God’s Plan of Salvation
Man’s Problem
Man was created in God’s image (Genesis 1.26). He was created having all things, living in perfect harmony with God and with the rest of creation. But, man chose to defy God, breaking the harmony which existed and bringing a curse upon mankind (Genesis 3). The result is separation from God. From this time forth, all men would be born separated from God.
You Can’t Save Yourself
All men have an internal understanding that there is a creator which we are separated from and a ‘hole’ which we try to fill with many things. This is why there are so many world religions; it is mankind’s attempt to find God. Often we try to fill this hole with things other than religion, such as success or human relationships. Other times we fill the hole with worldly pleasures such as sex, drugs and alcohol. Still others try to make peace with God through doing things which they believe to be good.
The truth is that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3.23); all the successful people and all the religious people, all fall short of God’s glory and will suffer for eternity because of it. The only hope is in restoring the harmony with God which had been established at the creation of man.
Jesus Bridges the Gap
This separation from God cannot be filled with these things. It can only be filled by God Himself and He did this through His son, Jesus Christ. Jesus said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14.6). No one comes to the Father through man made religion or philosophy or by good works; it is by Christ alone that we can establish the harmony with God which had been lost.
How to Receive Salvation
“God loved the world so much, that He gave His only begotten Son, so that whoever would have faith in Him would not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3.16). “It is by [God's] grace, we have been saved, through faith” (Ephesians 2.8). Faith is the expression of our belief that Jesus died in order to save us from the punishment for our sins. That means it requires action. The first step of faith usually prayer. Your prayer should include the following steps:
- Admit your sinfulness. You have to humble yourself before God and admit that you have sinned.
- Ask God for forgiveness. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1.9). If we ask, we will be forgiven.
- Commit to Jesus Christ to follow Him, to listen to His word and to obey it. You will certainly stumble and fall, but you will be forgiven.
The next thing to do is to begin reading the Bible. If you do not have one, ask your local church for one. You can also contact me and I will find a way to get your one, but that would take longer. Become involved in a Christian church in your area. Ask other Christians you know what church they go to. Ask the church about being baptized as a public profession of your new faith.
Image Credits: mzacha, ba1969, sxc.hu
God’s Plan of Salvation
