable to God. It is most important that you consider the conditions and decisions you have personally made, not decisions made by your parents, grandparents, friends or others. God foresaw that this would occur and provided a solution. In the book of Acts, we have a clear example. Certain disciples had been properly baptized by John the Baptist by immersion, but were not baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins, as they were under the Old law at the time of their original baptism. Paul instructed them to be baptized a second time, in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins.
ACTS 19:3-5
And he said unto them, unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John’s baptism.
Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him, which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.
When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. What could it harm to be baptized again, if you did not properly understand the purpose of baptism the first time? Why would anyone risk the loss of salvation? If you do not obey God’s specific instructions for being saved, YOU ARE ON A JOURNEY TO HELL, where the eternal condemnation and everlasting punishment is indescribable or unspeakable in human terms If you do obey, you will have the Hope of Heaven, where the peace, joy, happiness, pleasure and bliss are beyond human understanding.
MATTHEW 16:26
For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
___________________________________________________________ • Now the Challenge, which is not difficult, is to Remain Faithful and to follow the Narrow Path that leads to eternal Life, until death.
MATTHEW 7:13-14
Enter ye in at the strait gate: FOR WIDE [IS] THE GATE, AND BROAD [IS] THE WAY, THAT LEADETH TO DESTRUCTION, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait [is] the gate, AND NARROW [IS] THE WAY, WHICH LEADETH UNTO LIFE, AND FEW THERE BE THAT FIND IT.
REVELATION 2:10
Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast [some] of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: BE THOU FAITHFUL UNTO DEATH, AND I WILL GIVE THEE A CROWN OF LIFE.
MATTHEW 25:23 His lord said unto him, WELL DONE, GOOD AND FAITHFUL SERVANT; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
___________________________________________________________ • What does it mean to Remain Faithful?
After an individual has been saved, it becomes their personal mission is to continue to be saved by remaining faithful. The steps we took leading us to salvation are of little value if, we do not keep the FAITH. The Greek word for faithful is “Pistos”, which means faithful, reliable, trustworthy and dependable.
A saved individual may sin and be lost. (1 John 1:6-10, 2 Peter 2:20-22)
Confession and prayer bring forgiveness. (1 John 1:6-10, James 5:16)
Remaining faithful is carefully and strictly following the specific commandments, warnings, examples and patterns set by Jesus and his Apostles as defined in the Holy Scriptures. There are many facets or elements of remaining faithful to God. God, your creator, is well aware of the sinful nature of man, as well as, the perfection He requires. It is a process that naturally develops as you begin to spend ever-increasing time in prayer, study and associating with other Christians, in the work of the Lord, which begins, like a journey of ten thousands miles, with a single step. All the new Christian has to do is to begin and the various components will fall into place. God will help you and to the surprise of most, the progression is filled with joy and self-satisfaction.
Our Hope is Sure and Stedfast. (Hebrews 6:19)
God has provided everything we need in his Word to have everlasting life and to be happy while on Earth. Fortunately, the path leading to perfection is stated clearly completely within the Bible, which is summarized as follows:
– Faithfully attending the Church that Jesus built.
--(Matthew 16:18, Hebrews 10:25, James 4:8)
– By following the Commandments of Jesus
--(John 14:23)
– Going regularly to your Heaven Father in Prayer
--(Philippians 4:6-7, Colossians 4:2, Hebrews 4:16, 1 Peter 3:12, Ephesians 6:18)
– Seek to actively serve the Lord
--(James 2:24, James 1:27, James 1:25, Colossians 1:10, 1 Corinthians 15:58)
– Spread the Good News of Christ to others
--(1 Corinthians 3:4-9, 2 Corinthians 5:11, Matthew 28:19-20)
– Avoid Temptation and Sin
--(John 3:6, 1 Thessalonians 5:22, Matthew 26:41, James 1:12)
– Live a Simple Life
--(Matthew 6:19-34, Romans 13:8, 1 Timothy 6:10, Matthew 19:23-24, Hebrews 13:5)
– Study the Scriptures Daily
--(1 Peter 2:2, 2 Timothy 2:15, 2 Peter 3:18, James 1:21)
– Control your tongue, emotions and thoughts
--(Ephesians 4:24-27, Ephesians 5:4, 2 Corinthians 10:5, Matthew 12:36-37, James 1:26,
-- James 5:12)
If a Child of God sincerely desires to go to Heaven above all else and is willing to meet His simple requirements, he or she will definitely have the Hope and Expectation of being included the multitude of Saints in Heaven. “Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;” (1 Peter 1:13) Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: (2 Peter 1:10)
The rewards of living a righteous life that properly prepares one for death are many. They include receiving a hundred-fold in this life and in the age to come, eternal life (Mark 10:30); being carried away by angels (Luke 16:22); going to Paradise (Luke 23:43); going to a house with many mansions (John 14:2); being with Christ (Philippians 1:23), at home with the Lord (2 Corinthians 5:8); and gaining (Philippians 1:21) an eternal inheritance (1 Peter 1:4) as a joint-heir with Christ (Romans 8:17), reigning with Him eternally (Revelation 22:5).” (Gene Taylor, excerpt in an article entitled, “Planning for Death”)
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