GOD'S PLAN OF SALVATION

1 Cor 15:1-4 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: (KJV)

Man's prevailing question down through the ages has been: "What must I do to be saved?" God's answer to mankind is contained in the facts of the gospel by which we are saved. These FACTS are briefly stated in 1 Cor 15:1-4 "Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:"

Rom 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. (KJV)

Paul declared the power and universality of the gospel when he said, "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek." (Rom 1:16) For those who believe the foregoing testimony, the steps to salvation are summarized next.

Heb 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (KJV)

2 Cor 5:7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) (KJV)

FAITH: Christianity is a system of faith, which is verified by demonstration. "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." (Heb 11:1) Paul said, 2 Cor 5:7 "For we walk by faith, not by sight:"

Thus, faith is a firm, unshaken confidence, conviction, or belief in the truth of a proposition, based upon testimony. First of all, the facts of the gospel do exist; secondly, the New Testament bears sufficiently strong "testimony" to establish the truth of the facts. The person who believes this testimony, and has confidence in it, has faith. Furthermore, faith induces the performance of every act of acceptable obedience to God. It is the driving force propelling us in our obedience.

Luke 13:3 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. (KJV)

Mark 6:12 And they went out, and preached that men should repent. (KJV)

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

Acts 2:38 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. (KJV)

2 Cor 7:9 Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing. (KJV)

REPENTANCE: Jesus said, "I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish." (Luke 13:3) It relates to the preparation of a people. John prepared the wicked Jews for the Messiah saying "repent ye". The twelve were sent by Jesus to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. "And they went out, and preached that men should repent." (Mark 6:12) Jesus included it in his final commission to his apostles "repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem." (Luke 24:47) Under this authority, the apostles commanded believers to "repent and be baptized". (Acts 2:38)

Repentance is a change of mind (regret) resulting in reformation of life. Godly sorrow is not repentance, but precedes it. The church at Corinth "sorrowed to repentance". (2 Cor 7:9) They changed their ways.

John 9:22 These words spake his parents, because they feared the Jews: for the Jews had agreed already, that if any man did confess that he was Christ, he should be put out of the synagogue. (KJV)

Acts 8:37 And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. (KJV)

Phil 2:10-11 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (KJV)

Rom 10:10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. (KJV)

1 Jn 4:15 Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God. (KJV)

CONFESSION: What must we confess? When the parents of the blind man, whose eyes were opened by Jesus, were questioned, they feared the people, for "the Jews had agreed already, that if any man did confess that he was Christ, he should be put out of the synagogue." (John 9:22) The eunuch in Acts 8:37 said, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God."

Confession is to be made with the tongue and by everyone. Phil 2:10-11 reads "That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." Note also that Paul records that it is a condition of salvation. "For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." (Rom 10:10) Jesus said, that "Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God." (1 John 4:15)

Col 2:12 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. (KJV)

Acts 22:16 And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord. (KJV)

Rom 6:4 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. (KJV)

Matt 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: (KJV)

Acts 2:38 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. (KJV)

1 Pet 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: (KJV)

BAPTISM: To baptize is to dip or immerse; a washing. Col 2:12 speaks of being "buried with him in baptism". Another description of the process is "arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord." (Acts 22:16) Paul gave this comprehensive view to the brethren at Rome. "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." (Rom 6:4)

Jesus said in Matt 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:" On Pentecost, Peter connected baptism with the remission of sins. "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." (Acts 2:38) The requirement of baptism was further taught by Peter when he said, "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." (1 Pet 3:21)

Gal 3:27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. (KJV)

2 Cor 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. (KJV)

LIVING THE CHRISTIAN LIFE: "For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ." (Gal 3:27) A faithful disciple does not cease to do works of righteousness once he has taken the initial steps to gain God's acceptance. Rather, he is highly motivated to grow and progress. His attitudes and behavior -- toward God, the Church, himself, mankind, his home, and his job -- have all changed. Paul said. "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." (2 Cor 5:17)

Eph 5:26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, (KJV)

2 Tim 2:19 Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. (KJV)

Phil 1:27 Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel; (KJV)

The Christian is expected to live a pure life. Christ loved the church and gave himself for it that he might sanctify and cleanse it. (Eph 5:26) "And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity." (2 Tim 2:19) "Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ;" (Phil 1:27)

John 15:8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. (KJV)

James 2:24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. (KJV)

James 2:26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. (KJV)

Finally, each disciple should bear much fruit. Jesus said, "By this is My Father glorified, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples." (John 15:8) "Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only." (James 2:24) This is true, because "For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also." (James 2:26)

2 Cor 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. (KJV)

"For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad." (2 Cor 5:10)

The Church of Christ

Jesus Christ - The Center of Our Belief

Origin of the Church of Christ

God's Plan of Salvation