Plan of Salvation
The Plan of Salvation
Five seconds after eternity begins, what will you be thinking?
The most important question that you can answer is, “Where will you spend eternity?” If you think or hope it might be Heaven, but you’re not sure, the Bible has some good news and some bad news for you…
First, the bad news…
You can’t get to God or to Heaven on your own. The Bible teaches that all people are sinners (Romans 3:23), and even one sin separates us from a holy God and dooms us to hell. It says that a death penalty must be paid for sin (Romans 6:23). A lot of people have a false idea of how to get to Heaven. They reason that if you’re basically good, you go to Heaven. And if you’re bad, you go to hell. They measure themselves against other people. That’s not what the Bible teaches. Someone who’s 7-feet tall may be a giant compared to someone who’s 4-feet tall. But compared to Mount Everest, both are short. From God’s perspective all people fall short. Our standard is not other people. It’s God. And He is perfect. None comes close to reaching Heaven on their own (Romans 3:10). That’s bad news for us, but thankfully, that’s not the end of the story…
Now for the good news!…
The Gospel literally means “good news!” The good news is this: God loves us so much He made a plan for us to be with Him in Heaven even though we’ve sinned. God became a man in the person of Jesus Christ, came to earth and lived a sinless life. He died on the cross, paying the death penalty that holy God requires of sin (Romans 5:8). Then he conquered death, rising again, so that through Him–and through Him alone–we can get to God and Heaven. We can’t earn and don’t deserve Heaven. But Jesus purchased a place in Heaven for you which He offers as a free gift. But a gift is not yours until you receive it personally (read on for how to receive it). You must trust Jesus to do what you cannot do–pay for your sin so that in God’s eyes, you are as sinless as Jesus Himself. Now that’s good news!
Make headlines in Heaven
The good news won’t do you any good until you receive it personally (Romans 10:9-10). Here’s how. Pray (talk to God) and tell Him…
I agree with You, God, that I am a sinner. I’ll never be good enough to save myself. I admit it. I am getting out of the Savior business.
I believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross to pay my death penalty for sin. I believe that He arose victorious over death to give me eternal life in Heaven. I accept it. Receive it. I trust, rely, depend, put my faith, rest in Him as my personal Savior.
I commit my life to Jesus. I make Him my master, my Lord. I put Him in the driver’s seat of my life. I put my sin behind me. I recognize that because I’m trusting Him for eternal life, I can surely trust Him with my life while here on Earth. I know He wants what’s best for me. Thank you for saving me.
Now tell someone else the good news–what Jesus has done for you. Start with a friend or family member. Then go to a Bible-teaching church and tell them what you’ve done. Read God’s Word each day; start in the book of John. Also pray to God daily. These steps will help you to grow closer to God. And they’ll help make the good news better and better each day!
If you just trusted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior for the first time, that’s the best news ever. Please contact us and let us know. We would like to send you some more information.
Questions About Baptism
Baptism pictures the… Death…Burial…Resurrection… of our Lord Jesus Christ. We were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. Romans 6:4
Why be baptized?
Because you want to follow Christ’s example.
It came to pass in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized by John in the Jordan. Mark 1:9
Because Christ commanded it.
Jesus said, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you.” Matthew 28:19-20
Because it shows you are a believer.
Many of the Corinthians, hearing, believed and were baptized. Acts 18:8
Because obeying Christ’s command shows you know Him.
We know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. 1 John 2:3
What is the meaning of baptism?
It is a symbol of Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection.
Christ died for our sins…He was buried, and… He rose again. 1 Corinthians 15:3-4
You were…buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. Colossians 2:11-12
It is a symbol of your new life as a Christian.
If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 2 Corinthians 5:17
We were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. Romans 6:4
Baptism does not make you a believer, it shows that you already are one! Baptism does not “save” you, only your faith in Christ does that. Baptism is like a wedding ring; it’s the outward symbol of the commitment you made in your heart.
For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. Ephesians 2:8-9
How are we to be baptized?
Like Jesus was baptized by being immersed in water.
When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water. Matthew 3:16
Every baptism in the Bible was by immersion under water.
Both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him. Now when they came up out of the water… Acts 8:38-39
The word “baptize” literally means “to dip under water.”
The Greek word “baptizo” means “to immerse or dip under water.”
Who should be baptized?
Every person who has made the decision to believe in Christ.
Then those who gladly received his word were baptized. Acts 2:41
But when they believed Philip as he preached the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized. Acts 8:12
Then Simon himself also believed; and when he was baptized he continued with Philip. Acts 8:13
The one requirement for baptism is belief in Christ. We do not baptize children until they are old enough to understand and believe.
When are we to be baptized?
As soon as you have believed! You shouldn’t delay.
Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. Acts 2:41
Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at this Scripture, preached Jesus to him. Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, “See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?” Then Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” And he answered and said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.” So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him. Acts 8:35-38
There is no reason to delay. As soon as a person decided to believe in Christ, he can and should be baptized.
What about being baptized twice?
Our church recommends that you be baptized again if you have not been baptized by immersion since you became a believer or if you were baptized by a church in another denomination which holds a different view of salvation, eternal security, or baptism. Every Mt. Sinai member has been baptized by immersion as Jesus demonstrated and commanded us to follow.
Can my family be baptized together?
Yes! If each family member understands fully the meaning of baptism, and each one has personally placed his/her trust in Christ for salvation, we encourage families to be baptized at the same time. It is a wonderful expression of commitment.
What will the baptism experience be like?
You will need to bring shorts and a T-shirt to be baptized in. The church will provide you a robe to wear. We have changing rooms near the baptistery. Also bring a towel, plastic bag for your wet clothes and a hair dryer if needed.