GOD S PLAN OF SALVATION About e auor... James and his wife Beverly live in Knoxville, Tennessee where James is e director of e East Tennessee School of Preaching. James has preached in hundreds of gospel meetings and lectureships roughout e United States and has done mission work in Russia. He has auored 36 Bible study books. Introduction The Bible begins wi God. "In e beginning God" (Genesis 1:1). God created man (Genesis 1:26-27) and placed him in e garden of Eden to dress it and keep it (Genesis 2:16). Man violated God's law (Genesis 3:1-6). Sin entered e world. Did God have a plan whereby man might be forgiven? What was at Plan? In is study let's consider: (1) God's Plan of Salvation Was in His Mind before e World Began; (2) God's Plan of Salvation was Promised; (3) God's Plan of Salvation was Prophesied; (4) God's Plan of Salvation was Revealed by e Spirit rough e Apostles and Prophets; (5) God's Plan of Salvation Clearly Reveals e Conditions of Salvation; and (6) God's Plan of Salvation Clearly Reveals e Church is e Saved. God's Plan of Salvation Was in His Mind Before The World Began And we know at all ings work togeer for good to em at love God, to em who are e called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to e image of his Son, at he might be e firstborn among many breren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, em he also called; and whom he called, em he also justified; and whom he justified, em he also glorified (Romans 8:28-30). According as he ha chosen us in him before e foundation of e world, at we should be holy and wiout blame before him in love; Having predestinated us unto e adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to e good pleasure of his will (Ephesians 1:4-5). Be not ou erefore ashamed of e testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be ou partaker of e afflictions of e gospel according to e power of God; Who ha saved us, and called us wi an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before e world began. But is now made manifest by e appearing of our Saviour Ready To Give An Answer The 18 Annual Mid-West Lectures Page 1 not to be sold. For information contact e 39 Street Church of Christ - 15331 E. 39 Street, Independence, Missouri 64055
Jesus Christ, who ha abolished dea, and ha brought life and immortality to light rough e gospel (2 Timoy 1:8-10). Forasmuch as ye know at ye were not redeemed wi corruptible ings, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your faers; But wi e precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb wiout blemish and wiout spot: Who verily was foreordained before e foundation of e world, but was manifest in ese last times for you (1 Peter 1:18-20). God, even in eternity, set before himself e entire plan for e redemption of e souls of men. God's purpose is not determined by man, or by his merits; God's purpose is after e "counsel of his will" (Ephesians 1:11). God's purpose is an eternal purpose, which he purposed in Christ before e world was, before time eternal (Ephesians 3:11; 1 Peter 1:18-20). God's Plan of Salvation Was Promised God made his first promise in e Garden of Eden. "Unto e woman he said, I will greatly multiply y sorrow and y conception; in sorrow ou shalt bring for children; and y desire shall be to y husband, and he shall rule over ee" (Genesis 3:16). This was e first indication at one should be born of a woman apart from e natural begettal by a man. Centuries passed but God's promise was still in mind when he selected Shem and his seed (Genesis 10). Twenty centuries or more after e promise in Eden God called Abraham and promised him at "in ee shall all e families of e ear be blessed" (Genesis 12:3). He later renewed e promise saying, "And in y seed shall all e nations of e ear be blessed" (Genesis 22:18). Later God said, "In Isaac shall y seed be called" (Genesis 21:12). God chose Jacob instead of Esau and said, "In ee and in y seed shall all e families of e ear be blessed" (Genesis 28:14). Jacob had twelve sons, but it was to Judah at God announced e following: "The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come" (Genesis 49:10). Six hundred and fifty years after Jacob's dea, David wanted to build a house for God (which God did not allow), but God promised David to set up his seed after him (1 Samuel 7:11-17). This promise to David is repeated in e Psalms. I have made a covenant wi my chosen. I have sworn unto David my servant: Thy seed will I establish for ever, and build up y rone to all generations (Psalms 89:3-4). Three hundred years later Isaiah combined e promise made in Eden wi e promise made to David and declared at e one to come should be born of a virgin. "Therefore e Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel" (Isaiah 7:14). And she shall bring for a son, and ou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from eir sins. Now all is was done, at it might be fulfilled which was spoken of e Lord by e prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be wi child, and shall bring for a son, and ey shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God wi us (Matew 1:21-23). Ready To Give An Answer The 18 Annual Mid-West Lectures Page 2 not to be sold. For information contact e 39 Street Church of Christ - 15331 E. 39 Street, Independence, Missouri 64055
