Chelsea church of Christ . . .
undenominational Christianity
undenominational Christianity
Summary of God's Plan of Salvation
All who wear the name Christian should seek to follow the Bible in everything that we believe, practice, and teach; so let's speak where the Bible speaks, and be silent where the Bble is silent.
The Bible teaches that you must:
1. Hear, and be taught of God, which the seed of faith. John 6:45 says, "It is written the the prophets, 'And they shall be all taught of God.' Therefore everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to Me." Romans 10:17 says, "So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God."
All who wear the name Christian should seek to follow the Bible in everything that we believe, practice, and teach; so let's speak where the Bible speaks, and be silent where the Bble is silent.
The Bible teaches that you must:
1. Hear, and be taught of God, which the seed of faith. John 6:45 says, "It is written the the prophets, 'And they shall be all taught of God.' Therefore everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to Me." Romans 10:17 says, "So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God."
2. Believe, which is the first step of faith. Hebrews 11:6 says, "But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that he is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him."
However, faith alone does not save. James 2:17 says, "Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead." James 2:19 adds, "You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe -- and tremble!" James 2:24 then says, "You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only." This is the only place in Scripture where the phrase "faith only" is found, and it says that "faith only" does not save.
3. Repent, which is the beginning of faith in action. Acts 17:30 says, "Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent." In Luke 15:7 Jesus says, "I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents then over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance." And 2 Corinthians 7:10 says, "For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death."
However, faith alone does not save. James 2:17 says, "Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead." James 2:19 adds, "You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe -- and tremble!" James 2:24 then says, "You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only." This is the only place in Scripture where the phrase "faith only" is found, and it says that "faith only" does not save.
3. Repent, which is the beginning of faith in action. Acts 17:30 says, "Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent." In Luke 15:7 Jesus says, "I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents then over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance." And 2 Corinthians 7:10 says, "For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death."
But what is repentance? Many think the word means "to get your act together," or to "get religion," or to "fly straight;" as if we could. In Biblical terms, the idea of repentance means, 'to think differently after.' Repentance is therefore primarily a change of mind accompanied by regret and change of conduct.
4. Confess, which faith in proclamation. When most people think of "confession," they usually think about admitting guilt., which is unpleasant to do. But we can also confess good things, which is much more pleasant to do. We may confess that we love our husband or wife, our children, our country, etc. Occasionally one sees an ad in the paper or on a billboard where a man says, "Kris, I love you. Tom." That is a confession. Confession is important to all of us. To confess means to declare, acknowledge, profess, and admit. One confesses when he openly declares that he is convinced a thing is true. Confession is the opposite of denial and of silence.
Romans 10:9-10 says, " . . . if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." Jesus said in Matthew 10:32-33, "Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven."
5. Baptism, which is faith in submissive obedience. The act of baptism is obedience to God (1 Peter 3:21), the operation of God by the circumcision of your soul (Colossians 2:11-13), and a burial with Jesus Christ (Romans 6:3-6). It is the way to be born-again(John 3:1-5), following the one scriptural baptism (Ephesians 4:4), and it is the step of faith whereby your sins are forgiven (Acts 2:38). Baptism allows God to add you to the church of Christ, His Son (Acts 2:47). It is obedience to Jesus' command (Mark 16:15-16) in making disciples (Matthew 28:19-20).
Baptism is the only part of God's plan of salvation that is passive, because it is the only act in which someone else must perform some action on the one who seeks salvation. Therefore, baptism is the only part of God's plan that is considered a "non-work," due to the fact that all of the other steps require action and effort on the part of the candidate. Baptism requires complete submission and trust in Christ.
6. Faithfulness until Death, which is faith in lifestyle. Jesus taught a great deal about counting the cost (Luke 14:28-33), picking up our cross (Mark 8:34, Luke 14:27), denying self (Luke 9:23), and never turning back (Luke 9:62) once we've made the commitment. Hebrews 10:26-27 says, "For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrafice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation, which will devour the adversaries." John wrote in Revelation 3:5. "He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels."
Repentance requires taking in a whole new point of view; looking at things God's way. Ezekiel 18:21-31 records these words, "'Do I have any pleasure at all that the wicked should die?' says the Lord God. 'And not that he should turn from his ways and live? . . . when a wicked man turns away from the wickedness which he committed, and does what is lawful and right, he preserves himself alive. Because he considers and turns away from all the transgressions which he committed, he shall surely live; he shall not die . . . Repent, and turn from your trangressions, so that iniquity will not be your ruin.'" In Ezekiel 33:11 it further says, "Say to them; 'As I live,' says the Lord God, 'I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn, turn from your evil ways!"