Salvation is the Beginnings of God's Plan
Salvation is the Beginning of God’s plan for our Life. God has a plan for us
(Jeremiah 29:11) God said “for I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says
the Lord Yahweh, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected
end”.
Salvation is the first step for us; Jesus explains to Nicodemus that except a man
be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. verily, verily, I say to you;
except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the
kingdom of God” (John 3:3,5). God made the way for us to be born again (John
3:16-17), says “for God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son,
that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For
God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world
through Him might be saved”.
God reveals to us that He wants all to be saved (II Peter 3:9) which says “the
Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness; but is
longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should
come to repentance”. We as His ambassadors, have to find God’s plan for our
lives, so that this can be accomplished. The Bible reveals that hell is enlarging
day by day.
Many Christians are living as saved, but stuck; they have received Jesus as
Savior, yet they are waiting to go to heaven when they die, but we are to live our
lives reigning in life (Romans 5:17) “for if by one man’s (Adam’s) offence death
reigned by one, much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the
gift of righteousness shall reign in life by One, Jesus Christ”. Reigning means
ruling, having dominion. Jesus’ death burial and resurrection restored us back
to our original state, before Adam’s fall. We have the opportunity to walk and
talk with God on a daily basic. We can live our lives as with heaven on earth.
Remember that Jesus said we are to be salt and light for a dying world (Matthew
5:13-16) “you are the salt of the earth, but if the salt have lost its savor,
wherewith shall it be salted? It is therefore good for nothing, but to be cast out,
and to be trodden under foot of men. You are the light of the world. A city that
is set on a hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a
bushel, but on a candlestick; and it gives light to all that are in the house. Let
your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify
your Father which is in heaven”. As our light shines, people will desire to come
to the Lord.
We have a responsibility, because we are commissioned to “go you therefore,
and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son
and of the Holy Ghost. Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have
commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the world”
(Matthew 28:19-20). Paul confirms this in Acts 13:47 which says “for so has the
Lord commanded us, saying, I have set you to be a light of the Gentiles, that you
should be for salvation to the ends of the earth”.
Each one of us are predestined to conform into the image of Christ (Romans 8:
29) “for whom He did foreknow, He also did predestinate to be conformed to the
image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren”. Not only
did He predestinate it, but verse 30 says “moreover whom He did predestinate,
them, He also called; and whom He called, them He also justified, and whom He
justified, them He also glorified”.
God has a plan for each of our lives; He told Jeremiah in Jeremiah 1:5 “before I
formed you in the belly, I knew you, and before you came forth out of the womb, I
sanctified you, and I ordained you a prophet to the nations”.
The craft men which helped to build the tabernacle in the wilderness (Exodus 35:
30-36:1) “and Moses said to the children of Israel, see, the Lord Yahweh has
called by name Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur; of the tribe of Judah. And
He has filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding, and in
knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship. And to devise curious works to
work in gold, and in silver, and in brass. And in the cutting of stones, to set
them, and in carving of wood, to make any manner of cunning work. And He has
put in his heart that he may teach, both he, and Aholiab, the son of Ahisamach,
of the tribe of Dan. Them has He filled with wisdom of heart, to work all manner
of work, of the engraver, and of the cunning workman, and of the embroiderer, in
blue, and in purple, in scarlet, and in fine linen, and of the weaver, even to them
that do any work, and of those that devise cunning work. Then wrought Bezaleel
and Aholiab, and every wise hearted man, in whom the Lord Yahweh put wisdom
and understanding to know how to work all manner of work, for the service of the
sanctuary, according to all that the Lord Yahweh had commanded”.
Mordecai told Esther “think not with yourself that you shall escape in the king’s
house, more than all the Jews. For if you altogether hold your peace at this time,
then shall there relief and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place, but
you and your father’s house shall be destroyed; and who know whether you are
come to the kingdom for such a time as this”?
Jesus finished the work that He was called to do (John 17), on the cross He
proclaimed “it is finished”.
God didn’t leave us alone to find our plan and purpose, but He gave us help to
develop us (Ephesians 4:11-15) “and He gave some apostles; and some
prophets, and some evangelists; and some pastors and teachers. For the
perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body
of Christ. Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the
Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of
Christ. That we hereafter be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried
about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness,
whereby they lie in wait to deceive. But speaking the truth in love, may grow up
into Him in all things, which is the head, even Christ”.
Many Christians get saved and then sit on their blessed assurance until they die,
and God’s plan for their lives ends up in the cemetery, but we should want to
hear Him say “well done My good and faithful servant”. We as followers of Jesus
should desire to finish the work that God called us to do. Ephesians 2:10 says
“for we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to good works, which God
has before ordained that we should walk in them”. Our work is the same work
that Jesus did, He said in (John 14:12) “verily, verily, I say to you, he that
believes on Me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than
these shall he do; because I go to My Father”.
God tells us to arise, listen to Psalms 82, it says “God stands in the congregation
of the mighty, He judges among the gods. How long will you judge unjustly, and
accept the persons of the wicked? Selah. Defend the poor and fatherless, do
justice to the afflicted and needy. Deliver the poor and needy, rid them out of
the hand of the wicked. They know not, neither will they understand; they walk
on in darkness, all the foundations of the earth are out of course. I have said,
you are gods, and all of you are children of the Most High. But you shall die like
men, and fall like one of the princes. Arise, O god, judge the earth; for you shall
inherit all nations”. After all we are the body of Christ.
The Apostle Paul is a good example, he was called to be the apostle to the
Gentiles. Paul tells Timothy in II Timothy 4:5-7 “but watch you in all things,
endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of your ministry.
For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I
have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith”.
Many people have a hard time finding their plan, but born again believers are to
understand their plan because the Holy Spirit lives in us and He reveals it to us (I
Corinthians 2:5-12) “that your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in
the power of God. However we speak wisdom among them that are perfect; yet
not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to
nought. But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom,
which God ordained before the world to our glory. Which none of the princes of
this world knew; for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of
glory. But as it is written, eye has not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered
into the heart of man, the things which God has prepared for them that love Him.
But God has revealed them to us by His Spirit, for the Spirit searches all things,
yea, the deep things of God. For what man knows the things of a man, save the
spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knows no man, but the
Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit
which is of God, that we might know the things that are freely given to us of
God”; verse 16 says “but we have the mind of Christ”.
We can pray the prayer that Paul prayed for the church of Ephesus in Ephesians
1:17-19, “that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory may give to
you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him. The eyes of
your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of
His calling, and what the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints. And
what is the exceeding greatness of His power to us-ward who believe, according
to the working of His mighty power”. We can pray this prayer for ourselves, and
others.
We have been told to pray for others (I Timothy 2:1-4) “I exhort therefore, that,
first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made
for all men. For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet
and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable
in the sight of God our Savior. Who will have all men to be saved, and to come
to the knowledge of the truth”. Again we see that God wants all men to be
saved, so let us arise to find God’s plan for our life, so that we can finish it.
Study by: Harriet Bond
Date: July 20, 2010
Salvation is the Beginning of God’s plan for our Life. God has a plan for us
(Jeremiah 29:11) God said “for I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says
the Lord Yahweh, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected
end”.
Salvation is the first step for us; Jesus explains to Nicodemus that except a man
be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. verily, verily, I say to you;
except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the
kingdom of God” (John 3:3,5). God made the way for us to be born again (John
3:16-17), says “for God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son,
that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For
God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world
through Him might be saved”.
God reveals to us that He wants all to be saved (II Peter 3:9) which says “the
Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness; but is
longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should
come to repentance”. We as His ambassadors, have to find God’s plan for our
lives, so that this can be accomplished. The Bible reveals that hell is enlarging
day by day.
Many Christians are living as saved, but stuck; they have received Jesus as
Savior, yet they are waiting to go to heaven when they die, but we are to live our
lives reigning in life (Romans 5:17) “for if by one man’s (Adam’s) offence death
reigned by one, much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the
gift of righteousness shall reign in life by One, Jesus Christ”. Reigning means
ruling, having dominion. Jesus’ death burial and resurrection restored us back
to our original state, before Adam’s fall. We have the opportunity to walk and
talk with God on a daily basic. We can live our lives as with heaven on earth.
Remember that Jesus said we are to be salt and light for a dying world (Matthew
5:13-16) “you are the salt of the earth, but if the salt have lost its savor,
wherewith shall it be salted? It is therefore good for nothing, but to be cast out,
and to be trodden under foot of men. You are the light of the world. A city that
is set on a hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a
bushel, but on a candlestick; and it gives light to all that are in the house. Let
your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify
your Father which is in heaven”. As our light shines, people will desire to come
to the Lord.
We have a responsibility, because we are commissioned to “go you therefore,
and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son
and of the Holy Ghost. Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have
commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the world”
(Matthew 28:19-20). Paul confirms this in Acts 13:47 which says “for so has the
Lord commanded us, saying, I have set you to be a light of the Gentiles, that you
should be for salvation to the ends of the earth”.
Each one of us are predestined to conform into the image of Christ (Romans 8:
29) “for whom He did foreknow, He also did predestinate to be conformed to the
image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren”. Not only
did He predestinate it, but verse 30 says “moreover whom He did predestinate,
them, He also called; and whom He called, them He also justified, and whom He
justified, them He also glorified”.
