GOD'S PLAN OF SALVATION

It is every Christian's privilege and duty to make clear God's plan of salvation wherever and in whatever vocation he or she may be (Mark 16:15;  2 Cor. 5:18-19;  1 Thess. 2:4)

The believer's motivation to serving is out of gratitude for God's grace in saving us and is the result of the new life of Christ which has been permanently implanted in every believer.

Salvation is not the result of what we do but is by receiving what God has done for us.  (Acts13:38,39;  20:20;  Gal. 1:8,9;  2:4,21;  3:1-3;  5:1-4; Eph. 2:8-10;  2 Cor. 5:21;  John 3:16-18;  Phil. 3:9;  Titus 3:5-8;  2 Cor. 11:13-15).

     God GUARANTEES salvation.  This is his GIFT to us.

     God GUARANTEES reward and fruit to the OBEDIENT son.

     God GUARANTEES chastening and LOSS OF REWARDS to the disobedient son.

It is the explicit message of our Lord Jesus Christ to those whom He has saved that they are sent forth of His Father into the world as strangers and pilgrims, ambassadors and witnesses, and that their primary ministry to the world can make Christ known (Matt. 28:18,19;  Mark 16:15;  John 17:18;  Acts 1:8;  2 Cor. 5:18-20;  1 Pet. 2:11).

The general plan of salvation in God's Word in a brief outline that is believed and practiced by COMMUNITY BIBLE FELLOWSHIP is as follows:

     1.  All men are sinners ( Rom. 3:10;  3:23;  Isa. 64:6;  Jer. 17:9;  James 2:10).

     2. The penalty of sin is death (Rom. 6:23;  Ezek. 18:20).

     3. Man must be perfect to enter heaven. (Rev. 21:27;  Hab. 1:13;  Psalms 5:4).

     4. Man can do nothing of himself to obtain this perfection (Eph. 2:8,9;  Gal. 2:16;  Rom. 4:5;  3:20-24,28).

     5. God paid for sin and gives man his righteousness (2 Cor. 5:21;  Phil. 3:9;  Isa. 53:6;  1 Pet. 3:18).

     6. Man needs only belief in the Lord Jesus Christ as his personal Saviour for salvation (John 3:16;  1:12; 

          Rom. 10:9;  Acts16:31).

     7. By receiving Christ, one can be certain of his salvation NOW (1 John 5:13;  Heb. 10:10;  1 Pet. 1:5; 

         1 John 3:2).

     8. God chastens, but does not cast out His children ( John 6:37-39;  Heb. 12:6;  1 Cor. 11:31-32).

REMARKS: Of course, there are no set steps in leading a person to Christ.  This is a general plan that has proven very successful in actual practice, the emphasis being shifted from one point to another, depending upon the need of the particular individual.

Repentance is not left out of the above steps, but is included with different wording.  One of the counterfeits Satan is using today is the misuse of the word "repent. To insist upon a repentance that in any sense includes a demand for a change of conduct either toward God or man is to add an element of works or human merit to faith.

Salvation is based upon the one condition of faith, of which repentance is a vital part.  Repentance is not a separate, independent condition of salvation;  repentance  ( Greek= metanoeo) means "to change one's mind" from any idea of religion that man might have and accepting God's way and not man's way.  No where does scripture use the phrase " repent of sin" to be saved.  Scripture says in Acts 20:21,  " Repentance toward God"  (change of mind toward God) "and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ".