God’s Plan of Salvation by Craig Marlatt

by Craig Marlatt  ©1984, 2008

“But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.” Galatians 4:4,5

 

MAN SEPARATED FROM GOD

            Did you know that man has been separated from his original relationship with God? If you have ever read the account of mans creation written in the Genesis Chapters 1 through 3 you will see that there was a time when the first man, Adam, had great favor with God. He lived in a place called Eden where there was an abundance of the things that he needed, and he had peace with all of God’s creatures. His only requirement was to keep God’s command not to eat of the ‘Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil’ – as God had told him that if he did that he would die.

            Adam (man) failed to keep his agreement with God and fell into sin, so God withdrew from man’s presence. He also made Adam leave his beautiful garden in Eden and go out into the wild to make it on his own.

 

MAN STILL SEEKING GOD

            It’s a very sad story but it’s true, and since that time  man has been striving to regain that original friendship he once had with God, but to no avail. It was sin that separated man from God and still today it continues to do the same. There is no hope for man to find favor with God again until this block of sin is removed.

 

ALL HAVE SINNED

            All sin stands in the same category with God. Sin is sin, whether it’s that of the drunkard or the prostitute; the man who cheats on his taxes (just a little), or the little girl who lies to her mother. There is no difference. All sin comes from the root of our fallen nature, and all sin has the same result: separation from God!

            The Bible tells us in Romans 3:23 that, “All have sinned and come short of the glory of God.”, and in Romans 6:23 it say’s, ”The wages of sin is death”. If all have sinned, and the wages of sin is death, then all must die!

 

GOD IS MERCIFUL

            Does this mean that God is cruel and harsh? No! Because the same verse in Romans 6:23 say’s, “ . . .the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord”. Though all men deserve eternal death, God has made an offer of the free gift of eternal life through his Son, Jesus Christ. This is our only hope of being joined again to a life in union with God. God in his mercy sought a way to restore man from his fallen state and there was only one answer: the Holy Son of God must take upon himself the limitations of the flesh and be born in the likeness of men.

 

           

LOVED BY THE FATHER, HATED BY MEN

            For over thirty Jesus Christ lived on the earth. He did many wonderful miracles while He lived and was very pleasing to his Father God. Above all Jesus Christ never sinned; not with his thoughts, words or deeds. He was perfect in every way. He was the Father’s perfect sacrifice to be offered for the sins of the world. God would be satisfied.

            The religious leaders of the time hated Jesus because He told them the truth about their own sins, and the truth about God. Because of this they had him beaten to a pulp and then nailed his bloody carcass to a wooden cross. Then they hoisted it up before a screaming crowd who jeered, and mocked, and shouted horrible blasphemous things at God’s only Son. For several hours Jesus hung there in excruciating pain, naked before the world. While He hung there Jesus said these words: “Father, forgive them, they know not what they do.”(Luke 23:24) Before He died Jesus cried out: “It is finished” (John 19:30), signifying that He had completed the work of salvation which God the Father had sent him to accomplish. Three days later Jesus Christ arose from the tomb where He was buried, triumphing over death, hell and the grave.

 

BELIEVE AND BE SAVED

            All who believe these words in their heart and repent from their sins will receive the forgiveness of God. To repent means to have a change of direction: to turn from your life of sin and unbelief and give your will and the leadership of your life over to Jesus Christ.

            When you acknowledge that you are indeed a sinner in need of God’s salvation, and confess your belief that Jesus Christ has made the full payment required by God to atone for your sins, that He rose from the grave, and that you are ready to receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior of your life, you shall be saved. (see Romans 10:9-10) It doesn’t matter who you are or what you have done. The blood that Jesus shed on the cross nearly 2,000 years ago is still sufficient to remove your sins. You will be ‘born again’ and receive a new heart of obedience so that you can serve God and obey his word.

 

THERE IS NO OTHER WAY

This is God’s Plan of Salvation for you and it is impossible to be forgiven through any other means then through Jesus Christ.

You must:

1.      Confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus

2.      Believe in your heart that God has raised him from the dead

3.      Repent from your sin and disobedience to God

4.      Receive Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior

 

 

Do it now! Don’t put it off. God is dealing with your heart and this is the most important decision you will ever make. Satan will try to make you doubt, but it is only because he desires to rob you of this gift of Eternal Life.

             Find a Bible believing and teaching Church gathering where you can  find fellowship and grow, and begin to study your Bible regularly. Ask God to direct you and He will lead you to the right people, but be careful as there are many wolves out there who want to steal what you have. Trust in the Lord and He will direct your path.

             Write or email me if you have any questions, need any help, or just want to share the good news of what God has done for you. Share your faith with others around you and God will surely bless you. May He keep you in his loving care,

Craig Marlatt   craig@craigmarlatt.org