6to7Life

The Biblical Truth:
Salvation is given freely to those who believe in God’s Eternal Redemptive Plan

A verse to point us to that truth:
Romans 10:9 that if you confess with your mouth Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved,

For thousands of years mankind has asked this important question: “If God is real and He requires me to be saved, ‘what must I do to be saved?’” (Acts 16:30) God wants us to be clear about this answer. He told us the answer in the very next verse.

Acts 16:31 They said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you and your household will be saved.”…

Paul sums up God’s Eternal Redemptive Plan for mankind’s salvation when he says that it is by God’s grace. The word grace has various meanings, but as it relates to salvation it speaks of kindness bestowed on one who does not deserve it. In other words, grace pours favor on those who do not deserve favor. In God’s grace, the question is not whether or not a person deserves favor or blessing, but only whether God desires to give it.

Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not of yourselves. It is the gift of God, 9 not of works, so that no one should boast.

Although God’s grace is freely given and seen, grace can only affect you personally when you exercise faith in Jesus Christ. This brings up a very practical question – “What is meant by faith?” Faith is a belief in something, and then trusting in that belief. According to James 2:19, “… the devils also believe, and tremble…” The devils believe in Christ but do not put their trust in His work on the cross for their own salvation.

This is what is meant in Romans 10:9 when it says “… believe in your heart …” This is a trusting believe – faith!

Romans 10:9 that if you confess with your mouth Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved,

Salvation is not in someone doing good things, belonging to a church, getting baptized, or having their sins forgiven. It is about Life. Before we believe in God’s Eternal Redemptive Plan, we are dead – though Christ has redeemed the world, without faith (believe and trust) we cannot receive Life!

You have already looked at God’s Eternal Redemptive Plan in an earlier lesson. Remember, God does not force His plan on you. He allows each and every person to decide for themselves if they want to choose His plan or choose their own plan. The problem with our plan is that our plan will not take us to heaven, give us Eternal Life, or allow us to be with God for all of eternity. God will not force you to believe His plan, but since He created us all, He gets to decide what that plan is and what happens when you do not follow His plan.

John 3:15-18 that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but may have eternal life. 16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. 18 He who believes in Him is not condemned. But he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

John 3:36 He who believes in the Son has eternal life. He who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.

Salvation is given freely to those who believe in God and His Eternal Redemptive Plan

Romans 10:9 that if you confess with your mouth Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved,