Salvation is of eternal importance. When someone ask the question, “How can I be saved?”, it will be the most important question we as Christians will ever answer. The world is full of many different ways to be saved, but God gives us only one plan of salvation in the Bible. What is God’s plan of salvation?
The Plan Of Salvation
For us to be saved and go to heaven, we must be born again.
(John 3:5) Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of the water and the Spirit.
What does it mean to be born again of the water and the Spirit? It simply means that we are to repent, be baptized in the name of Jesus to have our sins forgiven, and then we will receive God’s gift of the Holy Spirit.
(Acts 2:38) Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
This born again experience was not only for the people in the Bible, but also for all the generations that followed. This includes us today.
(Acts 2:39) The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off – for all whom the Lord our God will call.”
How Will I Know When I Have Received The Holy Spirit?
How are you supposed to know when you have received God’s gift of the Holy Spirit? You will speak in tongues as the Spirit enables you. This will be the evidence that God has filled you with his Spirit.
(Acts 2:4) All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
(Isaiah 28:11) For with stammering lips and another tongue He will speak to this people
(Mark 16:17) And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues
In addition to (Acts 2:4), the following are other examples of people receiving the Holy Spirit in the Bible.
Cornelius
The Bible calls Cornelius a devout and God-fearing man who gave generously to those in need, and who prayed regularly (Acts 10:2). Even so, he had not yet received the Holy Spirit. Being God-fearing, giving to the poor, and praying regularly does not mean or prove a person is saved. Cornelius, and those who had gathered in his house, did not receive the Holy Spirit until Peter was speaking to them.
The Scriptures say the believers and Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles. How did Peter know Cornelius and those with him had been filled with the Holy Ghost? It says they heard them speaking in tongues.
(Acts 10:44-48) While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on Gentiles. For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God. Then Peter said, “Surely no one can stand in the way of their being baptized with water. They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have. So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.
The Disciples At Ephesus
(Acts 19:1-6) While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul took the road through the interior and arrived at Ephesus. There he found some disciples and asked them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” They answered, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” So Paul asked, “Then what baptism did you receive?” “John’s baptism,” they replied. Paul said, “John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus. “On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied.
True Salvation
Many people believe they receive the Holy Spirit the moment they believe in Jesus, or accept him as their Savior. Just as we have seen how Cornelius was a praying and God-fearing man who had not yet been born again, we also find another example with the crowds in the city of Samaria that Philip went down to. A careful read of (Acts 8) will reveal the fact that Philip preached Christ to these people, they were healed, there was great joy in the city, they believed what was preached about Jesus, and they had been baptized in Jesus name, yet (Acts 8:16) says they still had not received the Holy Spirit.
The Bible says then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit (Acts 8:17). It further says that a man named Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles’ hands (Acts 8:18). What evidence did Simon see that caused him to know the Spirit had been given? He saw them speak in tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
God’s plan of salvation is made clear in his Word. Jesus tells us in (John 7:38-39) that a person has to not only believe in him, but believe on him as Scripture has said. For those who believe as Scripture says, verse 39 tells us they will receive his Spirit, along with true salvation.
