Plan of Salvation

What must we do to be saved?

The Plan of Salvation

Salvation is a word that is used to describe what a person needs to do in order to have their sins forgiven, so their soul might be saved when their time on earth is over.  It is important to look into the bible to understand the correct way to receive salvation.  There are so many religions and people saying what people must do in order to receive forgiveness of sin that it has caused confusion.  There is only one correct way to receive salvation and that way is taught in the bible, and if we should be united on one thing, it should be on how to get our sins forgiven.  Salvation is the single most important thing that a person will do, so I believe that God would not make it a complicated process, but something that all people would be able to understand and follow.

Let us start from the scriptures at the beginning to get a complete understanding on the subject of salvation.  We go to the birth of Christ and see what is said about why he came to earth and what his mission would be.

Matthew 1: 21  And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.  We need to be saved from our sins, because it is our sins that separate us from God. (John 9:31 Now we know that God heareth not sinners…)  What needs to be addressed then is how do we get our sins taken away, so that we may be saved?  What did Christ do for us so that we may have forgiveness of sins? 

Christ died and shed his blood on Calvary and gave to us his blood, by which the forgiveness of sins is found.  1 John 1: 7  But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. Where do we find the blood of Christ today?  Let’s look at the people that killed Jesus and later on wanted forgiveness for the evil they had done.

At first he preps them saying in Acts 2: 21  And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

He links the fact that calling and acknowledging the name of the Lord is the beginning of salvation, he then goes on to prick them more with the knowledge that they killed the very one they were suppose to call on.

Acts 2: 36  Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.  37  Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?  38  Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

These people had sin on their soul and wanted to have it taken away.  Only the blood of Christ is able to take away sin, so what do we see Peter telling them to do in order to have remission of sins.  He told them to repent and be baptized, and in so doing they would be forgiven for what they had done.  So we would have to conclude that the blood or forgiveness of sin is in being baptized.  1 John 5 8  And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one.  These three elements are received in baptism, the Holy Spirit, water the washing of sins and the blood of Christ which gives us forgiveness.  Some will say that baptism "only" will not save you, and I will agree because there is more to salvation than just baptism, BUT baptism is a necessary part of salvation.  Here are some scriptures that mention what we must do to have salvation. 

1 Peter 3: 21  The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ. 

Acts 2: 21  And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved. 

Acts 16: 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. 

Eph. 2: 8  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God.   

Romans 8: 24  For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?  25  But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it. 

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. 

Romans 10:9  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.  11  For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.  12  For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.  13  For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

We have repentance, baptism, calling on the name of the Lord, believing, and grace, where it says we must have in order to be saved.  Although this is not a complete list, it does show that it takes more than just one action to have forgiveness.  All these things need to be done in order to received salvation.  I think that we would agree on this list of things, but for some reason people want to leave baptism out, but it is plain that this is one of the requirements of salvation, just as much as grace or calling on the name of the Lord.

Let's now focus on baptism, many people at this point will say that they agree and think exactly like what I have been saying, but let's pin it down.  What I see that is taught in the scriptures is that unless we have been baptized we do NOT have salvation and if Christ would come back prior to us being baptized we would be condemned.  At this point I draw a difference with other people, because what is taught almost in all religions is that you are saved before baptism, and that you should be baptized to show your conversion to the Lord.  Never in any scripture is it mentioned or implied that we need to be baptized for some outward sign of a inward dedication, ever. 

What you do have is:  Romans 6:3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?  4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.  We are baptized into the death of Christ so that we may be raised up unto a new life.  In the death of Christ, his blood was shed so that we may have forgiveness, and in this verse it says that we are buried with Christ in baptism so that when we come out of the waters (raised) we would start our new life in him. 

 Mark 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. 

Matthew 28: 19  Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.  

Luke 24: 47  And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved.  This is the message that Christ would have his disciples spread, telling them what men must do to have forgiveness of sin.  Note: this scripture does not say "he that believeth is saved and then should get baptized", no it says that he who believes and he that is baptized shall be saved.

Five  Steps to Salvation:

1.                  Hear.  (Romans 10:13-17)

2.                  Believe.  (John 3:14-16)

3.                  Repent.  (Acts 2:38)

4.                  Confess.  (Matthew 10:32, Romans 10:10)

5.                  Be Baptized.  (Acts 2:38, Col. 2:12-, Eph. 4:4-5)