God's True Plan of Salvation
by The Late Apostle Bishop Randolph Goodwin
Printer Friendly Version |
My dear readers, there is but one plan of salvation handed down from God to the human family and this plan is recorded in the Bible which is the word of God.
Now let us go to the Bible in St. John 7:37-38. In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried saying, "if any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water." But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive; for the Holy Ghost was not yet given, because that Jesus was not yet glorified.
Now then, if we are to believe on Jesus as the scripture hath said in order to obtain God's True Plan of Salvation, then we must get it like the Bible says.
Now let us look at the Bible again in St John 3:1-7. When a ruler of the Jews approached Jesus, here's what he said. Jesus answered and said unto him, "Except a man be born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God". Nicodemus replied, "How can a man be born when he is old?" "Can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?"
Now dear reader, you can see here very plainly that the carnal mind was taking this man backward, because he was leaning to his own understanding.
Now we can see here from this scripture one cannot get the knowledge of God by using his own understanding. Nicodemus was far off from what Jesus meant, using his own understanding concerning the New Birth. The carnal mind took him back to his mother's womb.
Notice what Jesus told him in St. John 3:5-6. Jesus answered, "Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter the Kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is Spirit." Verse 7 "Marvel not that I said unto thee; ye must be born again."
Now let us look at the Bible again, after Jesus was risen from the dead in St. John 20:22, he breathed on the disciples and said unto them, "Receive ye the Holy Ghost."
Now he had already baptized them in water, see John 3:22. After these things came Jesus and his disciples into the land of Judaea and there he tarried with them and baptized. Now we can see here, dear reader, that the New Birth consists of Water and Spirit.
Now Jesus spoke to the Apostles the things pertaining to the Kingdom of God in Acts 1:3, and he told them to tarry until they be endued with power from on high, Luke 24:49. He also had opened their understanding that they might understand the scriptures, Luke 24:45.
He also told them that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations beginning at Jerusalem, Luke 24:47.
Now let us notice how they obeyed him in Acts 1:12-14, all the apostles, Mary the mother of Jesus, and the women with his brethren. In Acts 2:1-4, notice here how they received or were filled with the Holy Ghost and began to speak with other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.
Now dear reader, this is what the New Birth consists of: Water baptism in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins and receiving or being filled with the gift of the Holy Ghost. Let us notice Peter and the rest of the apostles who were with him when he was here in the flesh according to I Tim. 3:16. He had commanded them to preach repentance and remission of sins in his name beginning at Jerusalem among all nations, Luke 24:47. Notice how they obeyed him in Acts 2:38 after they had heard Peter preach the gospel with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven. They were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?" Notice here now the question, "What shall we do?" The answer: "Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost."
Now you see the apostles didn't tell the people to join the church, raise their hands, and bow their heads, and accept Christ as their personal Saviour, nor to make an hour of decision, and go to any church of their choice. Nothing like this is in the Bible. So, they following Jesus' instructions; they believed on him as the scripture hath said, St. John 7:38.
Notice they didn't tell the people to repent and be baptized in the titles, Father - Son- Holy Ghost, but they left off the titles and said to them, "Repent and be baptized in the NAME of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." Notice Acts 4:12, Neither is there salvation in any other; for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
Now the name of the Father - Son- Holy Ghost is JESUS CHRIST. Let us look at Matt. 28:19, go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the NAME (singular) of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Now question, what is the name of the Father? What is the name of the Son? What is the name of the Holy Ghost? Now let us go to the Bible, Matt. 1:21 and she shall bring forth a Son, and thou shall call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.
Now in St. John 5:43 Jesus speaks, "I am come in my Father's name, and ye receive me not; if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive." Now you see that the name of the Father and Son is the same. The name of the Father is not father, and the name of the Son, is not son, but JESUS CHRIST is the name.
Now the name of the Holy Ghost. In St. John 14:26 Jesus said, "But the comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name."
Now you can see here plainly that the apostles have obeyed Jesus according to the scriptures; and that the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost is JESUS CHRIST as is stated in Acts 2:38 by Peter and the rest of the apostles. No one can be saved without using the name JESUS CHRIST in water baptism, see Acts 4:12.
Concerning Jesus being God Almighty. Read Isa. 9:6. If you don't believe the prophets then Jesus called you a fool, Luke 24:25. See Isa. 44-24, 43:10 and Rev. 1:8. If Jesus is not God, then tell me, when did God purchase the church with his blood as stated in Acts 20:28? When did God have blood and where did he get if from?
Let us go to the Bible again, Heb. 2:10 "For it became him (God) for whom are all things, and by whom are all things in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings."
Now dear reader, God is a Spirit, St. John 4:24. He could not suffer being a Spirit, and he had no blood to purchase the church with, as stated in Acts 20:28, and the Bible says, without the shedding of blood is no remission, Heb. 9:22. Matt. 26:28, For this is my blood of the New Testament which is shed for many for remission of sins. So God had to get some flesh and blood before he could save us from our sins. How was this done? Alright, let us go to the Bible in Heb 2:14. Forasmuch then as the children were partakers of flesh and blood, he himself (God) likewise took part of the same that through death he might destory him that had the power of death, that is the devil.
Now this flesh and blood is the temple, was taken from Mary's womb and was called the Son of God, Luke 1:35. So you see dear reader, the son of God was God manifested in the flesh, I Tim. 3:16, when he was put to death in the flesh on the cross at Calvary, this is when he got blood to purchase the church according to Acts 20:28. Jesus said, in St. John 8:24, "For if ye believe not that I am he (God) ye shall die in your sins."
Now I am ready to answer anybody concerning this pamphlet. If you desire to be saved, you must be born again according to the words of Jesus and the apostles stated in this pamphlet.
Notice Romans 6:3-4, you must be buried with him by baptism unto death and rise to walk in newness of this life, then receive or be filled with the Holy Ghost, speaking in other tongues as the Spirit gives utterance. If you get it like it is stated here, you will have it right; then continue in the doctrine of the Apostles according to Acts 2:42 like all the believers did after they got it on and after the day of Pentecost.
Now may the Lord open your understanding that you may understand our knowledge in the mystery of Christ, and get God's True Plan of Salvation according to the scriptures, and be saved from the wrath of God that is coming on the children of disobedience, Col. 3:6.