God's Simple Plan of Salvation

Back when us older folks were in school, education was a simple process of teaching. Focus was on 3 critical classes referred to as the 3 “R’s”: Reading, (W)riting and(A)rithmetic. In this day education has become more of an “indoctrination” of ideas and philosophies than teaching facts and truths that enable a child to think for themselves. God has also designed His plan of Salvation to be a simple one, so that anybody could understand it and access it no matter their education or background. I simply describe it as the 3 “R’s” of Salvation.

#1 – (R)EALIZATION OF THE SITUATION :

Rom 3:10 “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one”

Rom 3:23 “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God”

Rom 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord”

No person will ever come to Christ for salvation until the Holy Spirit open their eyes and convinces them of their need. The Bible declares that we are all sinners by “birth” and “behavior”, and thus fall far short of His requirement for righteousness necessary to enter Heaven. Quite simply, before you will ever receive salvation from God you must realize that you need to be saved and the consequences if you are not saved! This is accomplished by the preaching of the Gospel and the Holy Spirit opening one’s understanding and heart to receive salvation.

#2 – (R)EPENTANCE OF SIN :

Luke 13:3 “I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish”

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

Once a person has been made aware of their situation before God, the next step is to do something about it. The Bible calls this “repentance”. It comes from the Greek word metanoia which means “to change one’s mind”. It does not mean you make a resolution to do better or even get “religious”. The best that you can do cannot satisfy the righteousness God demands. Before you can ever have a successful change of behavior, you must first have a change of mind. We go through life and our mind tells us we can take care of ourselves, we are a pretty good person (better than most) and we don’t see where we need God. If you never see yourself as a sinner, then you will never see your need of a “Saviour”. Repentance is comprehending and moving to change the situation we now realize we are in.

#3 – (R)ECEIVING THE SAVIOUR :

John 1:11 “He came unto his own, and his own received him not."

John 1:12 "But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name”

Having been made aware of our condition before God, and our helplessness to do anything about it ourselves, the Gospel (good news) tells us about a Saviour. On a hill called Calvary almost 2000 years ago, a man named Jesus died on a Roman cross, but not for anything he ever did. He never did anything to deserve the punishment of death that was placed upon him. Pilate even declared him to be an innocent man! The Bible says Jesus was tempted in every way we are tempted, but he never sinned. So, why did he die? Jesus did not die for his sins, but he did die for ours! The Bible says God the Father “made him to be sin, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him”. (2 Corinthians 5:21) Jesus died in my place and your place, for my sin and your sin; and if we receive Him and the work that He did for us all He will forgive us and He promises us the gift of eternal life!

If you believe the message of the Gospel, then call upon His Name and He will hear you and save you eternally.

Rom 10:10 “For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”

Rom 10:13 “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved”