God’s plan or man’s plan
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Searching the Scriptures
David A. Bass, Rockford Church of Christ
“Just accept Jesus Christ as your personal Savior!” This sounds appealing, simple and good to our ears. We hear this phrase on the internet, the radio and from denominational pulpits, BUT it is NOT found in the Bible! This appears to be man’s plan, but NOT God’s.
The apostle Peter admonished, “If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles (words) of God;…” (I Peter 4:11). We need to use scriptural terminology (words) in our teaching. We need to teach God’s plan of salvation!
Jesus said, “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?” (Matthew 16:26).
Surely, our soul is too valuable to risk upon man’s teaching. We need to study the Bible carefully and see what God says about sin and salvation. We need to seek out God’s plan!
All accountable human beings are guilty of sin. Romans 3:23 reads, “For ALL have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” Sin is a most serious matter because it separates God and man, and we need God.
The prophet Isaiah said, “Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy that it cannot hear: But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear” (Isaiah 59:1-2).
Because of God’s great love for man, Jesus Christ came into the world to provide salvation (John 3:16). Paul wrote, “For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior; who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth” (I Timothy 2:3-4).
God wants all men to be saved, but He will not save anyone against their will. The New Testament teaches that there are several commands that we must obey in order to be saved from sin.
Hebrews 5:9 reads, “And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that OBEY him.” Let’s open our Bible and see what God’s plan is.
Jesus said, “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned” (Mark 16:16).
In Luke 13:3, Jesus said, “I tell you nay, but except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.”
In Acts 2, in response to the question, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” Peter told those believers in Christ, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of your sins,…” (Acts 2:37-38).
Upon the confession of our faith in Christ (Acts 8:36-39; Matthew 10:32-33); we must be buried in baptism (Romans 6:3-4). Saul of Tarsus was told, “And why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord” (Acts 22:16).
Have you obeyed God’s plan of salvation OR man’s plan? Those who obeyed the gospel in the first century were added by the Lord to His church (Acts 2:47) and they were called Christians (Acts 11:26). Obey GOD’S PLAN of salvation!
Please write if you would like to study the Bible in the privacy of your home OR by correspondence course. Rockford Church of Christ; 8997 U.S. Hwy. 231; Rockford, Alabama 35136. You can send an email: Dabass1962@bellsouth.net.
We welcome your Bible questions.
