God's Full Plan of Salvation -7/6/08am

We are often faced with the plan of salvation. We attempt to teach it to those in the world, we teach it to each other, and it is brought up at least once each service. Many denominations have an abbreviated view of salvation. Most say that one simply needs to believe. Some say that all is necessary is a sprinkling of water. I have talked to some who say that if you believe you will go somewhere when you die, then you will go there – in other words, that you create your own heaven (I guess that means that if your heaven is Toledo, Ohio, then you go to Toledo when you die). Here are the “5 steps of salvation,” as they are often called.

1. Hear
Romans 10:14-17
Proverbs 28:9
Isaiah 55:3
Acts 11:14

2. Believe
Romans 5:1
Hebrews 11:6
John 3:16; 8:24
Acts 16:31

3. Repent
Luke 13:3
2 Corinthians 7:10
Acts 2:38; 3:19; 11:18; 17:30

4. Confess
Mt 10:32-33
Luke 9:26
Rom 10:9-10
Acts 8:36-37

5. Baptism
1 Peter 3:21
Mk 16:16
Acts 2:38


Sometimes an adventurous person will throw in a sixth step – “continued obedience” or “remain faithful.”
Remain Faithful
Matthew 10:22
Revelation 14:12

A while back, my dad taught a class on salvation and condemnation. He was given some material to use in teaching, and he discovered an interesting thing. Nowhere in the material was the word “grace” to be found!

While I understand that this serves for initial conversion, I think that we are leaving a few things out. Perhaps we often forget that our life as a Christian is not a checklist. Here’s a list I’ve compiled of things that the Bible says are for salvation. This is by no means complete. I’m sure I missed things in my search.

God Has Provided

Father Isa 12:2; Tit 3:4-5; Rom 6:23; 8:33; 1 Ti 4:10; Eph 3:8-11
Son Mt 1:21; 1 Ti 1:15; Heb 5:8-9; Lk 19:10
Holy Spirit 1 Cor 6:11; Jn 14:26; 16:7-13; Eph 6:17
Grace Acts 15:11; Rom 3:24; Eph 2:8-9; Tit 2:11-12
Love Jn 3:16; 1 Jn 4:7
Mercy Tit 3:5
Hope Rom 8:24; Tit 1:2
Life of Christ Rom 5:10
Cross 1 Cor 1:18; Gal 6:14
Blood 1 Jn 1:7; Rom 5:8-9; Eph 1:7,13-14; Heb 9:22; 1 Pe 1:18-19; Mt 26:28
Name of Christ Jn 20:30-31; Acts 4:10-12; 10:43
Bible (Gospel) Rom 1:16-17; Jas 1:21; 1 Cor 15:1-4; 1 Pe 1:23
Preachers/Messengers 1 Cor 1:21; Mk 16:15; 2 Th 2:14
Truth John 8:32; 2 Thess 2:10

Man Must Respond

Hear (Words) Rom 10:14-17; Prov 28:9; Isa 55:3; Acts 11:14
Faith (Believe) Rom 5:1; Heb 11:6; Jn 3:16; 8:24; Acts 16:31
Repent Lk 13:3; 2 Cor 7:10; Acts 2:38; 3:19; 11:18; 17:30
Confess Mt 10:32-33; Lk 9:26; Rom 10:9-10; Acts 8:36-37
Baptism 1 Pe 3:21; Mk 16:16; Acts 2:38
Works Jas 2:24; 1 Jn 3:24; Jn 6:28-29
Obedience Heb 5:8-9
Endurance Mt 10:22; Rev 2:10
Ourselves Acts 2:40

Implied

Fear Ps 111:10; Prov 1:7; Prov 9:10
Eagerness/Diligence 2 Ti 2:15; 2 Pet. 1:10
Study Ezra 7:10; Jn 5:36-39