Many religions and denominations exist in our world today. They all claim to have a way to get right with God. But Jesus said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no man comes to the Father but through Me” (John 14:6, NASB).
Based on those words, there exists but one way to get right with God, and Jesus is that Way. So, this is not a post about a plan of salvation, as if more than one plan exists. Rather, this post is about the plan of salvation, for there is but one way to be saved.
Salvation is the real deal. We can be wrong about some things in life, and they won’t cost us much. But if we are wrong about how to get right with God, that error will be of eternal consequences. Romans, chapter 10 is our most complete and authoritative treatment of the subject of salvation. In it, Paul expresses his concern for the salvation of Israel:
“For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God” (Romans 10:3, KJV).
Isn’t that also true about many people today? As for salvation, they are so focused upon doing things their way, they don’t have time to hear what the Word of God says about getting right with Him. Actually, that’s the typical behavior of ignorance. That is, when you don’t know what to do, you do what you know.
How to Execute the Plan of Salvation
So, the question is, what is the plan of salvation? How does one get right with God? The answer is summed up in one familiar verse:
“If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved” (verse 9, NASB).
Romans 10:9, KJV
Hence, we are not saved by what we do but by what we believe.
The key to the plan of salvation lies in the next verse: “For with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness…” (verse 10). This is the concept of righteousness through faith. We can see it spoken of even in the Old Testament. For instance, God promised to bless Abraham with a multitude of seed. Though Abe was old and his wife barren, he believed what God promised. And the Bible says, “And he believed in the Lord; and he counted it to him for righteousness” (Genesis 15:6, KJV).
Notice, Abraham was not deemed righteous because of what he did but because of what he believed.
So, here is the message of salvation. We are all sinners. God has sent His Son to die for our sins. On the third day, God raised Him from the dead. If we receive this good news with a penitent heart and believe it, we will be saved. Not because of what we do but because of what we believe.
Copyright © 2022 by Frank King. All rights reserved.