In Paul's letter to e Galatians he affirmed at Christ fulfilled e promise made to Abraham. And e scripture, foreseeing at God would justify e heaen rough fai, preached before e gospel unto Abraham, saying, In ee shall all nations be blessed... Now to Abraham and his seed were e promises made. He sai not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to y seed, which is Christ (Galatians 3:8, 16). Therefore, in Jesus Christ is realized e fulfillment of e promise to e ree in e garden, to Abraham, to Isaac and Jacob, to Judah, to David and to Israel rough e prophets. He is e fulfillment of God's promise and e fulfillment of His purpose. (Hailey 34) God's Plan of Salvation Was Prophesied Six hundred years before Christ was born Isaiah prophesied at e Lord's house (e church, 1 Timoy 3:15) would be established in Jerusalem. And it shall come to pass in e last days, at e mountain of e Lord's house shall be established in e top of e mountains, and shall be exalted above e hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to e mountain of e Lord, to e house of e God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his pas: for out of Zion shall go for e law, and e word of e Lord from Jerusalem (Isaiah 2:2-3). Daniel's explanation of Nebuchadnezzar's dream revealed four great world empires (Daniel 2). The prophet en said, And in e days of ese kings shall e God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed; and e kingdom shall not be left to oer people, but it break in pieces and consume all ese kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever (Daniel 2:44). This prophecy was fulfilled in e days of e four great empire, e Roman, when God established his kingdom under e reign of Jesus Christ. The kingdom foreseen by Daniel would never be destroyed and e Hebrews had "received a kingdom at cannot be shaken" (Hebrews 12:28). Zechariah foretold e entrance of e king into Jerusalem (Zechariah 9:9; cf. Matew 21:4-5). He foretold a kingdom of peace (Zechariah 9:10) and at e shepherd (Jesus) would be sold by Judas for irty pieces of silver (Zechariah 11:12-13). He also foretold e fact at ey would look on him whom ey had pierced (Zechariah 12:10; cf. John 19:37) and of e fountain at rough his dea should be opened for sin and uncleanness (Zechariah 13:1). Peter stated at e prophets prophesied of is salvation. Ready To Give An Answer The 18 Annual Mid-West Lectures Page 3 not to be sold. For information contact e 39 Street Church of Christ - 15331 E. 39 Street, Independence, Missouri 64055
Receiving e end of your fai, even e salvation of your souls. Of which salvation e prophets have inquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of e grace at should come unto you: Searching what, or what manner of time e Spirit of Christ which was in em did signify, when it testified beforehand e sufferings of Christ, and e glory at should follow (1 Peter 1:9-11). Knowing is first, at no prophecy of e scripture is of any private interpretation. For e prophecy came not in old time by e will of man; but holy men of God spake as ey were moved by e Holy Ghost (2 Peter 1:20-21). God's Plan of Salvation Was Revealed by e Spirit Through e Apostles and Prophets Jesus promised to send e Holy Spirit to guide e apostles into all tru. "Howbeit when he, e Spirit of tru, is come, he will guide you into all tru: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, at shall he speak: and he will shew you ings to come" (John 16:13). The Holy Spirit revealed e mystery (at which had not previously been revealed) to Paul. Howbeit we speak wisdom among em at are perfect: yet not e wisdom of is world, nor of e princes of is world, at come to nought: But we speak e wisdom of God in a mystery, even e hidden wisdom, which God ordained before e world unto our glory: Which none of e princes of is world knew: for had ey known it, ey would not have crucified e Lord of glory. But as it is written, Eye ha not seen, nor ear heard, neier have entered into e heart of man, e ings which God ha prepared for em at love him. But God ha revealed em unto us by his Spirit: for e Spirit searche all ings, yea, e deep ings of God. For what man knowe e ings of a man, save e spirit of man which is in him? even so e ings of God knowe no man, but e Spirit of God. Now we have received, not e spirit of e world, but e spirit which is of God; at we might know e ings at are freely given to us of God. Which ings also we speak, not in e words which man's wisdom teache, but which e Holy Ghost teache; comparing spiritual ings wi spiritual (2 Corinians 2:6-13). Wherein he ha abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; Having made known unto us e mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he ha purposed in himself: That in e dispensation of e fulness of times he might gaer togeer in one all ings in Christ, bo which are in heaven, and which are on ear; even in him (Ephesians 1:8-10). For is cause I Paul, e prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles, If ye have heard of e dispensation of e grace of God which is given me to youward: How at by revelation he made known unto me e mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, Ready To Give An Answer The 18 Annual Mid-West Lectures Page 4 not to be sold. For information contact e 39 Street Church of Christ - 15331 E. 39 Street, Independence, Missouri 64055
Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in e mystery of Christ) Which in oer ages was not made known unto e sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by e Spirit; That e Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of e same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by e gospel (Ephesians 3:1-6). The apostle Peter testifies to e revelation of God's plan of salvation. Unto whom it was revealed, at no unto emselves, but unto us ey did minister e ings, which are now reported unto you by em at have preached e gospel unto you wi e Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which ings e angels desire to look into (1 Peter 1:12). God's Plan of Salvation Clearly Reveals e Conditions of Salvation "For e grace of God at bringe salvation ha appeared to all men" (Titus 2:11). God wants all men to be saved. "Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto e knowledge of e tru" (1 Timoy 2:4). But man must meet e conditions which God has set for in order to procure is salvation unto himself. First, one must hear e Word of God. For whosoever shall call upon e name of e Lord shall be saved. How en shall ey call on him in whom ey have not believed? and how shall ey believe in him of whom ey have not heard? and how shall ey hear wiout a preacher? And how shall ey preach, except ey be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are e feet of em at preach e gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good ings! But ey have not all obeyed e gospel. For Esaias sai, Lord, who ha believed our report? So en fai come by hearing, and hearing by e word of God. But I say, Have ey not heard? Yes verily, eir sound went into all e ear, and eir words unto e ends of e world (Romans 10:13-18). Second, belief in Jesus Christ is essential to salvation. "And I said erefore unto you, at ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not at I am he, ye shall die in your sins" (John 8:24). "And many oer signs truly did Jesus in e presence of his disciples which are not written in is book: But ese are written, at ye might believe at Jesus is e Christ, e Son of God; and at believing ye might have life rough his name" (John 20:30-31). Third, repentance is an essential part of salvation. "I tell you, Nay: but except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish" (Luke 13:3,5). "Then Peter said unto em, Repent, and be baptized everyone of you in e name of Jesus Christ for e remission of sins, and ye shall receive e Holy Spirit" (Acts 2:38). God "commande all men everywhere to repent" (Acts 17:30). Four, one must confess his fai in Christ as e son of God, "For wi e heart man believe unto righteousness; and wi e mou confession is made unto salvation" (Romans Ready To Give An Answer The 18 Annual Mid-West Lectures Page 5 not to be sold. For information contact e 39 Street Church of Christ - 15331 E. 39 Street, Independence, Missouri 64055
10:10). Before his baptism e eunuch said, "I believe at Jesus Christ is e Son of God" (Acts 8:37). Fif, baptism into Christ is essential for e remission of sins. "He at believe and is baptized shall be saved; but he at believe not shall be damned" (Mark 16:16). "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in e name of Jesus Christ for e remission of sins" (Acts 2:38). "For ye are all e children of God by fai in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ" (Galatians 3:26-27). Six, one must be faiful to e end of e journey. "Be ou faiful unto dea (even dying for your fai), and I will give ee a crown of life" (Revelation 2:10). God's Plan of Salvation Clearly Reveals That e Church Is e Saved The church was in God's eternal purpose. "To e intent at now unto e principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by e church e manifold wisdom of God, according to e eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Ephesians 3:10-11). The Lord promised to build his church and did build it (Matew 16:13-19). The Lord has one body which is e church. "But now are ey many members, but one body" (1 Corinians 12:20). "And ha put all ings under his feet, and gave him to be e head over all ings to e church, which is his body, e fulness of him at fille all in all" (Ephesians 1:22-23). "There is one body" (Ephesians 4:4). "And he is e head of e body, e church" (Colossians 1:18). The Lord reconciles bo Jew and Gentile in e one body. For he is our peace, who ha made bo one, and ha broken down e middle wall of partition between us; Having abolished in his flesh e enmity, even e law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace (Ephesians 2:14-16). Those at obey e gospel are added to e church (to at saved group of people). "And e Lord added to e church daily such as should be saved" (Acts 2:47). Conclusion God's plan of salvation was in his eternal purpose, was promised, was prophesied, was revealed, clearly sets for e conditions of salvation, and shows e church to be e saved. Jesus Christ is e way (John 14:6). There can be no oer way. There can be no oer gospel (Galatians 1:6-9). God warns against adding to or taking from his word (Revelation 22:18-19). Works Cited Hailey, Homer. From Creation to e Day of Eternity (God s Great Plan for Man s Redemption). Las Vegas, Nevada: Nevada Pub. (1982). Ready To Give An Answer The 18 Annual Mid-West Lectures Page 6 not to be sold. For information contact e 39 Street Church of Christ - 15331 E. 39 Street, Independence, Missouri 64055