The Plan

Both this is the declaration of the gospel. So if you got saved under gospel that said go to church and be a good person and you are say you got the wrong gospel. If your gospel says you gotta be a Southern Baptist.

Although I am or a Methodist or Presbyterian or an Episcopalian or Pentecostal or Catholic.

That's how you automatically get in the kingdom you got the wrong declaration it all the stuff that I just got is coming from chapters just help help the poor, feed the hungry go out there and do good things to people.

That's all there is to it. You got the wrong gospel. My question to you tonight is this what is the declaration in which you believe do you believe that God's spiritual kingdom has come for you believe that Jesus is the fulfillment of God's promises.

Do you believe that Jesus is God's son. Do you believe that he actually died on the cross.

Do you believe that he was buried, and that he rose again on the did you believe that all that has no you have the wrong declaration. Just a portion of the upcoming message titled the plan past Avedon shop church in Anderson Carolina I clearly our focus is on making Christ is the way we worship the way we serve to the way we love one another. Come check us out at 3485 Oxford Rd. in Henderson for visit us online@clearviewbc.org join us for the rest of this week's message game plan, health plan for plan master plan. We have a plan over what is Plan B. There is no plan B so many ways we use that word plan in our daily lives. But there's also another kind of plan which is the gospel plan. The plan of salvation this evening been the talk about this plan because this plan. Never flank fails our plans may fail. Our plans may get disrupted our plans may have to be revised.

But the gospel plan. The plan of salvation does not fail. It does not need to be revised.

It never gets disrupted and that's the message this evening.

If you have your Bibles with you turn to Mark chapter 1 starting in verse 14 we can look at this plan of salvation. I truly believe there are people here this evening who need to know the plan of salvation.

You think you're saved but you've never truly heard what it means to be say what is the gospel we hear that word all the time, the gospel of Jesus Christ.

What is that gospel which not be on talk about the gospel plan. Let's all stand together. Mark chapter 1 starting in verse 14 and he can turn your attention towards a screen and I want to underline.

If you have your Bibles with you. Underline three words that I'm going to emphasize in this passage. Three words that in essence give us our part in the gospel. What we do in the gospel so here we go now after John was put in prison. Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God. There you go.

The gospel and saying the time is fulfilled in the kingdom of God is at hand is the force word repent underline that word if you have your Bibles open their and here's a second word, and believe first repent. Second, believe in the gospel and as he walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen.

Then Jesus said to them, and here's 1/3 word the need to underline or mark follow me.

Follow and I will make you become fishers of men.

They immediately left their nets and followed him when he had gone a little further from there, he saw James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, who also were in the boat mending their nets and immediately he called them and they left their fathers that the in the boat with the hired servants and they went after him question for us before. I pray which plan are you trusting in for your salvation. There is a plan and is not up for debate is not up for alteration is a plan that God himself has given in his word, which plan are you trusting in to be saved. Is it your plan.

People make that plan.

As I believe this is what it means to be say.

I believe this is doesn't matter is not your plan is a churches plan is interdenominational plan. What plan are you trusting in because the wrong plan of salvation will cost you your soul. I heard a statement years ago that really struck me, and I've used it again and again, which is this eternity is too long to be wrong. If you believe an attorney if you believe that we came from somewhere and there were ahead of somewhere.

If you believe in eternity.

It is too long to be wrong. Gotta have the right plan. Are you say is that what is a take to be safe was very simple, but I would walk to this message, but just in a nutshell, this is all about Christ is all about Jesus Christ, God's son becoming man coming in the likeness of man giving his life on the cross for our sins and then dying being buried rising again on the third day. That's the declaration of the gospel here comes your part.

You have to repent belief and follow. Have you done that has a been a point in your life where you actually prayed and asked Jesus to come into your life to save you if you've never done that. Here's what I want to do because I don't believe you have a guarantee what's gonna happen tomorrow and if you all know it will happen tomorrow, not for sure I want you to pray. Humor me okay is a man is easy.

Just being his artists use scare tactics, humor me want to go in and pray because someone will be glad tomorrow that you actually prayed on your last day on earth as many of you know were about to start a new series on the parables of Jesus. Today's message is in some ways, to lay the foundation for those messages coming up.

But before we start looking at the this this message today on the gospel plan or the plan of salvation. I do need to clarify a couple of things that I feel like are very important before we jump into this message. You see when we walk through this message tonight you go see people in your life. It may become evident that they have the wrong plan of salvation is to become clear to you because we'll use the text of the Bible and this can become evident to you that people in your life are trusting something, but there really lost. But here's the here's the important point you have to remember instead of feeling superior to others and saying okay I will have to get on the phone and I will have to send them a text or a Facebook message and correct them and confirm them. Be humble, exercise, humility, and most importantly exercise compassion because unless you have compassion.

My suggestion to you is don't share the gospel with them.

The gospel plan basically has two parts. The first is the declaration and the second is the decision the first part declaration. Then comes the decision.

Listen again to Mark chapter 1 and verse 14 now after John was put in prison. Jesus came to Galilee. That's a very important statement PC before weekend games at Jesus, we have to take a quick glance at John John the Baptist. John the Baptist symbolizes the fulfillment of all the prophecies of the Old Testament. You see the gospel plan did not just drop out of the sky 2000 years ago, it was repeatedly proclaimed, it was repeatedly promised through the Old Testament prophets ON the name is Mensing John the Baptist. It tells us that our faith did not just appear out of thin air. 2000 years ago, but we have history. It began in the Garden of Eden and then to the prophets and the teachers repeatedly saying that he is coming. The Messiah is coming.

The one, the anointed one is coming so is very important for us to remember that that our gospel has history. It has roots. It has promises, but something else. It says here John the Baptist is described as the voice of one crying in the wilderness, the wilderness represented God's hope and new beginnings. Just like God work with the people of Israel in the wilderness and made them his people. God was about to work with his son Jesus Christ to make a new people.

So when we look at the gospel. Don't forget, it begins with a fulfillment of a prophecy fulfillment. In fact, of many, many promises, the fulfillment but listen to verse 14 Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God.

The declaration also has the kingdom in it. The kingdom aspect the kingdom aspect. Did you know that the Gospels record Matthew Mark Luke and John record over 100 times when Jesus says something about the kingdom of God or the kingdom of heaven. What is this kingdom. This kingdom was not some earthly political kingdom. This kingdom was not some fairytale magical kingdom. This kingdom is an internal listen carefully. Internal spiritual kingdom. So when Jesus came. What he said again listen to that verse, verse 15, he came saying the time is fulfilled and the kingdom of God is at hand. He's not talking about an earthly rules rule he's talking about an internal spiritual kingdom. What did John say the Jesus said to Nicodemus number Nicodemus came to Jesus by night. Listen to what Jesus said to him in John chapter 3 verse three he said most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God. If you ask me tonight to show you that kingdom. I'll have to tell you gotta get saved first. You gotta be born again.

Unless you are born again. Your eyes will only be physical, they cannot see spiritual realities. Just get that.

So when we talk about the gospel. There is a declaration. Then there is a decision in the declaration. There is fulfillment of all the Old Testament prophecies concerning Jesus, but the kingdom is this spiritual kingdom, but something else was a St. Mark 14, 15, and the time is fulfilled. Time is fulfilled, for what the time is fulfilled for Jesus Christ, God's anointed king to take his rightful throne.

Jesus is God's anointed king, but keep in mind he is not going to take over this kingdom through some hostile takeover. This kingdom is not going to come out through some coup.

This kingdom is not going to happen to some earthly battle is going to happen when he gives his life on the cross for our sins. So I ride that down as well. When it comes to Jesus being the anointed king is by the cross. According to Scriptures was good happen on the cross, Jesus will not be killed. He will give his life on the cross for the sins of many, but is he gonna stay there on the cross know he will be taken down from the cross, something else will happen. He will be buried and then what happens on the third day he will rise again and meant something very important in all of this he will be seen by many in first Corinthians chapter 15 listen very carefully to help all defines the gospel. He says moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand. By which also you are saved. So what he's about to do is tell you what is the gospel. What saves you and in which gospel are you grounded, listen to his definition and see if this definition matches what we have on the board for I delivered to you. First of all that which I also received that Christ, who is Christ. That word Christ means Messiah, which is God's anointed king that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures. Keep in mind that Jesus does not just drop out of the sky and said okay I'm here to save the world who wants to believe in me know.

It was prophecy after prophecy that was given promise after promise that was given through centuries, people were waiting for D1 to come, so listen again to what Paul says, for I delivered to you. First of all that which I also received that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that he was buried in that he rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he was seen by Seifert Sievers meeting Peter then by the 12 and after that he was seen by over 500 brethren at once and on and on but now the sewage clears let's talk about the decision. Listen to what it says in verse 15 Jesus came, saying, the time is fulfilled and the kingdom of God is at hand and the first word is what repent, repent that word in Greek is met annoy her and sometimes people have confuse that word. And the thing that word means such sorrow or regret it may have come through you know Roman Catholicism. It may have come through some other idea.

The idea of penance when people hear the word repent they see someone just hunched over to Scott crying and weeping for their sins. Now I'll clarify sometimes.

I have seen people cry and weep when the get saved when they got saved, I made it I've seen that I've seen them so broken, you have to just cut away and let them have the time and and is just so much so much weight that is there so much junk that is happen in their life.

The folks that's not necessarily the meaning of repentance because you can have a lot of tears you can have a lot of shame you can have a lot of guilt but it does not guarantee salvation. That's just regret that I really screwed up my life is a mess. I cannot believe so many people are discipline that's not necessarily repentance that's just remorse. Sometimes people have even taught that repentance means to turn and return at her people preach that way you're going one direction. Repentance means you stop and start going the other direction. Here's a problem you can have people do that and their people who do that all the time to turn return and turn again and you never figure out where they going because I keep turning what is the meaning of that word repentance and if you're writing those rods.

This town is very simple. It means a change of mind that word met annoy or means a change of thinking about what about three things.

Sin itself and Savior previously. Sin was fun but now sin is horrible. There's a change of thinking, but you can have a million gallons of tears down here but unless you're thinking changes to over by right back into the junk there's a change in the way you think about cell. Previously you are the center of your universe what happens in repentance, I am not the center of the world Savior previously needed by the saved me.

I don't need you.

I don't need anyone out of the church, all the church exists for is to try to get money out of poor gullible people. I don't need a Savior. Now there's a change of thinking I need someone to say I need help.

That's repentance. A change of thinking a change of mind about sin and self and Savior.

Unless that is happen folks you have never truly repented us the next thing Jesus said what repent and was the next word. Believe in your decision. There has to be believe and chance like just like repentance is sometimes been misconstrued and misinterpreted. Believe has also been that word people think it's like I believe like I believes in the rain today what they're saying is maybe it may happen. I hope by the word pistil UN or pestis in Greek actually has the idea of trust like a modern-day would would be like putting on a life jacket or putting on a safety harness and trusting in that harness to hold you up when you say I believe in Jesus.

What you're saying is listen carefully, you're saying that you have total confidence that he can wipe out your guilt and give you eternal life is that four-year-old I got it. I have seen 40-year-olds who can't seem to get listen to John 112 but as many as received him, to them he gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in his name.

John 316. Ya consider this one together for God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life. John 336 he who believes in the son has everlasting life and who does not believe the son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.

John 824 Jesus said if you do not believe in me and that I am he, you will die in your sins unless you have listened total confidence that Jesus can forgive you if your sins and give you eternal life. Your lost and it doesn't matter what charge membership have or how much Bible you read or how many preachers you watch on TV and how many theological books you read. It means nothing if you don't believe in Jesus. There is a decision.

The first step is repent, change of mind. Second is believe total confidence by putting on that harness and knowing that this thing is the only thing holding me up on this cleft and if this thing breaks.

I'm going down. I prayed many a time Jesus, I'm trusting you and you alone, and if we sink were sinking together, but he's never let me drown a man is never let me down. But here comes 1/3 point. This is the missing ingredient in many many gospel plans. What's the word, follow an amazing that right after Mark tells us that Jesus came preaching the gospel of the kingdom and saying, repent and believe in the gospel that the very next verse which is verse 16.

As he walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. And what did Jesus say to them, can you read this verse with me then Jesus said to them, say follow me and I will make you what we have typically done as we have ripped it apart from his context and talked about in a soul winning which is which is great, but in the context repent, believe and follow the go together. Now, let me clarify something very quickly. This was not the first time that Jesus had encountered Simon and Andrew.

He knew them. In fact, I believe they actually repented and they believed in Jesus.

How do we know that if you go to John chapter 1 it tells us that John the Baptist announced to them.

You know, behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world and in the disciples, one of them was Andrew and he went and got his brother Peter soaked so they knew they knew Jesus and then there's another instance where Jesus comes to Peter and he gets on his boat and and Peter has called nothing in Jesus that cast the net on the other side. He said Jesus we we fished all night and Jesus says do it anyways and he doesn't. There's a miraculous catch was so big you can even put it in and what is Peter's response and I remember that he says, depart from me, for IME sinful man so Jesus knew these boys and they knew him, but what happened was, for some reason they were not completely following him there repented they believed in this sort of followed him. So Jesus comes to them by the banks of Galilee. And he tells them come follow me and I will make you become fishers of men.

What's the response in verse 18 was the response. This should be your response. They immediately left their nets and this is part of the gospel and by the way. Same thing happens again with the. The other two brothers, James and John want you to hear me very carefully. The call to follow the call to follow Jesus is included in the gospel. If you claim that Jesus is your king, you have to follow him. Remember he is King. You can save note to the king is a this is connected with this so so so if you say oh he is my Savior and my Lord, but you're saying no to him that you must struggle at times we all do but had the desire to follow him is not there. There is no true salvation. What did Jesus say in Matthew 1038. He said he'd who does not take his cross and follow after me is not worthy of me. Discipleship is connected to salvation. Our state a better way. Follow ship follow ship does not determine salvation but true salvation will initiate follow ship. If you are truly saved, you will desire to follow Christ. You can a faulty gun attributing a struggle with sin you noticed the biggest trouble you have is yourself. The old you the old memories the old habits the old hangups you struggle with that. But that's where the Holy Spirit comes in. Amen. What is his job to help. What happens when you get saved. God gives you the Holy Spirit to keep following Christ.

So what is the plan of salvation. It has a declaration. It has a decision got a have were so glad you decided to join us for this message as believers is crucial that we not only understand who Christ is and what he's done for us. They were able to articulate that to others. We gotta make sure that we understand God's plan for salvation. We communicate that with the world. For more information visit us online@clearviewb.org for the sermons notes checkup exercise log and I would not shock.com