Keep following God's perfect plan

Excellent article last week, Gordon!

Recently, my three devotional books had a complementary theme one day despite being written by different authors. Written by inspiration from God over about 1,500 years by about 40 human authors, the Bible presents the common theme of God’s love for humankind and his revelation of that love through Jesus (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

In that revelation, God lets us know about his love expressed through Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection to pay for our sins so we could have the same relationship with him that Adam and Eve had in the garden (John 3:16; 1 John 2:1-2; Ephesians 2:14-18; Genesis 3:8; Leviticus 26:3-12). He also tells us how to take advantage of his love to bring about the reconciliation.

God’s plan for our salvation is perfect because he is perfect, and it’s only by obedience to that plan that we can attain perfection (Psalm 18:30-32; Matthew 5:48; 2 Corinthians 13:8-11; James 1:22-25). The plan is perfect in process (the mode of accomplishment) and outcome (the actual accomplishment). The process is perfect because Jesus came at just the right time and completed the work (Galatians 4:4; Romans 5:6-8; John 17:1-5). The outcome is perfect because we’re made perfect (Ephesians 1:3-10; Acts 17:24-31). Complete perfection takes place when Jesus returns (Philippians 3:7-16; Hebrews 2:10; 9:27-28; 1 Peter 1:3-9). Paul knew his perfection would come as he attained the resurrection because Jesus’ death resulted in Jesus’ resurrection, and Paul had been united with Jesus in his death (Acts 9:1-19; 22:16; Romans 6:3-10; Galatians 2:20-21).

God’s plan is centered around Jesus’ coming, which we’re celebrating now (Luke 1:26-38; 2:1-40; Matthew chapters 1 and 2). The angels’ celebration was focused on the reason for Jesus’ coming, which we tend to forget at Christmastime (Matthew 1:21; Luke 2:49). Jesus never forgot the reason for his birth was his death, burial, and resurrection to atone for our sin; we mustn’t forget that, either (Romans 3:23; 6:23; Luke 19:10; Matthew 20:28; 1 John 2:2; Hebrews 5:7-9; 12:2-3).

Because of Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection, we don’t have to pay the wages for our own sins if we’ve been made alive with Christ (1 Corinthians 15:20-22; Colossians 2:9-13; Acts 2:38-39). Initial belief only gives the right to become God’s children (John 1:12). Baptism in Jesus’ name for forgiveness makes us God’s children and gives us the full rights of heirs (Galatians 3:26-29; 4:4-7; Romans 8:9-17). Continuing to live according to God’s will keeps us his children (1 John 3:1-3, 9-10; 5:1-5; 1:5-9; 2:3-6).

If we follow God’s plan, continuing to seek his will, and getting forgiveness when we fail, we can have faith in our salvation, but we must maintain our faithfulness and continue to grow (1 John 5:13; Revelation 2:10; 2 Peter 1:3-11; Philippians 4:6-8).

Are you following God’s perfect plan, having first been made alive with Christ with the expectation of receiving the full inheritance of salvation when your time on earth is over? Remember, this is the whole reason of Jesus’ birth!

Leonard Lauriault is a member of the Church of Christ in Logan who writes about faith for the Quay County Sun. Contact him at [email protected]