porter barrington bible study

There are seven facts revealed in God’s plan of salvation, and as you study them, keep in mind that this is God’s plan-not man’s-it is God’s. There is no other plan that can save your lost soul and make you a child of God (Acts 4:12).

All roads may lead to Rome, but all religions do not lead to God and salvation. There is only one way, and that is God’s way; and God’s way is a person, and that person is His Son the Lord Jesus Christ (John14:6).

God’s salvation is threefold:

• First, Christ appeared on this earth to save you from the penalty of sin, by putting away your sin by the sacrifice of Himself on the Cross (Heb. 9:26).

• Second, He appeared in heaven, in the presence of God, after His resurrection, to save you from the power of sin (Heb. 9:24 and 1 John 2:1, 2).

• Third, He will appear again on this earth, the second time, as “Lord of lords and King of kings” to save you from the very presence of sin (Heb. 9:28). Now come to the seven facts of salvation with an open mind and a receptive heart, that God may bring salvation to your soul!

1) It is a fact that God loves you  (John 3:16) 16 ) For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

a) It is an eternal fact the God loves you with and everlasting love that cannot be fathomed; it is so boundless that it can only be known by faith.

b) The little word “so” in John 3:16 is most expressive. It gives you some concept of the magnitude of God’s love. God so loved you, that He gave His only begotten Son, to be made sin for you, that you might become the righteousness of God in Him (2 Cor. 5:21).

c) Jesus Christ was made that which God hates: sin-that you might become that which God loves: righteousness. Because God so loves you, you can exchange your sins for His righteousness. Could you ask for greater evidence of love? Calvary is proof that God loves, and longs to save you.

Before going to the next fact, admit to yourself that: “God loves me!”

2) It is a fact that you are a sinner ( Rom. 3:23). 23 ) For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

a) What is sin?

i. Sin is lawlessness (1 John 3:4).

ii. Sin is unbelief; it calls God a liar (1 John 5:10).

iii. Sin is active rebellion against God (1 Sam. 15:23 OT).

iv. Sin is passive rebellion against God (Is. 1:2 OT).

v. All unrighteousness is sin (1 John 5:17).

b) God, who cannot lie, said: “All have sinned.” “All” includes you! You have sinned against God by thought, word, and deed. You have committed sins of commission and sins of omission. In the sight of God, you are a lost sinner.

Before going to the next fact, admit to yourself that: “I am a lost sinner, because I have sinned.”

3) It is s fact that you are now dead in sin ( Rom. 6:23) 23) For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

You have already confessed and admitted that you are a sinner. Now God would have you know that “… the wages of sin is death.” You are dead in sin until you accept Christ as personal Savior. The Apostle Paul said, “And you were dead in your trespasses and sins” (Eph. 2:1). To be saved is to be made spiritually alive in Christ.

What is death?

a) Death is spiritual separation. Your sins have separated you from God; you are dead in your sins.

b) Death is physical separation. It separated the spirit and soul from the body.

c) Death is eternal separation. If you remain lost in your sins, you will stand before God at the great white throne judgment. And there your sins will separate you from the mercy of God forever; this is Hades (Rev. 20:11-15).

d) You know that God loves you, and that you are a sinner-dead in sins. Before going to the next fact, admit to yourself: “I am dead in sins.”

4) It is a fact that Christ died for you ( Rom. 5:6-8 ) 6 ) For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 ) For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. 8 ) But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

a) He died for those who are unlike God; this includes you! “While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom. 5:8).

b) “He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Cor. 5:21)

c) Knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like sliver or gold …but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ” (1 Pet. 1:18,19).

d) For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, in order that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit” (1 Cor. 15:3).

e) “Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures” (1 Cor. 15:3).

In light of these wonderful Scriptures, will you now thank God for His great love in sending His Son to bear your sins in His own body on the cross, and admit to yourself that: “Christ died on Calvary for me!”

5) It is a fact that you can be saved by faith in the Lord 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, you and your household.”

The Philippian jailor asked Paul and Silas: “Sirs, what must I do to be Saved?” The answer was quick in response, and positive in content: “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you shall be saved, you and your household.” Paul and Silas preached the gospel to the jailer and those in his house; they believed and were saved.

a) What is this gospel that saves when believed?

i. First, it is: “that Christ died for your sins.”

ii. Second, it is: “that He was buried.”

iii. Third, it is: “that He was raised on the third day” (1 Cor. 15:3, 4).

b) Jesus Christ the God-man died for you, was buried for you, and rose form the dead for you; and is now at the right hand of the Father interceding for you (1 John 2:1). “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes” (Rom. 1:16). The gospel is the power of God for salvation only when you believe. Your faith in Jesus Christ releases the power of God that saves your soul.

c) The man born blind received physical sight by a miracle; but, spiritual sight came when Jesus asked, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” He answered, “Lord, I believe” (John 9:35-38). Salvation came to Thomas when he believed and confessed, “My Lord and my God” (John 20:24-29).

d) When you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved (Rom. 10:9, 10).

Accept Him now by faith, and pray this prayer: “Lord Jesus, I know You love me, because You died on the cross bearing my sins. Thank You, Lord, for revealing to me my lost, sinful condition. I confess that I am a sinner, dead in sin, and cannot save myself. I do now by faith, gladly accept You as my personal Savior, and thank You, Lord, for eternal salvation. Amen!”

6) It is a fact that you can be saved and know it  (1 John 5:10-13) 10)  He who believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself; he who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed the testimony that God has given of His Son. 11 ) And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. 12 ) He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. 13 ) These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life.

“… that you may know that you have eternal life… “(1 John 5:13). Upon the authority of God’s Word, you can be saved and know it. Your faith in God’s infallible Word is your assurance of salvation. “He who believes in the Son has (present tense) eternal life” (John 3:36).

a) The Bible is a book of certainties. It strengthens convictions, and establishes beliefs. God would have you know:

i. That you are now a child of God (1 John 3:2).

ii. That you have been made the righteousness of God in Christ (2 Cor. 5:21 and Rom. 10:1-4).

iii. That you are now a new creature in Christ (2 Cor. 5:17).

iv. That you are now a son and heir of God (Gal. 4:7). Could you have greater assurance than is found in God’s infallible Word? “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words shall not pass away” (Matt. 24:35).

7) It is a fact that you are now a child of God and you are to obey Him  (Acts 5:29) 29) But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: “We ought to obey God rather than men.

“We must obey God rather than man” (Acts 5:29). You now belong to Jesus Christ. He is your Lord and Master, and “no one can serve two masters” (Matt. 6:24). Determine now to obey your Lord and Master, Jesus Christ, in all things:

a) Unite with a New Testament church. “And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved” (Acts 2:47).

b) Follow Him in the ordinance of baptism (Acts 2:41).

c) Join a Sunday school class (Bible Study), and study the Word with God’s children (2 Tim. 2:25).

d) Attend the worship services of your church (Heb. 10:25). You need the preaching of God’s Word and Christian fellowship.

e) Be a faithful steward (1 Cor. 4:2). All that you are and have belong to God. “… you are not your own. For you are bought with a price …” (1 Cor. 6:19, 20). As a faithful steward, you pay God His tithe (Mal. 3:10 OT). The tithe is one-tenth of your income, and it is the Lord’s (Lev. 27:30 OT).

f) Make time in your daily life to pray and read God’s word, that you may grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ.