Jesus’ Offer of Partnership With You

Stewardship

God has a marching order for His church: “Go and teach all nations, baptizing them in the
name of the Father and of the son and of the Holy spirit.” Consider the magnitude of this
worldwide task and the resources needed to accomplish them. God has a master plan to
support and finance His work. His plan is through partnership with His people.

In Amos 3:3, the LORD asked, “Can two walked together, except they be agreed?” Jesus’
offer of partnership with you will result to a marriage of your will with His will. In this
partnership, you are going to give all that you are and have to Him. In return, Jesus makes
you His steward or manager of everything that you possess. In this partnership, there will be
a mutual trust, mutual objectives, and mutual obligations between the two of you. There are
important principles that you need to understand in this partnership:

1. God is the Owner

You have to acknowledge that the God who creates all things is the owner of all created
things. This is the foundation of God’s sovereign claims.

A. Who owns the world and all that it contains? Psalm 24:1

1 The earth is the LORD’S, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell
therein.

From the beginning God claims everything in this world as His own by virtue of
creation. He as Creator can authoritatively state, “I am the owner of the universe.”
This is a sovereign fact that all we possess belongs to God and this is not easy for a
sinful human being to accept. Faith is needed to acknowledge God as the owner of
everything in this world.

B. Who owns the silver and gold? Haggai 2:8

8 The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, saith the LORD of hosts.

God’s ownership of silver and gold representing our wealth establishes the truth that
He has the right and a claim on all the wealth that we have. The fact is, there is
nothing good that we have that does not find its source of origin in God.

C. Who owns our bodies? 1 Corinthians 6:19, 20

19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in
you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your
spirit, which are God’s.

Everything belongs to God even the life that we have. You are not your own, you are
God’s property by virtue of creation. And when man sold himself to sin, God
 reclaimed or redeemed him to Himself with a high cost and that is through the death
of His own Son, the richest gift of heaven. So, God owns us twice: by creation
through His creative power, and by redemption through the great sacrifice of Jesus
Christ on the cross. Note that the second time we belong to God, is through the power
of His redemptive and self-sacrificing love.

2. Man is the Steward

If God owns everything, we own nothing. We simply possess things but we do not own
them. They pass from one generation to another. We do not have ownership rights but
management responsibilities only. Since God is the owner of all created things we are
just steward of God. This basic realization is the foundation for Christian stewardship.

A. What is a steward?
A steward is “a person who manages another’s property or financial affairs; one who
administers anything as the agent of another or others.” As God’s stewards, we are
trustees or managers of His properties. We are the depository of His love (salvation),
truth (gospel), and blessings (material and spiritual).

B. What is stewardship?

Stewardship means “the responsible management of entrusted property.” It describes

the steward’s relationship to God. It means being responsible for everything entrusted
to the steward. It is a lifestyle of a faithful Christian who accepts the lordship of Jesus
Christ, walks in partnership with Him, and acts as God’s agent to manage His affairs
on earth.

C. What is required of a good steward? 1 Corinthians 4:2

2 Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.

The God who entrusted us with property or possessions now wants to find us faithful
stewards. He wants to find us faithful in each transaction we make in our life.

D. How much do we own? 1 Timothy 6:7

7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing
out.

This is an important principle in stewardship: we own nothing. All that we are and all
that we have are heavenly trust. They all belong to God. We are simply stewards or
managers of what God entrusts to us including our body, time, abilities, material
possessions, and the blessings of the earth and its resources.

3. Principle of Tithes and Offerings

God has a system to support the financial needs of His worldwide church in proclaiming
the gospel commission. This system is through tithes and offerings. God Himself
instituted this system. It is divine in its origin, and through it, you enter into partnership
with Him, and He becomes your Senior Partner.

A. What is the meaning of tithe? Leviticus 27:30

30 And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land, or of the fruit of the
tree, is the LORD’s: it is holy unto the LORD.

The tithe is one tenth (1/10) or ten percent (10%) of all that we earn. This tithe
belongs to the Lord. It is holy unto the Lord just as the Sabbath is holy. Since we
don’t own the tithe we don’t give it to God, we return it to Him. How can you give
something that doesn’t belong to you? When we return the tithe to God, we are not
yet giving Him anything because it is His in the first place. We are simply returning
to Him His share, the tithe. The returning of tithe is an acknowledgement that God is
our partner. In this text God is not appealing for our gratitude or generosity. “This is a
matter of simple honesty. The tithe is the Lord’s; and He bids us return to Him that
which is His own.”

