These are the notes from the fourth teaching in the "Growing Deep in the Gospel" series which answers the question "What is the Plan of Salvation?". They are paper size Letter (United States)

1. What is the Plan of Salvation?
Take a hold of the gospel, so Jesus can take a hold of you!
Keeping the big picture in mind is important as we look at the gospel. Because it reminds us what
is truly important in life and shows how the gospel influences every part of the big picture.
The Big Picture Mission  Goal  Purpose
Jesus Bringing glory to Jesus and the Father
   
   Expanding the Kingdom of God
Gospel  Church  Mission 
Making disciples of all nations
Last time – What isn’t the Gospel?
Jesus + Anything = Nothing
Everything - Jesus = Nothing
Jesus + Nothing = Everything
Important to Remember! Spirit + Truth
We can present the plan of salvation clearly yet without the Holy Spirit nothing will happen. This
is why prayer is so important.
1 Thessalonians 1:5
because our gospel came to you not simply with words but also with power, with the Holy Spirit
and deep conviction…
John 16:7-8
But in fact, it is best for you that I go away, because if I don’t, the Advocate won’t come. If I do go
away, then I will send him to you. And when he comes, he will convict the world of its sin, and of
God’s righteousness, and of the coming judgment.
What is the Plan of Salvation?
The Gospel vs. The Plan of Salvation
While the gospel and the plan of salvation are connected and overlap they are not the same
exact thing. The plan of salvation is what we do in order to receive the benefits of the gospel for
ourselves.
Salvation = Rescue (being rescued from our sin and restored to God through all Jesus did)
We are lost in an ocean of sin. We need to be rescued from our sin.
God’s Plan
Before God created the universe He already had a rescue plan ready to deal with sin.
Revelation 13:8
…the Lamb who was slain from the creation of the world.

