The Plan of Salvation
In what concerns the destiny of man God acts according to a preconceived plan, nothing is left for chance or is allowed to take an undirected
course to an undetermined end.
In the dispensations of grace God sees the end from the beginning;
he also works all things according to the counsel of his will, or according to
his eternal purpose.
God has such a plan, the plan or purpose in relation to the Salvation of mankind.
"That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:" Eph.1:10
"And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:" Eph.3:9
"And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God," Eph.3:9-10
God, with the design to reveal his own glory, i.e., the perfections of his own nature determined;
- to create the world
- to permit the fall of man
- to elect from the mass of fallen men a multitude
whom no man could number as “vessels of mercy”
- to send his son for their redemption
- to leave the residue of mankind, as he left the
fallen angels, to suffer the just punishment of their sins
Predestination
The purpose of God in relation to salvation of individual men is that he predetermined to reveal his attributes in redeeming sinners, as he predetermined to create the heavens and the earth to manifest his power, wisdom and benevolence.
"For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;" Col.1:16
The end of creation therefore is not merely the glory of God but the special manifestation of that glory in the person and works of Christ as Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. The revelation of him in the person and work of his Son, He purposed to create, to permit the fall, to elect some to be the subjects of his grace and to leave others in their sins.
The gift of Christ secures the gift of all other saving blessings
"He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?" Rom.8:32
The purpose of his coming;
- Christ came to redeem his people; to save people from their sins, and to bring them to God
- He gave himself for his Church; he laid down his life for his sheep
QUESTION & ANSWER
- Why is it that one man is saved and another one not? This is because the one who is saved believes and the other does not.
- Why does God elect and predestines some and not others? Because he foresees that some will believe unto the end, and others
will not.
- Why one believes and another not? Not that one cooperates with the grace of God and another does not; but that some resist and
reject the grace offered to all, and others do not.
Even a sinner has power to use the means of grace for himself since he can hear the word imbued with a divine supernatural power, this word a produces a saving effect upon all who do not voluntarily and persistently resist its influence.
God predestines those whom he for foresees will persevere in the faith unto salvation howbeit there isn’t any predestination of the unbelievers unto death.
