What Must I Do To Be Saved?
The Simple Gospel Plan of Salvation
Hear the truth — Romans 10:17
Believe the truth — Hebrews 11:6
Repent of sins — Luke 13:3
Confess faith in Jesus — Romans 10:10
Be baptized for the remission of sins — Acts 2:38
Live & serve faithfully — Revelation 2:10
Friday, October 9, 2020
The Simple Gospel Plan of Salvation
Saturday, October 3, 2020
Dr. John Goetsch
Dr. John Goetsch had spoken at a youth rally in Norfolk, Virginia and was
ready to fly home. A youth minister drove him to the airport in Norfolk to
catch his flight which would include a stop in Philadelphia and then on to
Baltimore.
Goetsch told of his experience: "When I arrived, there were no lines at the
ticket counter, whatsoever. I proceeded to the kiosk where I checked in
without a problem, and then I headed for Gate A-11. The terminal was
amazingly desolate. I breezed through security in about fifteen seconds!
Gate A-11 was at the end of the terminal, and when I arrived, the flight was
scheduled to leave in about forty minutes at 7:50 pm, but there was not a
soul in sight! After checking my emails and phone messages, I made my way
back down the terminal to see if I could find someone - anyone.
At about Gate A-6, I spotted a US Airways agent and asked her about my
flight. She quickly checked the computer and said, 'Oh, yes, that flight is
on time, and you are checked-in and ready to go.' I made my way back to the
gate and was pleased to see that another passenger had arrived - a
college-aged young lady, who smiled and said: 'It doesn't look like many
people are going to Philadelphia.' I jokingly remarked, 'Well, I just
checked, and they said that you were flying the plane and I'm serving the
peanuts.'
An agent appeared about ten minutes before our flight was to leave and
called us to the gate - both of us! We were the only two passengers on a
plane that easily could seat over one hundred people.
We climbed the stairs to the plane and were met by a very friendly
stewardess and our pilot and co-pilot.
We were informed that our pilot and co-pilot together had over forty years
of flying experience, and our flight attendant had been doing her job for
over ten years. It was amazing to realize that these three people had been
trained and were being paid to fly just the two of us to our destination.
During that one hour night flight, my heart was saddened as I thought about
what we were experiencing. Many people were involved in making that flight
possible. The pilots, the flight attendant, the air traffic controllers,
the baggage handlers, the ticket agents, the crews that had fueled the plane
and did the maintenance - hundreds of hours of preparation all for just two
people!" *
Then Goetsch thought about this application: "My mind thought about Heaven
and all of the preparation that has gone into making that destination
possible."
That preparation included a plan that preceded the creation of the universe
(1 Peter 1:18-20), God sending His Son into the world (John 3:16), the cruel
death of Jesus on the cross (1 Peter 2:24), the resurrection of Jesus from
the grave (Matthew 28), the inspiration and preservation of God's message of
salvation in the Bible (Galatians 1:11-12), the institution of the local
church to proclaim the message (Acts 2ff), and preachers and teachers
faithfully proclaiming the message (Romans 1:16). In addition, the Lord
Jesus ascended back into Heaven saying, "I go to prepare a place for you"
(John 14:1-3).
Goetsch pondered: "I wondered how many people have a ticket and are
checked-in to that destination?"
Are YOU onboard?
God will save and give eternal life to those who place their faith and trust
in Jesus (Acts 16:30-31), turn from their sins in repentance (Acts
17:30-31), confess Jesus before men (Romans 10:9-10), and are baptized
(immersed) into Christ for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38). He will
continue to cleanse from sin those who continue to walk in the light of His
Word (1 John 1:7-9).
Please "get on board" by trusting and obeying Jesus. He is the way to life
eternal in heaven (John 14:6).
-- David A. Sargent
* Adapted from "Empty Seats" by Dr. John Goetsch as quoted in Ministry 127,
https://ministry127.com/resources/illustration/empty-seats
ready to fly home. A youth minister drove him to the airport in Norfolk to
catch his flight which would include a stop in Philadelphia and then on to
Baltimore.
Goetsch told of his experience: "When I arrived, there were no lines at the
ticket counter, whatsoever. I proceeded to the kiosk where I checked in
without a problem, and then I headed for Gate A-11. The terminal was
amazingly desolate. I breezed through security in about fifteen seconds!
Gate A-11 was at the end of the terminal, and when I arrived, the flight was
scheduled to leave in about forty minutes at 7:50 pm, but there was not a
soul in sight! After checking my emails and phone messages, I made my way
back down the terminal to see if I could find someone - anyone.
At about Gate A-6, I spotted a US Airways agent and asked her about my
flight. She quickly checked the computer and said, 'Oh, yes, that flight is
on time, and you are checked-in and ready to go.' I made my way back to the
gate and was pleased to see that another passenger had arrived - a
college-aged young lady, who smiled and said: 'It doesn't look like many
people are going to Philadelphia.' I jokingly remarked, 'Well, I just
checked, and they said that you were flying the plane and I'm serving the
peanuts.'
An agent appeared about ten minutes before our flight was to leave and
called us to the gate - both of us! We were the only two passengers on a
plane that easily could seat over one hundred people.
We climbed the stairs to the plane and were met by a very friendly
stewardess and our pilot and co-pilot.
We were informed that our pilot and co-pilot together had over forty years
of flying experience, and our flight attendant had been doing her job for
over ten years. It was amazing to realize that these three people had been
trained and were being paid to fly just the two of us to our destination.
During that one hour night flight, my heart was saddened as I thought about
what we were experiencing. Many people were involved in making that flight
possible. The pilots, the flight attendant, the air traffic controllers,
the baggage handlers, the ticket agents, the crews that had fueled the plane
and did the maintenance - hundreds of hours of preparation all for just two
people!" *
Then Goetsch thought about this application: "My mind thought about Heaven
and all of the preparation that has gone into making that destination
possible."
That preparation included a plan that preceded the creation of the universe
(1 Peter 1:18-20), God sending His Son into the world (John 3:16), the cruel
death of Jesus on the cross (1 Peter 2:24), the resurrection of Jesus from
the grave (Matthew 28), the inspiration and preservation of God's message of
salvation in the Bible (Galatians 1:11-12), the institution of the local
church to proclaim the message (Acts 2ff), and preachers and teachers
faithfully proclaiming the message (Romans 1:16). In addition, the Lord
Jesus ascended back into Heaven saying, "I go to prepare a place for you"
(John 14:1-3).
Goetsch pondered: "I wondered how many people have a ticket and are
checked-in to that destination?"
Are YOU onboard?
God will save and give eternal life to those who place their faith and trust
in Jesus (Acts 16:30-31), turn from their sins in repentance (Acts
17:30-31), confess Jesus before men (Romans 10:9-10), and are baptized
(immersed) into Christ for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38). He will
continue to cleanse from sin those who continue to walk in the light of His
Word (1 John 1:7-9).
Please "get on board" by trusting and obeying Jesus. He is the way to life
eternal in heaven (John 14:6).
-- David A. Sargent
* Adapted from "Empty Seats" by Dr. John Goetsch as quoted in Ministry 127,
https://ministry127.com/resources/illustration/empty-seats
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