The Plan of Salvation in the Bible

An Easy Explanation of Biblical Salvation With Scriptures

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Simply put, God's plan of salvation is the divine romance recorded in the pages of the Bible. Biblical salvation is God's way of providing his people deliverance from sin and spiritual death through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ.

Salvation Scriptures

Although just a sampling, here are some key Bible verses about salvation:

In the Old Testament, the concept of salvation is rooted in Israel's deliverance from Egypt in the Book of Exodus. The New Testament reveals the source of salvation in Jesus Christ. By faith in Jesus Christ, believers are saved from God's judgment of sin and its consequence—eternal death.

Why Do We Need Salvation?

When Adam and Eve rebelled, humans were separated from God through sin. God's holiness required punishment and payment (atonement) for sin, which was (and still is) eternal death. Our own death is not sufficient to cover the payment for sin. Only a perfect, spotless sacrifice, offered in just the right way, can pay for our sin. Jesus Christ, the perfect God-man, came to die on the cross, to offer the pure, complete and everlasting sacrifice to remove, atone, and make eternal payment for sin.

Why? Because God loves us and desires an intimate friendship with us. God's plan of salvation has one goal, to connect God with his redeemed ones in the closest of relationships. The Lord of heaven and earth wants to walk with us, talk with us, comfort us and be with us through every experience of life. 1 John 4:9 says, "In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him." 

Accepting God's offer of salvation won't solve all of our problems. It won't make life easier. Unfortunately, that is just one of many common misconceptions about the Christian life. But we will find a love that changes everything.

We will also begin to experience a new kind of freedom that comes through the forgiveness of sin. Romans 8:2 says, "And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death." Once saved, our sins are forgiven, or "washed away." As we develop in the faith and allow God's Holy Spirit to work in our hearts, we are increasingly set free from sin's power.

More gifts from God are the result of salvation. 1 Peter 1:8-9 speaks of joy: "Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls." And Philippians 4:7 speaks of peace: "And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." 

Finally, we need salvation to discover our true potential and purpose in life. Ephesians 2:10 says, "For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." As we develop in our relationship with God, he transforms us by his Holy Spirit into the person we were created to be. Our fullest potential and true spiritual fulfillment are revealed as we walk in the purposes and plans that God designed for us and designed us for. Nothing else compares to this ultimate experience of salvation.

How to Have the Assurance of Salvation

If you've felt the "tug" of God on your heart, you can have the assurance of salvation. By becoming a Christian, you will take one of the most important steps in your life on earth and begin an adventure unlike any other. The call to salvation begins with God. He initiates it by drawing us to come to Him.

You can learn more about what it means to be born again and how to get to heaven. But God makes salvation simple. His plan of salvation is not based on a complicated formula. It's not dependent upon being a good person because no one can ever be good enough. Our salvation is based firmly on the atoning death of Jesus Christ.

Receiving salvation through Jesus Christ has nothing to do with works or goodness. Eternal life in heaven comes through God's gift of grace. We receive it through faith in Jesus, and not as a result of our performance: "If you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." (Romans 10:9) 

A Salvation Prayer

You may want to make your response to God's call of salvation in prayer. Prayer is simply talking with God. You can pray by yourself, using your own words. There is no special formula. Just pray from your heart to God and he will save you. If you feel lost and don’t know what to pray, here’s a prayer of salvation.

Romans's Road Salvation Scriptures

Romans Road lays out the plan of salvation through a series of Bible verses from the book of Romans. When arranged in order, these verses form an easy, systematic way of explaining the message of salvation.

Get to Know the Savior

Jesus Christ is the central figure in Christianity and his life, message and ministry are chronicled in the four gospels of the New Testament. His name Jesus is derived from the Hebrew-Aramaic word "Yeshua," meaning "Yahweh [the Lord] is salvation." A great way to get started on your salvation journey is to get to know your Savior, Jesus Christ.

Salvation Stories

Skeptics may debate the validity of Scripture or argue the existence of God, but no one can deny our personal experiences with him. This is what makes our salvation stories, or testimonies, so powerful.

When we tell how God has worked a miracle in our life, how he has blessed us, transformed us, lifted and encouraged us, perhaps even broken and healed us, no one can argue or debate it. We go beyond the realm of knowledge into the realm of relationship with God.

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Fairchild, Mary. "The Plan of Salvation in the Bible." Learn Religions, Sep. 7, 2021, learnreligions.com/what-is-gods-plan-of-salvation-700502. Fairchild, Mary. (2021, September 7). The Plan of Salvation in the Bible. Retrieved from https://www.learnreligions.com/what-is-gods-plan-of-salvation-700502 Fairchild, Mary. "The Plan of Salvation in the Bible." Learn Religions. https://www.learnreligions.com/what-is-gods-plan-of-salvation-700502 (accessed March 29, 2024).