THE BIBLE PLAN OF SALVATION

People have many different opinions and theories, but there is only ONE Bible way to be saved. We do not decide to be saved. St. John 6:44 makes it plain, "No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him... "We begin to feel sorry that we have sinned. So the first step in getting to God is to repent Jesus told us plainly in St. Luke 13:3 & 5 "I tell you, Nay: but except (unless) ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish." So it is very easy to understand that unless we turn away from all sin we have no hope of being saved. We find in Acts 2 of how Peter was preaching unto the people. Verses 37 and 38, "Now when they heard this, they were pricked (convicted) in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. These people in the long ago were very concerned about what to do to be saved. Peter gave them exact instructions. If we want to be saved, we must obey them exactly today. So then we have learned that the second step is to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. This is the only thing that will remit our sins. The word "remission" means pardon, forgiveness, as of sins; release from a debt. We find so clearly in Acts 4:12 "Neither is there salvation in any other, for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." Peter made this clear that through the name of Jesus is the ONLY way to be saved! After we have taken these steps, then we must be sanctified. This word is defined as to set apart to a sacred purpose, purify. So when we are sanctified we no longer do the things we once did, we don't think the way we used to and we won't even look the way we used to. Our natural appearance will not change, but Jesus will shine for others to see in us. Paul said in 1st Thes. 5:23, "And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly (completely); and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." We also find in 2nd Tim. 2:21, " If a man therefore purge (cleanse or purify) himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet (suitable) for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work." So we see that the way to be saved is simple to follow when we have followed the Bible instructions for the first three steps, then we find that the fourth step is to BE FILLED WITH THE HOLY GHOST AND SPEAK WITH OTHER TONGUES. This is the greatest blessing that has ever been bestowed upon mankind! Peter referred to this as a gift in Acts 2:38 and truly it is the greatest gift we could ever receive. Acts 2:1-4 tells of the first experience of people being filled with the Holy Ghost. There were about 120 people gathered in the upper room in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost. "And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance." People will try to convince you that this great experience died away and is no longer necessary in the plan of salvation. Jesus told Nicodemus in John 3:5 "Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water (baptism in the name of Jesus Christ) and of the Spirit (being filled with the Holy Ghost) he cannot enter into the kingdom of God." words could not be plainer. We must obey this plan if we expect to enter heaven at the end of this life!!!