OK, here is my preliminary PoS with changes. Not many, but possibly significant. It's a bit long, but I'll run it by the primary users and see what they think. Ultimately any changes would have to be approved by all of them, as they are the ones I do this for; they are doing most of the work. I've included the scriptures here, but in use only the reference and page number would be given. Anyhow, here it is:
PLAN OF SALVATION
1. Salvation is not about religion, it is about relationship. You must
recognize that your sins have separated you from a relationship
with God:
Isaiah 59:1-2 (689)
Isaiah 59:1-2 Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save,
or his ear dull, that it cannot hear;
but your iniquities have made a separation
between you and your God,
and your sins have hidden his face from you
so that he does not hear.
2. Salvation itself is pretty simple. You renounce all other Gods, all
religious affiliations that have a hold on your life, and make a
covenant with the God of Israel to worship and obey Him, and Him
alone This was best exemplified by Ruth when she agreed to go to
Israel with Naomi:
Ruth 1:15-16 (247)
Ruth 1:15-16 And she said, “See, your sister-in-law has gone back to her
people and to her gods; return after your sister-in-law.” But Ruth said, “Do
not urge me to leave you or to return from following you. For where you go
I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people,
and your God my God.
Ruth had been married to Naomi’s son, who died, so she knew what
she was agreeing to in making the God of Israel her God. But let’s go
through and take some principles of salvation from scripture:
3. Understand that you are a sinner:
Romans 3:23 (1042)
Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
4. Good deeds cannot redeem you:
Isaiah 64:6a (695)
Isaiah 64:6 We have all become like one who is unclean,
and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment.
5. A life is required as penalty for your sins:
Leviticus 17:11 (107)
Leviticus 17:11 For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it for
you on the altar to make atonement for your souls, for it is the blood that
makes atonement by the life.
6. We will be held to account:
Hebrews 9:27 (1108)
Hebrews 9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the
judgment:
7. The punishment for sins is eternal death:
Romans 6:23 (1044)
But as it says, you can also have the gift of eternal life.
Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal
life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
8. Jesus suffered and died for our sins, but rose the 3rd day:
1 Corinthians 15:3-4 (1063)
1 Corinthians 15:3-4 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also
received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures,
that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with
the Scriptures
9. Salvation is by grace (unmerited favor), through faith and trust in Jesus:
Ephesians 2:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not
your own doing; it is the gift of God,
10. You must repent of your sins:
Acts 3:19 (1009)
Acts 3:19 Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out,
11. Ask Jesus to come into your life as Savior:
John 14:6 (1) (998)
John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No
one comes to the Father except through me.
12. Be obedient to His commandments:
John 14:15 (2) (998)
John 14:15 “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.
13. God is faithful to save those who come to Him:
Joel 2:32a (850)
Joel 2:32 And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls on the name of
the Lord shall be saved.
14. True trust and faith will encourage you in obedience to God’s
word:
Isaiah 30:15a,b (658)
Isaiah 30:15 For thus said the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel,
“In returning [
repentance] and rest you shall be saved;
in quietness and in trust shall be your strength.”
Pause to Pray (general guidelines, NOT a rote prayer)
:
- admit you are a sinner
- ask forgiveness and turn from sin to a holy God (repentance)
- accept Jesus as your personal savior, asking Him into your life
- be willing to obey, trusting Him as Lord of your life
- ask for guidance of His Holy Spirit that you may be set apart to Him
- you should want to followJesus in baptism as an act of obedience
Note: this is not a "sinners prayer" to be read off as a list. It’s just guidelines.
If you repent and ask Jesus to be Lord of your life, and believe He being God
was crucified to atone for your sins, and rose alive on the thirdday, you will be
saved. Simply crying out from the heart "Lord be merciful to me a sinner” is
enough.
15. Baptism is an outward sign of an inward condition. Even Jesus, who
had no sin was baptized, a statement of His obedience and His
heart condition:
Mark 1:9-11 (927)
Mark 1:9-11 In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was
baptized by John in the Jordan. And when he came up out of the water,
immediately he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit descending
on him like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved
Son; with you I am well pleased.”
16. All the principles of salvation are summarized in:
John 3:16 (984)
John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that
whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
For God -- salvation begins and ends with God. Man can do nothing to
earn salvation for himself.
so loved the world -- God's love for us is amazing , and includes everyone,
even the vilest of sinners.
that he gave -- God's grace is immeasurable, given to those undeserving.
his only Son -- Paul calls this God's "unspeakable" gift; a part of Himself
to suffer and die for sinful humanity. Pagan gods typically require human
sacrifice. My God sacrificed Himself for humanity.
that whoever -- The offer of salvation is to all mankind, “for all have sinned
and come short of the glory of God.”
believes in him -- to believe is to trust in Him; to believe everything that God
has said about Himself: He is Almighty God, and His finished work of
redemption in the death, burial, and resurrection of Himself as Messiah. To
believe wholeheartedly is to (a) repent and (b) receive the Christ as both Lord
and Savior. Those who believe are justified by grace through faith alone.
should not perish --"Perish" means eternal damnation. We are saved from the
Lake of Fire which burns eternally. We are saved from sin and its penalty,
renewed by His Spirit.
but have eternal life -- God freely gives everlasting or eternal life to one who
calls upon His name for salvation. The Tree of Life in Eden shows mankind that
God wanted humanity to have eternal life. But many exclude themselves by
refusing His gift and His Word.
Like I say, it's still a work in progress. So constructive criticism still appreciated.