Note that the tithing system did not originate with the Jews. In Genesis 14:20,
Abraham returned tithes to Melchizedek, the priest of the Most High God. He
practiced tithing over 400 years before the law. “If Abraham were your father”, Jesus
said, “ye would do the works of Abraham” (John 8:39). One of the notable “works of
Abraham” was to pay tithes to Melchizedek, the Priest-King of Salem (Genesis14:17-
20). As the Israelites were about to be established as a nation, the law of tithing was
reaffirmed as one of the divinely ordained statutes upon obedience to which their
prosperity depended. The fact that the origin of tithing system preceded the giving of
the law at Sinai, therefore, the tithing should not be identified with the ceremonial
law. It did not “pass away with the ordinances and sacrificial offerings that typified
Christ.” Moreover, through the tithing system, God is teaching us that He is the Lord,
the possessor of all our property, and that He has made us His stewards.

B. Why do we give tithe? Numbers 18:24; 1 Corinthians 9:13, 14

24 But the tithes of the children of Israel, which they offer as an heave offering unto
the LORD, I have given to the Levites to inherit: therefore I have said unto them,
Among the children of Israel they shall have no inheritance.

Levites were full-time ministering associates of the priest in the sanctuary. They don’t
have any means of living, but tithes (Num. 18:26). The tithing system is God’s way of
supporting his church. Jesus said, “Render therefore unto Caesar the things that are
Caesar's, and unto God the things which are God's.” If taxes are for the support of the
nation; tithes are for the support of the church.

13 Do ye not know that they which minister about holy things live of the things of the
temple? and they which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar?
 14 Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of
the gospel.

Paul emphatically confirms that the tithe is to be used to support the gospel ministry.
It is God’s appointed way for meeting the financial needs of His church. We should
not expect the world to finance the Lord’s work. Note that the giving of tithes is
based not on a specified amount but on a specified proportion of their income. It does
not favor the rich man nor impose hardship on the poor man. There is equality here
because the rich and the poor are asked to give tithe in “proportion to their income.”
Moreover, shall we receive blessings from God and be indifferent to the needs of His
church through the tithe, His portion, which He reserved for Himself?

C. What is an offering and how much of offering are we to give to God?

Deuteronomy 16:17; Luke 12:48

17 Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the LORD thy
God which he hath given thee.

48 For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom
men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.

In addition to the tithe, we give our freewill offerings as an expression of our love and
gratitude to God. We give this after we have returned the tithes. Both in the Old and
New Testaments, the principle laid down in the giving of offerings was in proportion
to the blessings of God upon a person.

D. What is the teaching of Jesus regarding giving? Acts 20:35

35 It is more blessed to give than to receive.

Christians are here not for themselves but for Jesus Christ.  As we give ourselves to
Him, we find meaning, fulfillment, and joy. Giving is an antidote for selfishness and
materialism. Therefore, when we give, let us give willingly, boldly and cheerfully.
Besides, there is a saying, “You can give without loving but you cannot love without
giving.”

E. What rewards God has promised to those who will give tithes and offerings?
Malachi 3:10-12; Luke 6:38

10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house,
and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the
windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room
enough to receive it.
11 And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits
of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field,
saith the LORD of hosts.
 12 And all nations shall call you blessed; for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith
the LORD of hosts.

God commanded every believer to set aside His divine portion, the tithe, for the
support of His church. As you do, “all nations shall call you blessed”!

38 Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken
together, and running over, shall men give into your bossom. For with the
measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.

The amount of offerings one has given determines the amount of blessings one will
receive.

Years ago a young man began a small cheese business in Chicago. He failed. He was
deeply in debt. “You didn’t take God into your business. You have not worked with
Him,” said a Christian friend to him. Then the young man thought, “If God wants to
run the cheese business, He can do it, and I’ll work for Him and with Him!” From
that moment, God became the senior partner in his business. The business grew and
prospered and became the largest cheese concern in the world! You ask the name of
that young man? J. L. Kraft who became president of the Kraft Cheese Company!
[7700 Illustrations]

Appeal:

God has a plan for financing His work here on earth. His divine plan is to offer a partnership
with you through your tithes and offerings. The will of God concerning tithes and offerings
has never been changed. If all of God’s people would obey His system of financing the
church, there would be no want of means to carry forward the great work of sounding the last
message of warning to the world. As Christians, we are God’s stewards, entrusted with time,
talents, and possessions. We acknowledge God’s ownership of all that we are and have by
returning the tithes and giving the offerings for the advancement of His kingdom.

“The gospel, as it extends and widens, requires greater provisions to sustain it than were
called for anciently, and this makes the law of tithes and offerings a more urgent necessity
now than under the Hebrew economy. The cause of God requires, not less, but greater gifts
than at any other period of the world's history. The principle laid down by Christ is, that the
offerings should be in proportion to the light and blessings enjoyed. ‘Unto whomsoever much
is given, of him shall much be required.’ But those who give in accordance with this rule will
reap a proportionate blessing.” ST March 18, 1886
The American Heritage Dictionary defines PARTNERSHIP as: “A relationship between individuals or
groups that is characterized by mutual cooperation and responsibility, as for the achievement of a
specified goal.”

In this tough economic condition that has gripped us all, I strongly believe that it's more important
now, than ever to tithe and teach the laws of tithing.

But, what if God isn't really after our money?

What if his desire wasn't that it just support the church?

Tithing Provides:

- Relationship with God

- Teachings of commitment
- Teachings of faith
- Financial blessings

Quote: "Teach your people to give financially to the church. You are robbing them of a tremendous
blessing if you are not teaching them to give tithes and offerings. "

Giving to God changes us.A man by the name of David Hill once
observed: “Tithing is not God’s way of raising money...its God’s way of
raising men!”

Tithing was instituted by God Himself to be a blessing for a fallen race possessed by uncontrollable
selfishness. The goodness of this law is revealed by the fact that it originated in God and was
confirmed by Jesus as of permanent value for His people. Through tithing God intended to impress on
us the reality that He is the giver of all our blessings. He is the One who preserves our lives and we
should acknowledge Him as our Savior and Lord. He also intended to restore our personal dignity by
reinstituting us as His stewards as evidenced in the act of tithing. Through the power of God, tithing
was to be a powerful tool in subjugating our natural selfishness.

Therefore, for Ellen G. White, tithing was an instrument in God’s hands to bless us. It was
exclusively God’s property and holy. Returning it to God is a religious and moral duty because it
belongs to God and is holy.
Jesus Defense of Your Case in Court (Judgment)

Have you attended a court session in which a man was being tried not just for years but for
his very life like The President on Trial? It is a serious thing. Judgment is one of the most
important topics in the Bible. It was mentioned over 1,000 times. The court of heaven is now
in session and it vitally concerns you and me. The good news of this judgment is that God the
Father is the Judge and He is for us; Jesus is the legal Counsel or the Attorney; and the angels
are the witnesses on our side. So, we can face this judgment with confidence if we have a
living and active relationship with God.

1. The Judgment

A. Is judgment included in the everlasting gospel? Revelation 14:6, 7

6 Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to
preach to those who dwell on the earth to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people
7 saying with a loud voice, Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment
has come; and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water.”

Inclusive in the everlasting gospel is the Judgment message. There are three phases of the
judgment in the Bible: first, the investigative judgment or the investigation of the evidence
(the hearing)will take place before the second coming of Christ (where the presiding Judge is
God the Father, the Advocate is God the Son, and the witnesses are the angels. Daniel 7:9-10,
13). This Investigative Judgment is one of the most contested doctrines of the Seventh-day
Adventist Church; second, the millennial judgment (the decision or the verdict of the
court)will take place following the second coming of Christ (Christ and the saints sit at the
judgment during 1,000 years. Revelation 20:4; 1 Corinthians 6:2, 3); third, the executive
judgment (the reward or punishment)will take place at the close of earths history (hell-fire
consumed the wicked. Revelation 20: 9, 14, 15).

Will a righteous and loving God execute judgment without conducting an investigation or
trial? A work of investigative judgment is to be made before the second coming of Christ. It
is necessary to determine who among the dead will be included in the first resurrection and
who among the living will be given the gift of immortality in the second coming of Jesus.
Investigation is necessary so that all people, whether saved or unsaved, can declare that God
is true and righteous in His judgment (Revelation 19:2).

