I recall a gospel tract that says on the cover “God’s simple plan of salvation” I wonder why then if the plan of salvation is so simple why is it described in so many different ways and with so many different steps, phrases, requirements, additions and results? If it is so simple why can you find so many tracts with so many different plans? Is it a simple plan? The answer depends on who’s plan you are following. God’s simple plan of salvation is clear concise and easy to understand. What you find in most gospel tracts is not God’s plan it is man’s plan. Man’s plan is to add things before salvation, add things to salvation and to add things after salvation. The failure of Christianity to separate what God separates has resulted in every denomination devising their own plan of salvation. When you refuse to rightly divide Jesus’ earthly ministry to Israel with the mystery information Jesus revealed to Paul, God’s simple plan becomes confusing because each denomination picks and chooses which verses they will use and which ones they will omit. One plan emphasizes repentance and another makes water baptism a requirement of salvation. Popular celebrity preachers coin a phrase like “if Jesus is not Lord of all, he is not Lord at all”. This might sound very religious and puts the emphasis on what you are doing but this catchy phrase is horrible doctrine. Maybe we should leave salvation doctrine up to Paul, the Apostle that Jesus himself sent to you.
Romans 4:5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. Romans 5:1-2 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Galatians 2:16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. We have the opportunity to be saved because Jesus was faithful. Jesus accomplished everything needed for our salvation thus making the plan of salvation very simple indeed. Paul revealed the things Jesus accomplished at the cross and the simple plan of salvation in this dispensation of grace. Many people preach Jesus today but fail to follow God’s instructions clearly. We are to preach Jesus a specific way; we are to preach Jesus according to the revelation of the mystery, something that is very hard to find today. Romans 16:25-26 Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith: We are to preach Jesus the way Jesus instructed himself to be preached. Unfortunately when you mention the mystery to most Christians they think you are making things up. Ignorance of the mystery is the cause of the myriad of “simple” plans of salvation being taught in churches today. Comments are closed.
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AuthorSteve Schoenberger is a student of the Bible and the minister at Abundant Grace Bible Fellowship, A Mid-Acts Dispensational Bible church teaching the Bible rightly divided according the revelation of the mystery delivered to the Apostle Paul Archives
August 2024
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