There are seven facts revealed in God’s plan of
salvation, and as you study them, keep in mind that this is
God’s plan – not man’s – it is God’s. There is no other plan
that can save your lost soul and make you a child of God
(Acts 4:12).
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12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is
none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we
must be saved. Acts 4:12 |
All roads may lead to Rome, but all religions do not lead to
God and salvation. There is only one way, and that is God’s
way; and God’s way is a person, and that person is His Son
the Lord Jesus Christ (John 14:6).
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6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the
life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. John 14:6 |
God’s salvation is threefold: First, Christ appeared on this
earth to save you from the penalty of sin, by putting away
your sin by the sacrifice of Himself on the Cross (Hebrews
9:26). Second, He appeared in heaven, in the presence of
God, after His resurrection, to save you from the power of
sin (Hebrews 9:24 and 1 John 2:1-2). Third, He will appear
again on this earth, the second time, as “Lord of lords and
King of kings” to save you from the very presence of sin
(Hebrews 9:28).
24 For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with
hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven
itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us: 25 Nor
yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest
entereth into the holy place every year with blood of
others; 26 For then must he often have suffered since the
foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the
world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of
himself. 27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but
after this the judgment: 28 So Christ was once offered to
bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall
he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.
Hebrews 9:24-28
1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye
sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the
Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: 2 And he is the
propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also
for the sins of the whole world. 1 John 2:1-2 |
Now come to the seven facts of salvation with an open mind
and a receptive heart, that God may bring salvation to your
soul!
I. IT IS A FACT THAT GOD LOVES YOU (John 3:16).
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16 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. John 3:16 |
Notes: It is an eternal fact the God loves you with and
everlasting love that cannot be fathomed; it is so boundless
that it can only be known by faith.
The little word “so” in John 3:16 is most expressive. It
gives you some concept of the magnitude of God’s love. God
so loved you, that He gave His only begotten Son. In fact
God “hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that
we might be made the righteousness of God in him”. (2
Corinthians 5:21).
Jesus Christ was made that which God hates: sin – that you
might become that which God loves: righteousness. Because
God so loves you, you can exchange your sins for His
righteousness. Could you ask for greater evidence of love?
Calvary is proof that God loves, and longs to save you.
Before going to the next fact, admit to yourself that: “God
loves me!”
II. IT IS A FACT THAT YOU ARE A SINNER (Romans 3:23).
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23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Romans 3:23 |
Notes: What is sin?
· Sin is lawlessness (1 John 3:4).
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4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for
sin is the transgression of the law. 1 John 3:4 |
Sin is unbelief; it calls God a liar (1 John 5:10).
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10 He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in
himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar;
because he believeth not the record that God gave of his
Son. 1 John 5:10 |
Sin is active rebellion against God (1 Samuel 15:23).
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23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and
stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast
rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee
from being king. 1 Samuel 15:23 |
Sin is passive rebellion against God (Isaiah 1:2).
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2 Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth: for the LORD hath
spoken, I have nourished and brought up children, and they
have rebelled against me. Isaiah 1:2 |
All unrighteousness is sin (1 John 5:17).
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17 All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto
death. 1 John 5:17 |
God, who cannot lie, said: “All have sinned.” “All” includes
you! You have sinned against God by thought, word, and deed.
You have committed sins of commission and sins of omission.
In the sight of God, you are a lost sinner. Before going to
the next fact, admit to yourself that: “I am a lost sinner,
because I have sinned.”
III. IT IS S FACT THAT YOU ARE NOW DEAD IN SIN (Romans 6:23)
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23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is
eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 6:23 |
Notes: You have already confessed and admitted that you are
a sinner. Now God would have you know that “… the wages of
sin is death.” You are dead in sin until you accept Christ
as your personal Saviour. The Apostle Paul said, “1 And you
hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; ”
(Ephesians 2:1). To be saved is to be made spiritually alive
in Christ. What is death?
(1) Death is spiritual separation. Your sins have separated
you from God; you are dead in your sins. (Isaiah 59:1-2)
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1 Behold, the LORD’S hand is not shortened, that it cannot
save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: 2 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 |
(2) Death is physical separation. It separated the spirit
and soul from the body.
(3) Death is eternal separation. If you remain lost in your
sins, you will stand before God at the great white throne
judgment. And there your sins will separate you from the
mercy of God forever; this is Hell (Revelation 20:11-15).
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11 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it,
from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and
there was found no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead,
small and great, stand before God; and the books were
opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of
life: and the dead were judged out of those things which
were written in the books, according to their works. 13 And
the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and
hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were
judged every man according to their works. 14 And death and
hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second
death. 15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of
life was cast into the lake of fire. Revelation 20:11-15 |
You know that God loves you, and that you are a sinner-dead
in sins. Before going to the next fact, admit to yourself:
“I am dead in sins.”
IV. IT IS A FACT THAT CHRIST DIED FOR YOU (Romans 5:6-8 ).
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6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ
died for the ungodly. 7 For scarcely for a righteous man
will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would
even dare to die. 8 But God commendeth his love toward us,
in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Romans 5:6-8 |
Notes: He died for those who are unlike God; this includes
you!
21 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. 2
Corinthians 5:21
18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with
corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain
conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 19 But
with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without
blemish and without spot: 1 Peter 1:18-19
3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also
received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the
scriptures; 1 Corinthians 15:3 |
In light of these wonderful Scriptures, will you now thank
God for His great love in sending His Son to bear your sins
in His own body on the cross, and admit to yourself that:
“Christ died on Calvary for me!”
V. IT IS A FACT THAT YOU CAN BE SAVED BY FAITH IN THE LORD
JESUS CHRIST (Acts 16:30, 31).
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30 And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to
be saved? 31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus
Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. Acts
16:30-31 |
Notes: The Philippian jailor asked Paul and Silas: “Sirs,
what must I do to be Saved?” The answer was quick in
response, and positive in content: “Believe on the Lord
Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.” Paul
and Silas preached the gospel to the jailer and those in his
house; they believed and were saved.
What is this gospel that saves when believed?
First, it is: “that Christ died for your sins.”
Second, it is: “that He was buried.”
Third, it is: “that He was raised on the third day” (1
Corinthians 15:3, 4).
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3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also
received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the
scriptures; 4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again
the third day according to the scriptures: 1 Corinthians
15:3-4 |
Jesus Christ the God-man died for you, was buried for you,
and rose form the dead for you; and is now at the right hand
of the Father interceding for you (1 John 2:1).
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1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye
sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the
Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: 1 John 2:1 |
The gospel is the power of God for salvation only when you
believe. Your faith in Jesus Christ releases the power of
God that saves your soul.
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16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is
the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth;
to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. Romans 1:16 |
The man born blind received physical sight by a miracle;
but, spiritual sight came when Jesus asked, “Dost thou
believe on the Son of God?” He answered, “Lord, I believe”
(John 9:35-38).
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35 Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when he had
found him, he said unto him, Dost thou believe on the Son of
God? 36 He answered and said, Who is he, Lord, that I might
believe on him? 37 And Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both
seen him, and it is he that talketh with thee. 38 And he
said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped him. John 9:35-38 |
Salvation came to Thomas when he believed and confessed, “My
Lord and my God” (John 20:24-29).
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24 But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not
with them when Jesus came. 25 The other disciples therefore
said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them,
Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and
put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my
hand into his side, I will not believe. 26 And after eight
days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them:
then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the
midst, and said, Peace be unto you. 27 Then saith he to
Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and
reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be
not faithless, but believing. 28 And Thomas answered and
said unto him, My Lord and my God. 29 Jesus saith unto him,
Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed:
blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.
John 20:24-29 |
When you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and believe
in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be
saved (Romans 10:9-10).
