The Simplicity Of God's Plan Of Salvation

2nd Corinthians 11:3-4, “But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.”

Since the beginning of human civilization, the Devil has been trying to complicate God's simple plan of salvation for mankind. Part of our sinful human nature is pride and self-righteousness. 2nd Corinthians 4:3-4, “But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.” Satan wants everyone to spend eternity burning in the fires of Hell. All men are sinners (Romans 3:10-23). We have all broken God's Ten Commandments. The primary purpose of God's Old Testament law is to give humanity “THE KNOWLEDGE OF SIN” (Romans 3:20b). Consequently, we all deserve to be punished in Hell forever.

Most preachers today misunderstand the inspired Word of God. Men by nature have ego issues, full of stubborn pride and an unwillingness to admit when wrong doctrinally. I love the following passage of Scripture, which gives us some meat and potatoes doctrinally (i.e., foundational principles)...

Romans 3:19-27, “Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.”

Please don't miss what we just read in verses 21 and 22, “But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:” Carefully notice that the Bible simply says to BELIEVE on Jesus Christ to be saved. There is no mention of repenting of sin or turning away from your sins to be saved. That is keeping the law! Telling someone to turn away from their sin to get to Heaven is the same as putting them under the yoke of keeping the law to be saved. What do you think the law is? ...

THE TEN COMMANDMENTS (Exodus 20:1-17):

1. You will not have other gods before me.
2. You will not make idols.
3. You will not take the name of the eternal God in vain.
4. Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy.
5. Honor your father and your mother.
6. You will not kill.
7. You shall not commit adultery.
8. You will not steal.
9. You shall not speak false testimony against your neighbor.
10. You will not covet.

Nine of those commandments are moral law, which apply to all people, for all time periods, and in all geographical areas. But the fourth commandment to keep The Sabbath was only for the Jews, who lived during the Old Testament time period, and who lived in the land of Palestine. According to Colossians 2:14-16 the ceremonial laws were nailed to the cross. God's law became fulfilled in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ (Romans 10:3-4). So we are not expected by God to keep the Sabbath Day today in New Testament times. It was a ceremonial law, not a moral law. This is important to understand.

These knuckleheaded ignoramus preachers today who go around foolishly requiring people to turn away from sin to be saved, are in reality keeping lost sinners under the curse and weight of God's law, which is another gospel accursed by God (Romans 3:19-20; Galatians 1:6-9). Jesus came into the world to die for our sins, not demand that we make an effort to stop committing them or else God won't save us. The very idea is absurd. Who can turn away from their sins? No one! You may have forsaken 99% of the sins in your life, but you will still be just as dirty, guilty and wicked as the vilest sinner upon the face of the earth (James 2:10). If you comprehend this Bible truth, then you will quickly understand the total fallacy of “Lordship Salvation.” You don't get saved by “surrendering all” to live for Christ; but rather, you get saved by ceasing from your own labors and simply RESTING in the finished redemptive work of Christ (Hebrews 4:10-11). JESUS PAID IT ALL!!!

Here is a wonderful excerpt from Michael P. Bowen's helpful book titled: “I NEVER KNEW YOU: The Horror Of The Great White Throne Judgement And How You Can Avoid It”:

Here is the gospel: God says that we are sinners and that no amount of good works or behavioral changes on our part could ever make us holy enough to enter heaven. God sent His Son to pay for all of our sins. Jesus paid for our crimes by dying on the cross for us all. His dead body was buried in a grave. On the third day, Jesus arose from the dead. The instant you believe this, He knows it and He saves you. “Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that believeth on Me hath everlasting life”(John 6:47). The free gift is based solely upon your trust in what Jesus did for you and has nothing at all to do with what you do for Him. “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9). ~Michael P. Bowen, “I Never Knew You,” p. xii

There you have it friend, how to know that you're going to Heaven in just 30 seconds!

“But we've so muddied the Gospel, that when men want to make a decision to trust Christ, we've made it so complicated that they can't make a simple decision to 'Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.' We'll say, 'If you don't do this' or 'You don't do that' or 'You haven't done that,' you're not saved'; but the truth of the matter is that when asked in the Bible, 'Sirs, what must I do to be saved?,' one clear simple answer was given to him — 'Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.'” —Pastor Curtis Hutson, “Things That Are Different Are Not The Same” (preached at Southwide Baptist Fellowship on October 3, 1994)

God bless you dear reader and thank you for taking the time to read my blog. To God alone be ALL the praise, credit, thanks and glory, because without Jesus we can do nothing (John 15:5). Jesus is precious!!!