WHAT IS GOD'S PLAN OF SALVATION?
 THE BIBLE ANSWER ACCORDING TO THE BOOK OF ACTS
Written by Ron Hutchison

When taken all together, the following verses tell us what people did to be saved in the days of the Apostles. While some steps are not specifically mentioned, they are implied by what is stated in the passage. Isn't it reasonable to conclude that if the people in the first century who took these steps were saved, then if we take the same steps today we should expect the same results?

PASSAGE

HEAR

BELIEVE

REPENT

CONFESS

BAPTIZED (IMMERSED)
ACTS 2 - Pentecost verse 37 verse 37 implied verse 38   verse 38
ACTS 8 Samartians verses 6, 12 verse 12     verse 12
ACTS 8
Eunuch		 verse 35 verse 36   verse 37 verse 38
ACTS 9
Saul		 verses 4, 6 verses 18-20 implied verses 18-20 implied   verse 18
ACTS 10
Cornelius		 verses 22, 33, 43       verses 47, 48
ACTS 16
Lydia		 verse 14       verse 15
ACTS 16
Jailer		 verse 31   verses 33-34 implied   verse 33
ACTS 19
Ephesians		 verse 5       verse 5
ACTS 22
Saul		 verses 14, 15       verse 16

HERE IS WHAT ONE MUST DO
TO RECEIVE FORGIVENESS OF SINS

HEAR THE GOSPEL

BELIEVE THAT JESUS IS THE SON OF GOD

REPENT OF SINS

CONFESS THAT CHRIST IS GOD'S SON

BE BAPTIZED (BURIED IN WATER)

YOU WILL RECEIVE FORGIVENESS OF YOUR SINS


According to the above Scriptures, when taken all together, the person who is saved is the person who Hears the word of God; Believes the gospel; Repents of sin; Confesses Christ before men; and who is immersed in water (baptized) for the remission of sins. Isn't it interesting that the one act of obedience that is so often denied as necessary to salvation (i.e. immersion [baptism]) is specifically mentioned in each case of conversion in the book of Acts? To see why this is so please read THE PLACE OF BAPTISM IN GOD'S PLAN OF SALVATION.  All of these examples are in complete harmony with what the Bible teaches in other books of the Bible in regard to salvation. (Compare Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-16; John 8:24; Luke 13:3, 5; Romans 10:9-10; 1 Peter 3:21 etc...).

In addition to the above teaching, the Bible teaches that when one obeys this plan of salvation he is added to the church of Christ by the Lord Himself (Acts 2:41, 47).  Thus, one becomes a citizen of the spiritual kingdom of Christ (Colossians 1:13), which is the church (Matthew 16:18-19). 

 

For more study of this subject go to  "God's Chain of Salvation" and "Examples of Conversion"

 

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