I’ve been striving to learn about the HTML computer
language so I can develop a web-site for the church.
HTML is a universal language which is read by all
Internet browsers. Without such languages, the
concept of the Internet would be impossible. HTML
can do wonderful things. For example, with HTML
(hypertext Markup Language), one can make a word
or a phrase of text into a link to another page on the
net. However, if the address (URL) is not exactly
right in the command, you will end up in an unknown
zone on the net when you click the link. If one word
is in caps, or if one letter is missing, or if you make a
comma instead of a period, or if you leave out a
period or a comma, you will be lost in cyberspace
when you click the link. The reference has to be just
right!
You may be wondering where I’m going with
all of this, and why you would even care. Here’s my
point, or rather, analogy. When I was studying that
neat aspect of HTML, I came to think about God’s
plan of salvation as revealed in the Gospel of Christ.
He has described exactly what an individual must do
in order to be saved. He has said that one must hear
the Gospel (good news) about Jesus Christ (Romans
10:17. Upon hearing the Gospel, one must then
believe it; he must believe that Jesus was and is the
Son of God (John 8:24; Mark 16:16). One must then
be willing to repent of his sins. Peter told those
individuals in Acts 2:38 to repent. See also Acts
17:30. After hearing, believing, and repenting of sins,
one must then confess his faith in Jesus as the
Savior of the world - the Son of God. Paul wrote,
“For with the heart one believes unto righteousness,
and with the mouth confession is made unto
salvation” (Romans 10:10). After this step, one must
then be baptized for the remission of sins. The Lord
said, “He who believes and is baptized shall be
saved” (Mark 16:16). Peter told those in Acts 2 to be
baptized for the remission of sins, as was Saul (Paul)
(Acts 2:38: Acts 22:16). In fact, in each case of
conversion recorded in the book of Acts, each one
obeyed the command to be baptized.
This is the way God said to do it - to get
saved. It’s the only way, and man must get it just
right or he will end up lost. Some today want to
change this equation. They want to leave out
baptism or confession; or mix up the order. This will
cause the lose of their souls and of those whom they
teach this error. God has one plan of salvation, not
many. We’ll certainly be lost if we don’t get it JUST
RIGHT!
|
