Just Right

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Just Right

Michael Pickford

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!



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