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9 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. 10 For with the heart
man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth
confession is made unto salvation. Romans 10:9-10 |
Accept Him now by faith. Ask him to save you and he will.
VI. IT IS A FACT THAT YOU CAN BE SAVED AND KNOW IT (1 John
5:10-13).
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10 He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in
himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar;
because he believeth not the record that God gave of his
Son. 11 And this is the record, that God hath given to us
eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 He that hath
the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath
not life. 13 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. 1 John 5:10-13 |
Notes: “… that ye may know that ye have eternal life… “(1
John 5:13). Upon the authority of God’s Word, you can be
saved and know it. Your faith in God’s infallible Word is
your assurance of salvation. John 3:36 says: 36 He that
believeth on the Son (present tense) hath everlasting life:
and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but
the wrath of God abideth on him.
The Bible is a book of certainties. It strengthens
convictions, and establishes beliefs. If you have done what
God requires of you for salvation, God would have you know:
(1) That you are now a child of God (1 John 3:2).
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2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet
appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall
appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
1 John 3:2 |
(2) That you have been made the righteousness of God in
Christ (2 Corinthians 5:21 and Romans 10:1-4).
21 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. 2
Corinthians 5:21
1 Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel
is, that they might be saved. 2 For I bear them record that
they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. 3
For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going
about to establish their own righteousness, have not
submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. 4 For
Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one
that believeth. Romans 10:1-4 |
(3) That you are now a new creature in Christ (2 Corinthians
5:17).
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17 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 |
(4) That you are now a son and heir of God (Galatians 4:7).
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7 Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a
son, then an heir of God through Christ. Galatians 4:7 |
Could you have greater assurance than is found in God’s
infallible Word?
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35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not
pass away. Matthew 24:35 |
VII. IF YOU HAVE DONE WHAT GOD REQUIRES OF YOU FOR
SALVATION, IT IS A FACT THAT YOU ARE NOW A CHILD OF GOD AND
YOU ARE TO OBEY HIM (Acts 5:29).
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29 Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We
ought to obey God rather than men. Acts 5:29 |
Notes: “We ought to obey God rather than man” (Acts 5:29).
You now belong to Jesus Christ. He is your Lord and Master,
and “no one can serve two masters” (Matthew 6:24).
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24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the
one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one,
and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
Matthew 6:24 |
Determine now to obey your Lord and Master, Jesus Christ, in
all things:
(1) Unite with a New Testament church (Acts 2:47).
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47 Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And
the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.
Acts 2:47 |
(2) Follow Him in the ordinance of baptism (Acts 2:41).
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41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized:
and the same day there were added unto them about three
thousand souls. Acts 2:41 |
(3) Join a Sunday school class (Bible Study), and study the
Word with God’s children (2 Timothy 2:15, 25).
5 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that
needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of
truth. 2 Timothy 2:15
25 In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if
God peradventure will give them repentance to the
acknowledging of the truth; 2 Timothy 2:25 |
(4) Attend the worship services of your church (Hebrews
10:25). You need the preaching of God’s Word and Christian
fellowship.
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25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as
the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so
much the more, as ye see the day approaching. Hebrews 10:25 |
(5) Be a faithful steward (1 Corinthians 4:2).
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2 Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found
faithful. 1 Corinthians 4:2 |
All that you are and have belong to God. “… ye are not your
own. For ye are bought with a price …” (1 Corinthians
6:19-20).
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19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the
Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are
not your own? 20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore
glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are
God’s. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 |
As a faithful steward, you pay God His tithe (Malachi 3:10).
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10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there
may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith
the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of
heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be
room enough to receive it. Malachi 3:10 |
The tithe is one-tenth of your income, and it is the Lord’s
(Leviticus 27:30).
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30 And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the
land, or of the fruit of the tree, is the LORD’S: it is holy
unto the LORD. Leviticus 27:30 |
(6) Make time in your daily life to pray and read God’s
word, that you may grow in the grace and knowledge of the
Lord Jesus Christ. |
