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God's Eternal Plan of SalvationGod's Eternal Plan of Salvation

The scriptures plainly teach that God is not man, not an evolved man, anddoes not think as man (Gen. 1: 1ff.; Job 38: 4ff.; Isa. 55: 8, 9). I say this topoint out that the only way in which man may anticipate the future is by thepast. However, God has no such limitation. Of God it is said: "Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; Iam God, and there is none like me, Declaring the end from the beginning, andfrom ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shallstand, and I will do all my pleasure" (Isa. 46: 9, 10).

God's plan for saving man in Christ is not an after thought, butforethought. Some have the faulty idea of God that he planned matters pertainingto man's salvation as He went along. Not so. God's plan of salvation for man iseternal, if you will, in its inception and conception. Paul wrote to theEphesians of the "dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to youward" (Eph. 3: 2). The particular grace to which Paul alludes is the matter ofthe acceptance of the Gentiles (vs. 4, 5). Paul explained, "That the Gentilesshould be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise inChrist by the gospel" (vs. 6). In this vein, Paul is speaking of salvation. Allmen would be saved in Christ by the gospel (Eph. 3: 1-10). How and when was this

plan conceived? Hear the answer: "According to the eternal purpose which hepurposed in Christ Jesus our Lord" (vs. 11). This "eternal purpose" (prothesinton aionon, purpose of the ages) was in God's man from the beginning. Hence,man's salvation is a plan in every sense of the word. The prophets of old knewof this salvation and that it was associated with Christ of whom they prophesied(I Pet. 1: 10-12). Hence, the matter of salvation in Christ preceded Jesus'actual coming, death, and resurrection.

Paul wrote again to the Ephesians in the frame of reference of salvationand stated thus: "According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation ofthe world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love" (Eph. 1:

4, cp. 3). Some have tried in various ways to weaken the expression "before thefoundation of the world" (pro kataboles kosmou). I understand that "world"(kosmos) can mean different things, including simply order or arrangement.However, the obvious meaning of kosmos in Ephesians 1: 4 is world or the earthitself. (cp. Jn. 21: 25). Paul said to the Greek philosophers who were familiarwith kosmos (world) that "God that made the world and all things therein" (Acts17: 24). Ultimate salvation will be in the upper and everlasting Kingdom ofheaven. Regarding such salvation, Jesus will say to the faithful on the JudgmentDay: "Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you fromthe foundation of the world" (Matt. 25: 34). It is of no surprise, then, thatthe very first prophecy pertained to salvation, salvation in Christ (Gen. 3:

15). Hence, Genesis 3: 15 prophesied a temporary triumph of Satan (Jesus'death), but a devastating victory on the part of Jesus (Jesus' resurrection).All of this involved the "determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God" (Acts 2:23, see also Gal. 4: 4).

We now raise the question of what does this eternal salvation consists andexactly what is it? The primary Greek noun translated salvation is soteria(found 45 times in the Greek New Testament). Soteria means, "denotesdeliverance, preservation, salvation" (Vine, Expository Dictionary of NewTestament Words). Thayer only contributes the "added" thought of "safety"

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(Thayer's Greek-English Lexicon, pg. 612). The concept and state of salvation isviewed in the past, present, and future tenses in the scriptures (Rom. 8: 24, ICor. 15: 2, Rom. 13: 11). The salvation that God eternally conceived is associated with Jesus Christ."And she shall bring forth a son," the angel told Joseph, "and thou shalt callhis name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins" (Matt. 1: 21). Theapostles stressed the exclusivity of salvation through Jesus when they said,"neither is there salvation in any other (Jesus, dm), for there is none othername under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved" (Acts 4: 12). Jesuspossesses the ability and the authorization to extend salvation to man. Jesusshed his blood for the remission of our sins (salvation, Matt. 26: 28, Heb. 5:8, 9). The blood of bulls and goats on the sacrificial altars beginning withAdam could not remove the stain and guilt of sin (Heb. 10: 1-4). Jesus'efficacious blood not only provides the mean of salvation today, but it looksback in time (Heb. 9: 15, see chapter 9). Beloved, salvation is not just a clear conscience (Acts 23: 1, cf. 22: 4,5), faith only (Jas. 2: 24), good feeling (Acts 26: 9), or joining a church (3Jn. 9-11). Salvation (soteria) involves deliverance. Deliverance from thebondage of sin (Rom. 8: 16, 17), and from self (Lk. 9: 23). Salvation ispreservation in the sense the saved are kept by God (Jn. 3: 16). Safety is an

element, if you will, of salvation in that God assists those who are endeavoringto do his will (I Cor. 10: 13). Salvation is a relationship between man (thesaved) and God (the source of salvation). The saved are sons and daughters, Godis their Father (2 Cor. 6: 17, 18). It is obvious salvation is a state, a stateof preservation, deliverance, and relationship (Eph. 2: 1, 4, 5, 6, Jn. 10:27-29, Jude 24). Salvation is a state which man knows he has obtained because hehas done what God has said to do to be saved (I Jn. 5: 13). He is reconciled(made a friend with God (2 Cor. 5), justified (Rom. 5), redeemed (I Pet. 1: 18,19), and cleansed (Acts 22: 16). God's eternal plan of salvation, conceived in the mind of God before thecreation of the world, is intelligible, universal, and it involves man's humble

acceptance and participation. When the plan of salvation was first preached inits fullness, the people understood it and understood it alike (Acts 2: 14-47,Acts 2 is the beginning of the fulfillment of the prophecy spoken by Joel, "Andit shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shallbe saved," Joel 2: 32, cp. Acts 2: 16-21, see also Acts 2: 47, KJV). Throughoutthe Book of Acts, we read how this message of salvation was preached and offeredto both Jew and Gentile (Acts 2, 8, 10, 16, 18, etc.). We also read how thepeople responded in precisely the same way to the message of deliverance. In thefirst place, they knew that they had to "do something" (Acts 2: 37, 40, 41-47).The conditions and commands of the gospel regarding the enjoyment of this greatsalvation that the prophets longed to see and understand involved belief,

repentance, confession of Jesus' deity, and water baptism for the remission ofsins (Acts 3: 36; 38; 8: 37, KJV., see Rom. 10: 9, 10).

Many in the religious world view what we have just seen as a contradiction.Their perceived contradiction lies in the fact that the scriptures teach thatman cannot work for or earn salvation and they view belief, repentance,confession, and baptism as works. It is true that man cannot earn salvation(Tit. 3: 5, Rom. 4). How then do we harmonize this matter? The condemned works that attempt to earn salvation are such that can causethe doer to boast and take pride in what he has done (Eph. 2: 8, 9). They are

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also such that can cause the performer to think that his perfect performance isthe sole result of his perceived salvation (Ibid.). Salvation by grace andmeritorious works cancel out one another and are totally incompatible, theapostle Paul taught (Rom. 11: 6). With this criterion in mind, let us brieflyexamine belief, repentance, confession, and baptism. God has provided the meansof man's belief, repentance, confession, and baptism (Rom. 10: 17, Jn. 20: 30,31; 2 Cor. 7: 8-11; Acts 8: 26-37, KJV; Acts 2: 38, cp. Matt. 26: 28). In whatcan man boast, then, in the act of saving belief, repentance, confession, andbaptism? Each of these God ordained acts reflect on God and Jesus' blood andsacrifice, not on the doer. What glory is there on the part of the man whoconfesses, "I believe Jesus Christ is the Son of God"? Or, what human ascendancyrests on the penitent sinner who is baptized to put on Christ (Gal. 3: 26, 27)?What four acts could more fitly give God the glory and remove all circumstanceof boasting from man than belief, repentance, confession of Jesus' deity, andwater baptism, the very acts that some claim are meritorious? Some say, "theseacts are works and must not be presented as conditions of enjoying salvation!"Yes, they are works. Belief, for instance, is expressly said to be "a work."However, these are works of God and not works of man (Jn. 6: 29). Those who wantto refuse these terms of pardon must, to be consistent, teach universalsalvation. However, only a few shall be saved (Matt. 7: 21-23). "We believefaith is required, but not repentance, confession, and especially baptism," some

state. Beloved, who provides these people with the right to choose and reject atrandom? Others are heard saying, "we accept belief and repentance, but we do notbelieve confession and especially baptism are essential." Again, on what andwhose authority do these people and creeds make such a statement?

Belief sets the stage by putting in place the needed mental acceptance andtrust in the Creator and Lord, repentance changes the mind, will, andprecipitates the change of life; confession states to others one's belief thatJesus is God's Son and is a vow to serve him; and baptism officially puts offthe old man and puts on the new man, washing and remitting all the old sins(Heb. 11: 1, 4; Matt. 21: 29, KJV.; Matt. 10: 32, 33; Rom. 6, Acts 2: 38, 22:16).

God's eternal plan of salvation, what a profound and wonderful thought andconsideration! Based on all that God has done and the sacrifice of Jesus, let usnot "neglect so great salvation" (Heb. 2: 1-3). You and I can presently enjoythe salvation of our sins and anticipate the ultimate salvation in heaven (IPet. 1: 3-5). "Now is the accepted time," Paul wrote, "behold, now is the day ofsalvation" (2 Cor. 6: 2). (Complimentary articles to read are, "The Plan ofSalvation, Negatively Viewed," "Case Studies of Salvation," and, "What Must I DoTo Be Saved?")1