By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism.
God’s plan part 1
pastor corner

All men need to realize that God has a plan for mankind.

The only place to find out what the plan God has is in His Word the Bible. Each person needs to take the time to open that word and study it for themselves. Some say that only preachers can understand the Bible but that is far from truth. God wants all men to come to the knowledge of the truth (1 Tim. 2:4).

The gospel plan of salvation given by God shows the beauty of God’s design and plan for His creation. When man was created and placed in the Garden of Eden, God’s beautiful plan of creation was completed. Man giving in to Satan turned this beautiful scene into a wicked and ugly one. Sin caused God’s crowning accomplishment; man, to go from a childlike innocence to that of guilt-ridden fearful beings. When God came looking for them, they hid themselves. God could have killed man then and there and would have been just in doing so, but His love and compassion for man showed forth.

He chose to send the Redeemer to earth for all of mankind.

Joseph was told that Mary was with child of the Holy Ghost, “And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins” (Matt. 1:21).

When one studies how people in the first century obeyed the gospel, the beauty of God’s plan concerning man’s salvation is seen. In the book of Acts there are several accounts of how people became Christians.

They were not all at the same place in their spiritual development as they were taught what to do. Some already believed Jesus was the Son of God yet had not turned from their old ways to follow Him.

Such were those on the day of Pentecost, as when they asked Peter what they had to do to be saved, they already believe Jesus was the Christ from listening to Peter’s sermon.

Therefore, he told them to “repent and be baptized for the remission of their sins”.

Others such as the Ethiopian noble man (Acts 8) had to be taught about Jesus.

The first step in the plan of salvation is that of developing faith. Jesus came to earth and after He began His ministry did many signs and wonders that are recorded in the accounts of the gospel. John tells us why these things were done. “And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name” (John 20:30,31). Some try to stop at this point in their study of God’s word and fail to see the entire picture of God’s plan. Paul wrote, “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Rom. 10:17).

Sign up for our E-Newsletters