The concept of salvation is central to Christian theology and is understood as the deliverance from sin and its consequences, achieved through faith in Jesus Christ. The plan of salvation is a divine blueprint laid out in the Scriptures, revealing God's intention to redeem humanity and restore the broken relationship between God and man.

1. The Need for Salvation

The need for salvation arises from the fall of man, as recorded in Genesis. Adam and Eve's disobedience in the Garden of Eden introduced sin into the world, resulting in spiritual death and separation from God (Genesis 3:1-24). Romans 3:23 states, "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God," highlighting the universal nature of sin and the need for redemption.

2. God's Provision for Salvation

God's plan for salvation is rooted in His love and mercy. John 3:16 declares, "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that everyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." This verse encapsulates the essence of God's provision: the sending of His Son, Jesus Christ, as the means of salvation.

3. The Role of Jesus Christ

Jesus Christ is central to the plan of salvation. His incarnation, sinless life, sacrificial death, and resurrection are pivotal events. In 1 Corinthians 15:3-4, Paul emphasizes, "For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures." Through His atoning death, Jesus paid the penalty for sin, satisfying divine justice and opening the way for reconciliation with God.

4. The Response of Faith

Salvation is received through faith in Jesus Christ. Ephesians 2:8-9 explains, "For it is by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not from yourselves; it is the gift of God, not by works, so that no one can boast." Faith involves trusting in Christ's finished work on the cross and acknowledging Him as Lord and Savior.

5. Repentance and Conversion

Repentance is a crucial aspect of the salvation process. It involves a genuine turning away from sin and a turning toward God. Acts 3:19 urges, "Repent, then, and turn back, so that your sins may be wiped away." Conversion marks the beginning of a new life in Christ, characterized by a transformed heart and mind.

6. Justification and Sanctification

Justification is the act of God declaring a sinner righteous on the basis of faith in Jesus Christ. Romans 5:1 states, "Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." Sanctification, on the other hand, is the ongoing process of being made holy, as believers grow in grace and conformity to the image of Christ (1 Thessalonians 4:3).

7. Assurance of Salvation

Believers can have assurance of their salvation, grounded in the promises of God and the witness of the Holy Spirit. 1 John 5:13 affirms, "I have written these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life." The indwelling Holy Spirit serves as a seal and guarantee of the believer's inheritance (Ephesians 1:13-14).

8. The Final Consummation

The plan of salvation culminates in the final redemption and glorification of believers. At the return of Christ, those who have trusted in Him will be resurrected and transformed, receiving glorified bodies fit for eternity (1 Corinthians 15:51-52). Revelation 21:4 promises, "He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the former things have passed away."

The plan of salvation, as revealed in the Bible, is a testament to God's grace, love, and sovereignty, offering hope and eternal life to all who believe in Jesus Christ.Mark 4:11
And he said to them, To you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but to them that are without, all these things are done in parables:
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John 6:37,44,45,65
All that the Father gives me shall come to me; and him that comes to me I will in no wise cast out.
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John 17:4
I have glorified you on the earth: I have finished the work which you gave me to do.
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John 18:11
Then said Jesus to Peter, Put up your sword into the sheath: the cup which my Father has given me, shall I not drink it?
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John 19:28-30
After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, said, I thirst.
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Acts 3:18
But those things, which God before had showed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he has so fulfilled.
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Acts 17:3
Opening and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom I preach to you, is Christ.
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Romans 1:16,17
For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God to salvation to every one that believes; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
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Romans 10:3-9
For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves to the righteousness of God.
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Romans 16:25,26
Now to him that is of power to establish 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,
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1 Corinthians 1:21-25
For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.
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1 Corinthians 2:7-9
But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world to our glory:
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2 Corinthians 5:18,19
And all things are of God, who has reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and has given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
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Galatians 4:4,5
But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,
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Ephesians 1:3-23
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
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Ephesians 2:4-10
But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love with which he loved us,
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Ephesians 3:1-11
For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles,
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Ephesians 6:19
And for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel,
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Colossians 1:19-23,26,27
For it pleased the Father that in him should all fullness dwell;
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2 Thessalonians 2:13,14
But we are bound to give thanks always to God for you, brothers beloved of the Lord, because God has from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:
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1 Timothy 3:16
And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached to the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.
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2 Timothy 1:9,10
Who has saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,
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Hebrews 2:9,10,14-18
But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.
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Hebrews 6:17-20
Wherein God, willing more abundantly to show to the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath:
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Revelation 5:2-5
And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?
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Revelation 10:7
But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he has declared to his servants the prophets.
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Limits of God's Plan for Human Salvation
... CHAPTER XXVII. Limits of God's Plan for Human Salvation. 103. Accordingly,
when we hear and read in sacred Scripture that God "willeth ...
/.../augustine/handbook on faith hope and love/chapter xxvii limits of gods.htm

Salvation of the Lord
... To begin, then, at the beginning, the plan of salvation is entirely of God. ... The
plan of salvation was devised before the existence of angels. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 3 1857/salvation of the lord.htm

Salvation.
... John Newton 8,6,8,6. Salvation. Salvation! what a glorious plan,. How suited to
our need! The grace that raises fallen man,. Is wonderful indeed! ...
//christianbookshelf.org/newton/olney hymns/hymn 85 salvation.htm

Salvation
... That salvation is some arrangement or plan, by which people are to escape hell-fire
by having Christ's righteousness imputed to them without their being ...
//christianbookshelf.org/kingsley/the good news of god/sermon xxi salvation.htm

Infant Salvation
... could be saved in the same way as adults, if it would be necessary to suppose that
God's justice must be infringe, or that his plan of salvation must be ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 7 1861/infant salvation.htm

Christ Our Righteousness.
... One is of faith; the other of law. God's righteousness is not only a divine, holy
principle of justice and mercy, but is also a system or plan of salvation. ...
/.../xii christ our righteousness.htm

Salvation by Knowing the Truth
... You had a great prejudice against the gospel of grace and the plan of salvation
by faith; but when the Lord took you in hand and made you see your beautiful ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 26 1880/salvation by knowing the truth.htm

The Knowledge of God to be Obtained from the Scripture. The Plan ...
... Scripture. The Plan and Principal Mysteries of the Divine Scheme of Redemption.
11. ... 12. What more could have been done for our salvation? What ...
/.../chapter 7 name knowledge of.htm

Seek First the Kingdom.
... This feature alone of the divine life, or this principle alone in the economy of
God's gracious plan, ought to represent salvation as a thing greatly to be ...
/.../orr/food for the lambs or helps for young christians/seek first the kingdom.htm

The Confession of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. AD 1829 ...
... God pours out his Spirit (grace); sinners resist not the light, but improve it
(duty); God makes known his Word, or reveals the plan of salvation (grace); God ...
/.../the confession of the cumberland.htm

What is the plan of salvation? | GotQuestions.org

What are the steps to salvation? | GotQuestions.org

How can you believe in salvation by faith alone when the only occurrence of 'faith alone' in the Bible (James 2:24) says that salvation is not by faith alone? | GotQuestions.org

Salvation: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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