B. Is judgment a part of Jesus teachings? Matthew 12:36, 37

36 But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in
the day of judgment.
37 For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.
Here is a very important truth: People are accountable to God. Every word a person has
spoken, every deed he has done, will be under close scrutiny in the Day of Judgment. The
basis in this judgment is the records in the books of heaven: the book of remembrance
(Malachi 3:16) and the book of life (Revelation 3:5) According to the records of these books,
all men shall give account and the heavenly records are kept for the benefit of the universe,
and as judicial evidence of Gods love and justice in every case. All will be judged according
to their works, by the things which were written in the books” (Revelation 20:12). In view of
this, we should take heed as to how we live for All will be justified by their faith and judged
by their works.

C. Is judgment assured to come? Acts 17:31; 2 Corinthians 5:10

31 because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the
Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the
dead.”

10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the
things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.

God ordained the time in which He would judge the world. And we must all appear at the
judgment because you and I have a pending case at the bar of God. Beginning with Adam,
Jesus, our Advocate, presents the cases of each successive generation until the last person
living on earth. Every name is closely investigated. Those who have unrepented sins their
names will be blotted out of the book of life (Exodus 32:33, Ezekiel 18:24-30). God would
never be a righteous God if there were no judgment. In this judgment, God Himself and His
people will be vindicated but the wickedthose who rejected Him will be condemned.

2. The Judgment Day

A. Is there a specified time when the judgment begins? Daniel 8:14

And he said to me, For two thousand three hundred days; then the sanctuary shall be
cleansed.

The book of Revelation says that the hour of Gods judgment is come, but the book of Daniel
helps us know when that judgment began.

In Bible prophecy, one prophetic day equals one literal year (Numbers 14:34, Each day for a
year, KJV; Ezekiel 4:6, I have appointed thee each day for a year, KJV). So, the 2300
prophetic days mentioned here represented 2300 years, that is, 2300 years from Daniels day
to the future.

The beginning date for the 2300 days/years can only be established by seeing a close
relationship between Daniel 8 and 9. Since Daniel 9:24-27 sets the beginning of the 70-week
prophecy at 457 B.C. (Prideauxs Connection, vol. 1, p. 222, Smiths Comprehensive
Dictionary), the 2300-day prophecy must also begin with the same year. The math is simple
and scriptural. Having established the starting point of the 2300 years, the rest is simple
arithmetic. Since the decree of King Artaxerxes was given in the autumn of 457 B.C. (i.e. ¾
way through the year), the 2300 full years reach beyond the end of 1843, to the autumn of
1844. So, the prophecy of Daniel 8:14 ended in 1844, the Day of Judgment.

The Bible reveals the exact time when Christ will begin the cleansing of the heavenly
sanctuary or the judgment in heaven. The hour of Gods judgment in heaven has actually
begun at the close of the 2300 days in Daniels prophecy, that is, in 1844.

B. What is the purpose of the cleansing of the Sanctuary and how it was conducted?

The cleansing of the sanctuary or the Day of Atonement in the time of Israel was a day of
judgment symbolizing the final judgment. Even today the Jews recognize the Day of
Atonement as a day of judgment. The purpose of the cleansing of the sanctuary was to
remove sin from the sanctuary and from the people. During this time, the people of God were
to afflict themselves before Him. They have to come before God with a contrite and humble
hearts, surrendering their lives to Him. It was a day of deep spiritual self-examination to
make sure everything was made right before God. It was a day of judgment.

Throughout the year, a penitent sinner must bring a sacrificial offering to the sanctuary,
confessed his sins upon the head of the sacrificial animal, took its life, and then the priest
transferred the blood of the animal into the sanctuary. This system of blood sacrifice was not
meant to be barbaric, but rather, symbolic of the gravity of sin and the blood transferred to
the sanctuary is symbolic of the sin transferred from the penitent sinner to the sanctuary. This
ceremony is called the Daily service. Then once a year, on the Yearly service, which is called
the “Day of Atonement, the sanctuary itself must be cleansed because of the sins
accumulated over the year (Lev. 16:16).

C. Is the cleansing of the Sanctuary began in 1844 the earthly or the heavenly Sanctuary?

The vision of Daniel 8:14 refers to the time of the end (v. 17). The sanctuary it speaks of
cannot be the earthly sanctuary for it was disowned by Christ Himself (Matt. 23:38);
desecrated by God at the supernatural rending of the inner veil (Matt. 27:51); and destroyed
by the Romans in 70 A.D. Therefore, the sanctuary it speaks of is the heavenly sanctuary and
the cleansing of the sanctuary it talks about is the judgment in heaven where Jesus Christ is
now ministering as our High Priest and Mediator in the judgment sit.

3. What is the meaning of the Judgment that began in 1844?

A. 1844 is the commencement of the Heavenly Day of Atonementthe Pre-Advent Judgment.

Christ could not begin his work of cleansing the heavenly sanctuary until the end of the 2300
years in 1844. When the Ancient of days was seated…Ten thousand times ten thousand stood
before Him. The court was seated, And the books were opened (Daniel 7:9, 10). It means the
hour of Gods judgment has actually begun and Jesus, our High Priest who stands before the
Father, pleading on our behalf based on His sacrifice at Calvary, is now blotting out the
records of sins thereby cleansing the heavenly sanctuary.
B. 1844 means we are now living in the most solemn period in the history of man. For Israel
the Day of Atonement was a day of judgment. It meant life for those who got rid of sin and
defilement but death (cut off) for those who clung to their sins and refused to afflict
themselves (Lev. 23:26-32). Therefore, we have to search our hearts during this Heavenly
Day of Atonement as was Israel in their yearly Day of Atonement. We should not take
1844the commencement of the Pre-Advent Judgment for granted, but respond to Gods
provisions and allow Him to blot out our sins.

C. The Pre-Advent Judgment will be followed immediately by the Second Advent. It means
Jesus is coming soon to bring us home.

Revelation 3:5

5 He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name
from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.

Matthew 10:32, 33

32 “Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father
who is in heaven.
33 But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in
heaven.

Appeal:

Jesus is not only the dying Lamb that takes away the sin of the world, who offers forgiveness
full and complete, but He is also the living Priest who is our Advocate in heaven, who offers
assurance and acceptance with the Father.

We are not living in ordinary time; it is no longer business as usual, pleasures as usual. No!
This is the judgment hour. Every name will be investigated. Every case will be minutely
examined. This judgment, which ratifies the decision as to who will be saved and who will be
lost, must take place before the Second Coming of Christ.

When you and my judgment day come, we will find ourselves in one of two positions: either
guilty and the heavenly records will stand against us, or not guilty and the blood of Jesus
covered and cleansed our sins; either saved and we will be awarded with everlasting life, or
unsaved and we will be condemned to everlasting destruction (John 5:28, 29).

Many sinners will loss their case because they have no advocate to win their case. Jesus is
inviting you right now to accept His sacrifice on Calvary, believe He died for you, confessed
your sins, and make Him your Advocate in the heavenly court. If you do, you have nothing to
fear on the Day of Judgment. Your case in court is acquitted and you are declarednot guilty!
Friend, will you surrender your life to Jesus right now and make Him your personal Savior?
Jesus Better Plan For You
Salvation by Grace Through Faith

The word “salvation” is at the very center of Christianity. Why do we need salvation? Is there
any one here who can say, I am not a sinner and have never committed any sin? If none, how
then can a sinner receive forgiveness and salvation?

1. All Are Sinful

A. What is sin? 1 John 3:4

4 Sin is lawlessness.

What is sin? Sin is much deeper than the wrong things we think, say or do. It is a condition
that plagues the human race (Romans 3:9-18). It is a broken relationship with God. It
separates man from the source of life, joy and peace.

John defines sin as lawlessness. In the King James version, sin is describes as the
transgression of the law. Sin is an inherent anti-God attitude that manifests in disobedience of
the law of God whether a person knows it or not; intended or not. The very fact that man is
separated from God made him a sinner and he transgresses the law because he is separated
from God. That is why there is always conflict and strife between God and manbecause of
sin.

B. How many people have committed sin? Romans 3:23

23 For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

The charge is heavy: all are sinners, but the verdict is true. Yes, it is a tragic truth: All have
sinned, and all have sinned repeatedly. All are sinful and have a broken relationship with
God. A person is a sinner by nature (adverse to God), by choice (willfully chooses sin), and
by practice.

