God's Plan of Salvation

The most important thing to know in this life is where you will spend eternity. Just about everyone is concerned about the future. In fact, planning ahead is an essential part of life. From purchasing a vehicle to planning a vacation, preparation is vitally important. It has been said that failing to plan is planning to fail. Yet as careful as we are to look ahead and work hard to avoid unnecessary conflicts, we often fail to plan for the most important thing ETERNITY! Although planning ahead for our future in this life is very wise, if we fail to plan for life after death we make a dreadful mistake. God's Word clearly teaches us how to plan for eternity so that we can know for sure that we will have eternal life with God in Heaven.

In the light of eternity, man’s life is very short. No one is guaranteed tomorrow.

James 4:13-14 “Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.”

No one can escape death.
Ecclesiastes 8:8a “There is no man that hath power over the spirit to retain the spirit; neither hath he power in the day of death: and there is no discharge in that war...”
After death, every man will stand before God.
Hebrews 9:27 “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:”
Romans 14:11-12 “For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.”

After death, every man will be either in Heaven, or Hell.
Revelation 20:12-15 “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. 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. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.”

None of us knows when death will come. But each of us can be ready. In Luke 16:19-31 Jesus told the story of the rich man and Lazarus. In this story we hear a voice from Hell. If the dead could speak, as did the rich man in this story, they would all urge us to receive the Gospel – the Good News of salvation.

You can be ready for eternity!

Man is a sinner. He is a sinner by nature.
Romans 5:12 “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:”

He is a sinner by choice.
Isaiah 53:6 “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned everyone to his own way.”
James 2:10 “For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.”

Man’s sin separates him from God.
Romans 3:23 “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.”
Isaiah 59:2 “But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.”

Man is condemned.
Ezekiel 18:20 “The soul that sinneth, it shall die.”
Romans 6:23 “The wages of sin is death...”

Yet there is Good News!

God’s love provides salvation. This is the Good News! Though man is condemned, God, in His love for man, has provided a way for condemned man to be set free from eternal judgment. God’s loving plan for rescuing man from condemnation involved the death of His only Son, Jesus Christ.
Romans 5:8 ���But God commendeth (demonstrated) his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

Jesus Christ, God’s Son, died in your place.
He took the judgment you deserved.
II Corinthians 5:21 “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.”

He was crucified for your sins.
I Peter 2:24 “Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.”

Jesus Christ was buried and He rose again.
I Corinthians 15:1-4

Because Jesus Christ took upon Himself the judgment that we deserved, He has provided salvation for all who will call upon Him.

Salvation is a free gift.
Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

Salvation is not by good works.

You cannot earn salvation.
Ephesians 2:8-9 “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”
Titus 3:5 “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost.”

Salvation is forever.
John 3:16 “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 10:27-29 “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.”

Salvation is available to all who ask.
Romans 10:13 “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
John 6:37 “All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.”

Because of Christ’s death on the cross, everyone has hope. But everyone is also faced with a choice. God will not make this decision for you. Will you receive the priceless gift that God offers? Or will you choose to receive the wages of your sin?

Are you ready for eternity? Don’t gamble your eternal future on the uncertainty of tomorrow. Will you accept the gift of God; or will you choose the wages of sin? II Corinthians 6:2b “...behold, now is the day of salvation.”

“Dear Jesus, I know that I am a sinner. I believe that You died for me to pay for my sin. Please forgive me and save me. Thank you for forgiving me of my sins and for giving me eternal life.”

If you have just prayed this prayer and would like more information about being a Christian, please e mail us at rbc@riverdalebaptistchurch.org.