2. 1 Peter 1:19-20
but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. He was chosen before the
creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake.
Understanding the Plan - Why  What  How
1. We have a problem.
2. There is only one solution.
3. We need to acquire the solution.
Three Questions - Focus on Jesus – To Share the Plan of Salvation
1. Why do we need Jesus? (Gives us a context for understanding the gospel)
2. What did Jesus do for us? (This is the gospel as it tells us what Jesus did)
3. How do we receive salvation through Jesus? (This is how we are rescued)
Plan of Salvation Outline
1. Why We Need Jesus
• Sin
• Spiritual death
• Physical death
• Judgment
• Hell
• Wrath of God
• Eternal death
2. What Jesus Did For Us
• Created the universe and everything in it
• Born of a virgin and became a man
• Lived a sinless life
• Went to the cross
• Had all of our sin placed upon Him
• Separated from the Father
• Suffered our punishment, experiencing the full wrath of the Father for our sins
• Died on the cross
• Placed in a tomb
• Rose from the dead
• Ascended to the right hand of the Father
• Waiting to return and restore the Kingdom of God over all creation
3. How do we receive salvation through Jesus?
• Repentance
• Faith
PLAN OF SALVATION DETAILS
Why Do We Need Jesus? – We have a problem!  SIN
Psalm 51:4
Against You, and You alone have I sinned…
Romans 3:23
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God
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3. 1 John 3:4
Everyone who sins is breaking God’s law, for all sin is contrary to the law of God.
Sin is denying God His rightful place in your heart and life and seeking to be your own god by
making something else more important to your significance, purpose, and happiness than God.
SPIRITUAL DEATH – separated from God, He is the only source of life.
Romans 6:23
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.
Ephesians 4:18
They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the
ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts.
Colossians 1:21
Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil
behavior.
PHYSICAL DEATH
Hebrews 9:27
Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment,
JUDGEMENT, HELL, WRATH OF GOD
Revelation 20:11-15 – Judgment – Hell – Lake of Fire
11 Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the
heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, small and
great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is
the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were
written in the books. 13 The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades
delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his
works. 14 Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15
And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.
Luke 12:5 - Hell
But I’ll tell you whom to fear. Fear God, who has the power to kill you and then throw you into
hell. Yes, he’s the one to fear.
John 3:36 – Wrath of God (divine judgment and punishment)
He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not
see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”
ETERNAL DEATH
2 Thessalonians 1:7-9 – Eternal death (eternally separated from God)
7…This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his
powerful angels. 8 He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our
Lord Jesus. 9 They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence
of the Lord and from the majesty of his power
What Did Jesus Do for Us? Provided the only solution to our problem.
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4. John 1:1-3 – Created the universe
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was
with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made
that has been made.
Colossians 1:15-17 – Created the universe
15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For by him all things
were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or
rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. 17 He is before all things, and in
him all things hold together.
Matthew 1:23 – Born of a Virgin
“The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means
“God with us”).
John 1:14 – Became a man
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of
the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Colossians 2:9 – Became a man
For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form
Hebrews 4:15 – Without Sin
For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all
points tempted as we are, yet without sin.
John 1:29 – Lamb of God
The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who
takes away the sin of the world!
Mark 15:24-25 – Went to the Cross
And they crucified him. Dividing up his clothes, they cast lots to see what each would get. It was
the third hour when they crucified him.
2 Corinthians 5:21 – Took Our Sins
For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of
God in Him.
Matthew 27:45-46 – Was Separate from the Father
45 At noon, darkness fell across the whole land until three o’clock. 46 At about three o’clock,
Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” which means “My God, my God,
why have you abandoned me?”
Isaiah 53:4-5 – Took Our Punishment
Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten
by God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our
iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.
1 John 2:2 – Satisfying God’s wrath – propitiation (turning away of wrath by an offering)
And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.
Romans 5:9 – Saved Us from Wrath
Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through
Him.
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5. John 19:30 – Finished His Work
So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He
gave up His spirit.
Philippians 2:8 – He Died in Our Place
… And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the
point of death, even the death of the cross.
John 19:40-42 – He was Placed in a Tomb
40 Following Jewish burial custom, they wrapped Jesus’ body with the spices in long sheets of
linen cloth. 41 The place of crucifixion was near a garden, where there was a new tomb, never
used before. 42 And so, because it was the day of preparation for the Jewish Passover and since
the tomb was close at hand, they laid Jesus there.
Mark 16:4-6 – He Rose from the Dead (Resurrection)
4 But as they arrived, they looked up and saw that the stone, which was very large, had already
been rolled aside. 5 When they entered the tomb, they saw a young man clothed in a white robe
sitting on the right side. The women were shocked, 6 but the angel said, “Don’t be alarmed. You
are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead!
Look, this is where they laid his body.
Acts 1:9 – Ascended to heaven
Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud
received Him out of their sight.
Acts 2:33 – Seated at the right hand of the Father
Now he is exalted to the place of highest honor in heaven, at God’s right hand. And the Father,
as he had promised, gave him the Holy Spirit to pour out upon us, just as you see and hear
today.
Ephesians 1:20-22 – Seated at the right hand and will rule in the age to come
…which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand
in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that
can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things
under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church,
1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 – The return of Jesus
16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of
the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the Christians who have died will rise from
their graves. 17 Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be
caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever.
Philippians 2:9-11 – Jesus is made Lord of all
9 Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all
other names, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and
under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the
Father.
How Do We Receive Salvation through Jesus? By repentance and faith.
Acts 20:20-21 – Repentance and faith
… how I kept back nothing that was helpful, but proclaimed it to you, and taught you publicly and
from house to house, testifying to Jews, and also to Greeks, repentance toward God and faith
toward our Lord Jesus Christ.
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6. Acts 3:19 – Repentance (to turn in our hearts from sin back to God)
Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing
may come from the presence of the Lord,
Philippians 3:9 – Faith (to place one’s trust and confidence in Jesus and all He did)
and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that
which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith.
Reflection Questions
 Can you retell the basic outline of the plan of salvation?
 What are your thoughts and observations about the plan of Salvation as it was presented?
Grow Deep – Let the gospel go deep into your heart and out into your life.
1. What you do with the gospel and Jesus determines everything in your life including your
eternal destiny.
2. Resolve to make the gospel the highest priority in your life and ask Jesus to empower you
to do so day by day through the Holy Spirit.
3. Take the time to study, meditate and pray over the gospel on a regular basis so that you
are continually growing in your understanding of it.
4. As you grow in your knowledge and understanding of the gospel, take a hold of it by faith
and learn how to live it out.
Last Word
Take a hold of the gospel, so Jesus can take a hold of you.
In Closing – Romans 16:25-27
Now to him who is able to establish you in accordance with my gospel, the message I proclaim
about Jesus Christ, in keeping with the revelation of the mystery hidden for long ages past, but
now revealed and made known through the prophetic writings by the command of the eternal
God, so that all the Gentiles might come to the obedience that comes from faith—to the only wise
God be glory forever through Jesus Christ! Amen.
Review Questions
1. Why is prayer so important?
2. What is the difference between the gospel and the plan of salvation?
3. What are the why, what and how of the plan of salvation?
4. What are the three questions that focus on Jesus in the plan of salvation?
5. What is the basic outline of the plan of salvation?
6. What words in the outline should we know and understand so we can explain them?
7. What Bible verses stood out to you the most and why?
To Learn More
1. Memorize the basic outline of the plan of salvation.
2. Write out your own answers to the three questions that focus on Jesus.
3. Read the Bible verses for each of the three questions until you are familiar with them and
memorize those verses you think are most important.
4. Be able to explain the following: sin, spiritual death, hell, wrath, repentance, and faith.
5. Practice sharing the plan of salvation with family and friends then go out and share it as
you live your life.
6. Review these notes regularly and write down what God is teaching you.
7. Discuss items 1-6 with someone or in a small group.
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