Two Plans of Salvation

Some preachers say: “There are many things in the Bible which are hard to understand but, thank God, the plan of salvation is as simple as can be.”  I would say yes! The plan of salvation is simple… but only IF we obey Paul’s admonition of 2Timothy 2:15 to “rightly divide the Word of truth.” Otherwise, as you will see, the Bible is a book of seeming contradiction and confusion.

Consider now these opposing statements below as an example of apparent contradiction that appears if we ignore Paul’s admonition to “rightly divide the word of truth” as to WHAT applies to WHO.

- The Apostle Paul wrote this to the Gentile body of Christ:

“… a man is justified (declared righteous) by FAITH without the deeds (WORKS) of the law” (Rom. 3:28).

- Yet James wrote his epistle to “the twelve tribes (of Israel) scattered abroad(James 1:1),saying:

… by WORKS a man is justified, and NOT by faith only” (James 2:24).

Blessing or cursing upon Israel was conditional. Note the word if when God spoke to Israel through Moses.

If ye will obey My voice indeed, and keep My covenant (the Law), then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto Me above all people …” (Ex. 19:5).

 “And thou shalt return and obey the voice of the LORD, and do ALL his commandments which I command thee this day. 9  And the LORD thy God will make thee plenteous in every work of thine hand, in the fruit of thy body, and in the fruit of thy cattle, and in the fruit of thy land, for good: for the LORD will again rejoice over thee for good, as he rejoiced over thy fathers: 10  IF thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to keep his commandments and his statutes which are written in this book of ‘the law,’ and IF thou turn unto the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul.” (Deuteronomy 30:8-10)

If this did apply to us today, we might ask, how are you doing in keeping the whole Law?

The Lord Jesus came to earth, speaking only to “the lost sheep of the house of Israel” (Matt 15:24), saying this as He sent His apostles to witness for Him in preaching “the gospel of the kingdom” long promised to Israel.

“He (a Jew) that believeth and is baptized shall be saved… and these signs shall follow them that believe: in My name shall they cast out demons, they shall speak with new tongues…” etc. (Mark 16:16-18).

Thus, according to Jesus’ so-called “great commission,” Jesus added water baptism to Moses Law as being required for the ultimate salvation of Jews, and… then miraculous signs were to be the evidences of their salvation. Even then Jesus said a Jew is not certain whether he is saved until “the end” (Matt 10:22). There is no certainty or security under the terms of “the Law” that Jesus preached to Israel.

So is all this confusing? Contradictory? It sure seems to be confusing, but not if we “rightly divide the Word of truth” to see what applies to us today.

You must note that it was long after the law was given by Moses to Israel and after the Lord Jesus’s earthly ministry to Israel, and His commission to the twelve… that Jesus from heaven saved and raised up another Apostle, “Paul,” whom He sent to be “the Apostle to the Gentiles” (Rom 11:13). Paul was sent with the new “gospel of the grace of God” (Acts 20:24) as an expression of God’s enduring UNCONDITIONAL LOVE offering salvation to all men in this age of grace… strictly on the basis of faith in Christ alone.  

Praise God that Paul brought the totally new “gospel of the grace of God” and he set forth corresponding grace instructions in order for the Gentile “church, which is His body” not only to be saved, but also to enjoy an intimate love relationship with God through and in union with Christ. Paul was sent to declare this good news’ for the Gentiles.

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9  Not of works, lest any man should boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9)

Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. 2 But NOW the righteousness of God without the law is manifested…” (Romans 3:20-21)

“To him that worketh not, but believeth on Him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness” (Rom. 4:5).

“Therefore, being justified (declared righteous) by faith (in Christ) we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Rom. 5:1).