C. what is the ultimate outcome of sin? Romans 6:23

23 For the wages of sin is death…

The relationship between sin and death is essentially cause and effect. Justice demands death
for the sinner. So, God pounds down the gavel. Guilty! The sentence of death has been
pronounced to every man for all have sinned. The ultimate result of sin is death. Man lives
and then his life is a march to death. There must be a solution to the problem of sin.

2. Mans Plan of Salvation Through Works

A. What action Adam and Eve did after they committed sin? Genesis 3:7

7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and
they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves coverings.

The couple became aware that they are naked. So, they sewed fig leaves. It is an attempt to
cover their nakednessthe nakedness of a moral and spiritual guilt. It is a symbol of humans
attempt to cover sin and its effectsa symbol of salvation by works.

B. Can a sinner do something of his own to save himself? Jeremiah 13:23

23 Can the Ethiopian change his skin or the leopard its spots? Then may you also do good
who are accustomed to do evil.

The fact is, neither the Ethiopian can change his dark skin nor the leopard can remove its
spots. In the same way, the heart of a man is evil and he cannot change it. The patriarch Job
said, Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? No one! (Job 14:4). Therefore, a sinner,
of his own, is incapable of changing his heart. He cannot save himself from sin and death. He
needed help outside of himself.

Back in the Garden of Eden, God proposed a solution and gave them the promised of a
coming Saviour. Then He laid the plan of salvation and clothed them.

3. Gods Plan of Salvation Through Grace

A. What is Gods plan in saving a sinner? Genesis 3:21

21 Also for Adam and his wife the Lord God made tunics of skin, and clothed them.

God has a plan to bridge the gap that sin made by separation. An innocent lamb must die to
provide garments of skin. Through the merits of Jesus Christ, the sacrificial Lamb, He has
bridged the gulf which sin had made and connects sinful man with the holy God. When
Adam and Eve sinned, God immediately put into action the plan of salvationa life for a life.
A lamb died in behalf of the sinner. Moreover, as Adam and Eve clothed the lambs skin so
all sinners must clothe the righteousness of Christ.

B. What is stipulated in the plan of salvation?

1. It must be a gift of God. Ephesians 2:8, 9

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift
of God,
9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.

Salvation is not a wage for wage is a pay for a work done. Salvation is not a prize for prize is
achievement for a performance done. Salvation is not an award for award is recognition for
something merited. However, grace says you have nothing to pay, nothing to achieve, and
nothing to earn. The basis of salvation is Gods grace and the means of it is through faith
alone.
Salvation is Gods gift to those who need it. His plan for our salvation was in place even
before we needed it. His gift of salvation is based not on our worthiness but on His great love
toward sinners.

Jesus Christ has already provided everything we need to be saved. We do not need to
accumulate a pile of good deeds to offset the bad deeds we have done in life. Nobody at any
time in the history of the world was ever saved by good works. We cannot earn it. We cannot
purchase it. It is a gift freely given to all. This is what we call, salvation by grace through
faitha gift of God.

2. It must be through death of an innocent substitute. John 1:29

29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, Behold! The Lamb of God
who takes away the sin of the world!

John identified Jesus as the Lamb of Godthe sacrificial Victim who was to die for the sin of
the world. Salvation must be by the death of an innocent substitute. Jesus Christ is the Lamb
of God, the sinless One, who bore the penalty for our sin. He died in our behalf so that Gods
justice could be satisfied. Salvation is made possible because of what He has done on the
crossthe only remedy for sin.

3. It must be through the shedding of blood. Hebrews 9:22

22 And according to the law almost all things are purified with blood, and without shedding
of blood there is no remission.

Salvation must be by the shedding of blood. Forgiveness is never cheap. It is expensive,

purchased at the prize of blood. Jesus Christ died and spilled his blood as a sacrifice in our
behalf that we might receive His salvation and righteousness. The covering of coats of skins
was at the cost of life. Death must be provided before man could be covered. How awesome
that Jesus was willing to die so that we might be forgiven.

4. Our Part in Gods Plan of Salvation

There are certain things a sinner should do before salvation takes effect in his life.

What are certain steps a sinner must do so that the gift of salvation can take effect?