God has a plan for each of our lives; He told Jeremiah in Jeremiah 1:5 “before I
formed you in the belly, I knew you, and before you came forth out of the womb, I
sanctified you, and I ordained you a prophet to the nations”.
The craft men which helped to build the tabernacle in the wilderness (Exodus 35:
30-36:1) “and Moses said to the children of Israel, see, the Lord Yahweh has
called by name Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur; of the tribe of Judah. And
He has filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding, and in
knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship. And to devise curious works to
work in gold, and in silver, and in brass. And in the cutting of stones, to set
them, and in carving of wood, to make any manner of cunning work. And He has
put in his heart that he may teach, both he, and Aholiab, the son of Ahisamach,
of the tribe of Dan. Them has He filled with wisdom of heart, to work all manner
of work, of the engraver, and of the cunning workman, and of the embroiderer, in
blue, and in purple, in scarlet, and in fine linen, and of the weaver, even to them
that do any work, and of those that devise cunning work. Then wrought Bezaleel
and Aholiab, and every wise hearted man, in whom the Lord Yahweh put wisdom
and understanding to know how to work all manner of work, for the service of the
sanctuary, according to all that the Lord Yahweh had commanded”.
Mordecai told Esther “think not with yourself that you shall escape in the king’s
house, more than all the Jews. For if you altogether hold your peace at this time,
then shall there relief and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place, but
you and your father’s house shall be destroyed; and who know whether you are
come to the kingdom for such a time as this”?
Jesus finished the work that He was called to do (John 17), on the cross He
proclaimed “it is finished”.
God didn’t leave us alone to find our plan and purpose, but He gave us help to
develop us (Ephesians 4:11-15) “and He gave some apostles; and some
prophets, and some evangelists; and some pastors and teachers. For the
perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body
of Christ. Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the
Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of
Christ. That we hereafter be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried
about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness,
whereby they lie in wait to deceive. But speaking the truth in love, may grow up
into Him in all things, which is the head, even Christ”.
Many Christians get saved and then sit on their blessed assurance until they die,
and God’s plan for their lives ends up in the cemetery, but we should want to
hear Him say “well done My good and faithful servant”. We as followers of Jesus
should desire to finish the work that God called us to do. Ephesians 2:10 says
“for we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to good works, which God
has before ordained that we should walk in them”. Our work is the same work
that Jesus did, He said in (John 14:12) “verily, verily, I say to you, he that
believes on Me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than
these shall he do; because I go to My Father”.
God tells us to arise, listen to Psalms 82, it says “God stands in the congregation
of the mighty, He judges among the gods. How long will you judge unjustly, and
accept the persons of the wicked? Selah. Defend the poor and fatherless, do
justice to the afflicted and needy. Deliver the poor and needy, rid them out of
the hand of the wicked. They know not, neither will they understand; they walk
on in darkness, all the foundations of the earth are out of course. I have said,
you are gods, and all of you are children of the Most High. But you shall die like
men, and fall like one of the princes. Arise, O god, judge the earth; for you shall
inherit all nations”. After all we are the body of Christ.
The Apostle Paul is a good example, he was called to be the apostle to the
Gentiles. Paul tells Timothy in II Timothy 4:5-7 “but watch you in all things,
endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of your ministry.
For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I
have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith”.
Many people have a hard time finding their plan, but born again believers are to
understand their plan because the Holy Spirit lives in us and He reveals it to us (I
Corinthians 2:5-12) “that your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in
the power of God. However we speak wisdom among them that are perfect; yet
not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to
nought. But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom,
which God ordained before the world to our glory. Which none of the princes of
this world knew; for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of
glory. But as it is written, eye has not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered
into the heart of man, the things which God has prepared for them that love Him.
But God has revealed them to us by His Spirit, for the Spirit searches all things,
yea, the deep things of God. For what man knows the things of a man, save the
spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knows no man, but the
Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit
which is of God, that we might know the things that are freely given to us of
God”; verse 16 says “but we have the mind of Christ”.
We can pray the prayer that Paul prayed for the church of Ephesus in Ephesians
1:17-19, “that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory may give to
you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him. The eyes of
your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of
His calling, and what the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints. And
what is the exceeding greatness of His power to us-ward who believe, according
to the working of His mighty power”. We can pray this prayer for ourselves, and
others.
We have been told to pray for others (I Timothy 2:1-4) “I exhort therefore, that,
first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made
for all men. For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet
and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable
in the sight of God our Savior. Who will have all men to be saved, and to come
to the knowledge of the truth”. Again we see that God wants all men to be
saved, so let us arise to find God’s plan for our life, so that we can finish it.
Study by: Harriet Bond
Date: July 20, 2010
