God does not want anyone to perish (2 Peter 3:9). But he has laid down certain conditions recorded in the gospel plan of salvation and we must comply with them or be lost. The conditions are as follows:
1. We must have a willing mind to do God's will. "If any man willeth to do his will, he shall know the teaching" (John 7:17). "he that will, let him take the water of life freely" (Revelation 22:17). Dear reader, please have the disposition of mind to put your will in subjection to the will of God.
2. One must hear and do the will of God as revealed in His Son, Jesus Christ. "Everyone therefore that heareth these words of mine, and doeth them, shall be likened unto a wise man" (Matthew 7:21).
3. One must believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. "For except ye believe that I am he, ye shall die in your sins" (John 8:24). "So belief cometh of hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ" (Romans 10:17). Without belief or faith it is impossible for one to please God ( Hebrews 11:6).
4. Genuine repentance is also a condition of salvation in the gospel plan. "I tell you, Nay; but, except you repent ye shall all in like manner perish (Luke 13:3). Repentance is a change of mind resulting in a change in one's conduct. To repent of the sin of thievery one must change his mind and quit stealing. To repent of adultery one must come to understand it to be wrong and quit living in the adulterous relationship.
5. It is necessary to confess Christ with the mouth, "for with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation" (Romans 10:10). One must also confess Christ in his daily conduct. "Everyone therefore who shall confess me before men, him will I also confess before my Father who is in heaven" (Matthew 10:32). This is done by standing up for the will of Christ in every day conduct.
6. One must be baptized in order for his sins to be forgiven. "Repent, and be baptized everyone of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins" (Acts 2:38). "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that disbelieveth shall be condemned" (Mark 16:16). Bible baptism is a burial in water. "We were buried therefore with him through baptism into death" (Romans 6:4). "Behold, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?" (Acts 8:36). Reader, "Why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on his name" (Acts 22:16).
7. A faithful life unto death is also essential to our eternal salvation. "Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee the crown of life" (Revelation 2:10). "Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ" (Philippians 1:27).
Are you engaged in the performance of the above conditions of the gospel plan of salvation? Remember your soul's destiny is at stake. Not one of the above conditions can be left off and the will of Christ be fully complied with. "Even so ye also, when ye have done all the things that are commanded you, say, we are unprofitable servants; we have done that which was our duty to do" (Luke 17:10).
~In Gospel Power, Anderson, Alabama, 11/16/97.