1. Accept the fact that we are sinners in need of salvation. Romans 3:23

23 For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

A person must accept the fact that he is a sinnerseparated from God, helpless and lost, and in
need of a Savior. Until this truth is admitted, salvation does not make sense.

2. Believe on Jesus Christ. Acts 16:30, 31

30 And he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?
31 So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, and your
household.

The terms believe and faith in the New Testament is just noun and verb forms. They are
synonymous. Believing or exercising faith is a disposition of the heart and mind to trust in
the merit of Christs substitutionary death on the cross. To believe is a matter of faith in Christ
that He took the judgment of sin upon Himself and died in the sinners behalf. Believe that
Jesus is now your personal Savior and has given you eternal life.

Christ was treated as we deserve, that we might be treated as He deserves. He was

condemned for our sins, in which He had no share, that we might be justified by His
righteousness, in which we had no share. He suffered the death which was ours, that we
might receive the life which was His.

The gift of salvation is offered to us, but for it to become ours, we must believe in it and
receive it. Salvation is a gift, which must be received. It is not automatically yours.

3. Repent and be baptized. Acts 2:37, 38

37 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the
apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?
38 Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of
Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

There is no difference in what Paul says and what Peter emphasizesthey are two sides of the
same salvation. If you want to be savedbelieve on the Lord Jesus Christ and if your faith is
genuine, it will mean more than saying, I believe! When we realize that Christ has already
given us eternal life we repent of our sin. Repentance comes from Greek that implies a right
about face, a change of mind; a new direction of the will. It is a resolute turning away from
evil. True repentance manifests itself in a genuine sorrow for sin. Genuine repentance affects
what we do about sin. Repentance is the entry gate into the Christian life.

After a penitent believer repents of his sins, he then decided to be baptized. Baptism is a
fundamental part of being saved. Baptism is an outward sign of the inward change. The act of
baptism is the public declaration that a person has put on Christ, just as a couple who joins
themselves in marriage ceremony. Baptism is a sign to the world that we have joined into a
covenant relationship with Christ.

Baptism signifies union with Christ. It means the old sinful way of life died and a new life
begins. When a believer unites with Jesus, he naturally begins to live the life of Jesusthe life
of obedience!

4. Keep the commandments. Matthew 19:16, 17

16 Now behold, one came and said to Him, Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I
may have eternal life?

17 So He said to him, Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. But
if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.

The rich young ruler asked Jesus what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?(v.
16). Jesus said keep the commandments” and Jesus mentioned the 5th through the 9th
commandments and the summary statement, Love your neighbor as yourself. Jesus did not
introduce the Ten Commandments to show the young man how to be saved, but to show him
that he needed to be saved. We are not saved by our obedience to Gods commandments but
those who are saved are instructed to obey them and make Him the Lord of our lives.

Some believers today have completely misunderstood the role of Gods law in the great Plan
of Salvation. They have incorrectly assumed that after the death of Jesus the law of God
became obsolete but the command here to keep the commandments is not a means of
salvation but an evidence of our salvation. Obedience is an act of faith. Of our own strength,
we cannot obey God. However, as we give ourselves to Christ, He will work in us to obey
Him and keep His commandments (Philippians 2:13). Those who love God find joy in
obeying His commandments and God Himself provides the power to obey His them.

APPEAL:

Whoever you are, however sinful you are, whatever you may be, JESUS LOVES YOU and
His gift of salvation is for you. But it is not yet yours until you reach out and take it. What
more could Jesus do? Can you not give your all to Christ who gave His all for you? To
accept Jesus is the ultimate experience a person can have.
Do you have a desire to experience Jesus as the Savior and Lord of your life? It takes more
than talk to be a true Christian. You need to do the necessary steps in order to experience
Jesus better plan for you. Decide to accept Jesus now and follow Him!

The Law itself is holy and just and good (Rom. 7:12) but it could not provide salvation for a
sinful man. Only Jesus Christ could do that.

The problem of sin:

Man is born in a condition of separation from God.

Man is born with a sinful naturea natural bent to evil.
Man is born under the controlling power or dominion of sinIn the kingdom of darkness.
Combination of the above factors affect and lead man to commit sinful acts.

Jesus Christ came to solve the problem of sin. He died on the cross to save us from sin.
Moreover, His death on the cross brought us back to God, gave us new nature, and broke the
power of sin in our lives so that sin will not have dominion over us.