Archived Notes
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The Perpetual Plan of Salvation
©Chad Sychtysz
Nearly anyone affiliated with churches of Christ has heard of the “5-step Plan of
Salvation”: hear, believe, repent, confess, and be baptized. This “5-step Plan” was
devised in the 19th century as a memory tool by a preacher who wanted young people
to easily recite the steps to salvation on the five fingers of one hand. Since then,
it has virtually been ascribed a “doctrinal” status which should not be challenged.
The “5-step Plan of Salvation” is accurate—to a point. One must hear the gospel (Rom
10:17), believe that which he hears (John 8:24), and repent of his sins (Acts 3:19).
He must confess his faith, for a faith not worth confessing is a faith not worth
having (Mt 10:32-33). He must also be baptized in order to “walk in newness of life”
(Rom 6:3-7). However, the “5-step Plan” is lacking on at least the following points:
First, it is often promoted as a legal checklist, as opposed to one’s gratitude for
God’s gift. Second, it does not address God’s love for man or one’s love for God.
Salvation is reduced to compliance with a list of rules rather than an expression
of one’s love for the One who first loved us. Third, it does not address faith as
it relates to grace (Eph 2:8-9); as a result, many Christians have no knowledge of
divine grace, and think that “faith” means only “obey rules.” Fourth, it assumes
that once baptism is accomplished, salvation is achieved; there is nothing else required
in the way of conversion. Once having been converted to the church (as it is often
perceived), the Christian then justifies himself through the keeping of commandments.
This “salvation by works” mentality is not what the Bible teaches, but many believe
it nonetheless.
There are numerous one-time events, in both the Old and New Testaments, which punctuate
God’s dealings with His people. It is natural, then, to conclude that one’s conversion
to Christ is also limited to an event; once this event is over, then so is conversion.
Becoming a Christian does require a definite point of reference in which one is changed
from a sinner to a saint. It is not true, however, that conversion itself ends there.
The Christian is in a perpetual state of conversion: he is continually changing and
being transformed into something different (better) than what he was before. This
same process occurs in becoming a man (cf. 1 Cor 13:11) and in marriage. Even though
one’s status definitively changes, the person himself continues to change and grow
in that status. Salvation, then, is both an event (with a definite beginning point,
as in Acts 16:30-31) and a process (requiring continuous commitment).
We can apply these thoughts to the “5-step Plan”: Once we become a Christian, we
are not done “hearing.” We continue to “Hear what the Spirit says to the churches”
(Rev 2 – 3). In fact, we are rebuked by Scripture for failing to hear and (thus)
“press on to maturity” (Heb 5:11 – 6:1). Likewise, we do not cease to believe, otherwise
God cannot perform His work in us (1 Thess 2:13). Salvation is for those who continue
to believe (Rom 1:16), not for those who once believed but now believe no longer.
Likewise, becoming a Christian does not nullify the need for repentance, for we are
constantly leaving the world behind and at the same time drawing near to God. Jesus
implores all who have drifted away from Him to repent (Rev 3:19). Similarly, we must
continue to confess that Christ is Lord (cf. Rom 10:9-10), for this is the basis
for our salvation. We are required to “hold fast” to this confession (Heb 4:14, 10:23).
Finally, while the act of baptism is a one-time event (Eph 4:5), the purpose for
baptism continues on: we are to “put to death” (or bury) whatever stands in the way
of a right relationship with God (Rom 8:12-13). Not only this, but we may have several
“baptisms” (trying ordeals) to undergo as a testing of our faith (cf. Mk 10:38).
The “5-step Plan of Salvation” fails to address one’s fellowship with Christ. It
focuses on what must be done, but not the One for whom it is to be done. It teaches
one to be a member of a church, but not necessarily a disciple of the Lord. God has
a plan for salvation, and it must be followed; however, it can be communicated in
a number of ways that are all biblical. For example, it can be summarized as a pursuit
of discipleship (Mt 16:24) or holiness (1 Pet 1:13-16). These pursuits certainly
involve “hear-believe-repent-confess-be baptized,” but will emphasize spiritual goals
that far transcend these things.
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