Plans forSalvation in a Nutshell
by Stan Hallett
"But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared FOR THEM THAT LOVE HIM" - II Corinthians 2:9
Note that they are "prepared for them that LOVE HIM".
Jesus said; "IF YE LOVE ME, keep my commandments." - John 14:15
COMMANDMENT:
"Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the NAME of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:" - Matthew 28:19 Notice that the word NAME is singular . . . one name. The words Father, Son and Holy Ghost are titles, not names.
Also notice that Jesus said; "GO". He didn't say it "would be nice if you did", or "you might think about it". It was a direction, a commandment to GO do it.
EXPLANATION on HOW to OBEY (What is the NAME?):
Peter was given the keys of the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 16:19) Many people picture Peter at heavens gate because of this. But these were not physical keys! Peter shared these same keys with us. . . In Acts 2:37 They asked the Apostles what they should do, and Peter said: "REPENT, and be BAPTIZED every one of you in the NAME of JESUS CHRIST for the remission of sins, and ye shall RECEIVE THE GIFT OF THE HOLY GHOST." - Acts 2:38
What is the NAME of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost? Peter knew, and the other Apostles standing there with him knew. This NAME is JESUS!
"Know ye not, that so many of us as were BAPTIZED into JESUS Christ were baptized into his death?" - Romans 6:3
"And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the NAME of the Lord JESUS.." - Colossians 3:17
What happens if you do not OBEY? - "And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that OBEY NOT the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;" - II Thessalonians 1:7-9
Don't fall for the lie that you need not obey or do anything to be saved because some doctrine has labeled them "works". Salvation IS a gift. We do NOT deserve it and CANNOT EARN it through "works of righteousness" (Titus 3:5).
Works of righteousness are feeding the hungry, sheltering the homeless, etc., etc. You cannot earn salvation by doing good works.
"Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also." - James 2:17-26
Obedience to God's word is a requirement! If you do not OBEY His commandments you are none of His.
"Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the WILL of my Father which is in heaven." - Matthew 7:21
Believing IN the Lord is NOT enough . . . "Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble." - James 2:19
We however, should believe ON Him (John 1:12, John 6:29, John 7:39, John 9:35, John 9:36, John 11:48, John 17:20, Acts 16:31, Acts 19:4, Romans 14:24, Philippians 1:29, 1 Timothy 1:16, 1 John 3:23, 1 John 5:3). To believe ON Him is to put ALL your trust in HIM and to Let Him be the Lord over your life. For if He is truly our LORD and Saviour we should OBEY Him and put all of our trust in Him.
HOW CAN YOU BE SAVED? HERE ARE THE "KEYS"
REPENT of your sins. This means to earnestly turn away from all sin, asking His forgiveness. It does not mean to confess your sins then go right back to doing the things you've always done. "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise." - Psalms 51:17
BE BAPTIZED IN JESUS NAME
"Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a MAN be born AGAIN, he cannot see the kingdom of God." - John 3:3 "Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a MAN be BORN OF WATER and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God." - John 3:5
"BORN OF WATER" is water baptism in JESUS NAME just as stated in Matthew 28:19 and Acts 2:38. It does not mean natural child birth as some foolish people suggest. Note that he says " Except a MAN", He is talking about a man, not a baby. Then He says "born AGAIN" (a second time).
"...while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water. The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us. . ." I Peter 3:20,21
"He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned." - Mark 16:16
BE FILLED WITH the HOLY GHOST.
This is being born "of the Spirit". There is a marvelous evidence of this infilling of the Holy Ghost. Read of the accounts in the book of Acts. It's happening that same today as it did then. Don't let anyone fool you and cheat you out of your salvation at any cost. "And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance." - Acts 2:4
"For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the LORD our God shall call." - Acts 2:39
"And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent? Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?" - Luke 11:9-13
"Let God be true, but every man a liar" - Romans 3:4
This tract is available in Microsoft Publisher file format in a zipped file for printing out for your personal or church use as a 4-page tract (uses one sheet of paper printed on two sides). Click HERE to download nutshell.zip
