The Plan of Salvation: What is it?

TL;DR:

The plan of salvation was promised in the Old Testament and fulfilled in the New Testament through Jesus’ death and resurrection. All who believe in Him will be saved.

God created the world good (Genesis 1). However, sin changed everything (Genesis 3). Sin separated us from God and brought death and destruction for all mankind (Romans 5:12; 6:23). Yet, God declared the plan of salvation immediately after Adam and Eve sinned (Genesis 3:15), and He unfolded this plan throughout human history. Jesus Himself—the Creator of the universe (John 1:1–3; Colossians 1:16)—came and died in our place so we could be made right with God (Philippians 2:6–11) and forgiven of our sins. God demonstrated His love for us by Christ dying for us even while we were still His enemies (Romans 5:8). The plan of salvation is through Christ alone (John 14:6). All who will believe in Him will be saved (Acts 16:31).

from the old testament

God created the world in innocence and declared that it was good (Genesis 1), but when Adam and Eve sinned (Genesis 3:6–7), it separated them from God and the good plan He had for humanity (Genesis 3:23).
As early as Genesis 3:15, we see the plan of salvation. We see the curse on mankind as a result of sin (see also Ecclesiastes 7:20, Isaiah 64:6, and Jeremiah 17:9–10), and we see God’s plan for a Savior who would personally take care of the curse of sin.
We see God saving people who responded to His call to salvation when Noah and his family entered the ark (Genesis 7:1, 7).
The plan of salvation unfolded as God formed the nation of Israel. In Genesis 12:1–3 God promised to bless all people on earth through Israel.
During the final plague against Pharaoh, the only way of salvation was by taking the blood of the Passover lamb and putting it on the doorframes. God passed over these houses and protected the people from the destroyer striking down the firstborn (Exodus 12:21–23). To this day, Jews all over the world celebrate the Passover as a remembrance of the salvation God provided.
When the Israelites fled Egypt, the only way of salvation was by obeying God and walking through the sea on dry ground (Exodus 14:29–30). Then Moses and the Israelites sang: “The Lord is my strength and my song, and; he has become my salvation; this is my God, and I will praise him, my father’s God, and I will exalt him” (Exodus 15:2).
After fleeing Egypt, the Israelites wandered in the wilderness where snakes bit them. God instructed Moses to make a snake and put it up on a pole. Anyone who was bitten and looked up at the bronze snake was saved (Numbers 21:8).
The Mosaic (Exodus 19:5-6) and Davidic covenants revealed God's plan of salvation (2 Samuel 7:12-16). The Mosaic covenant revealed our need for a Messiah while the Davidic covenant promised the Messiah who would come and reign forever.
In Isaiah 45:22, God calls to Israel and all the peoples of the earth: “Turn to me and be saved, all the ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other.”

from the new testament

The New Testament clarified the plan of salvation. Romans 3:23 declares what the Old Testament already taught: "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." The consequence of our sinfulness apart from salvation is spiritual death (Romans 6:23) and eternity apart from God in hell (Matthew 25:46).
First Peter 1:20–21 reveals that God’s plan existed from the beginning: “He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.”
The New Testament unfolded God’s plan of salvation: Jesus died on the cross and rose again, conquering the curse of sin and death (1 Corinthians 15:54–57). This reconciled our relationship with God and brought salvation to all who would believe (Romans 5:9–19). God now passes over our sins and brings us to life (Romans 3:25–26; 1 John 3:14).
Jesus is the exclusive way to be saved. John 3:17 teaches, "For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him." Jesus said, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me" (John 14:6). Jesus is the only plan for salvation.
Salvation is available for anyone who will believe in Jesus’ death and resurrection for the forgiveness of sins. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16; see also 1 Timothy 2:3–6, Titus 2:11, 2 Peter 3:9, and 1 John 2:2).
All who look to Jesus for salvation will be saved: "as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life” (John 3:14–15).
Salvation comes by grace through faith in Jesus. Ephesians 2:8–9 teaches, "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast." Salvation cannot be earned, only accepted. How do we accept it? Acts 16:31 tells us: “believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved.” All who turn to Him will be saved.

implications for today

The plan of salvation is the same today as it has always been: God promised to be the way of salvation, and He provided that way by Jesus’ death and resurrection. All who come to God through Jesus for salvation will be saved. Salvation cannot be found in anything we do; it cannot be earned. There are not many paths of salvation. You cannot believe sincerely enough in anything else to be saved. The only plan of salvation is by believing in Jesus, trusting in His death and resurrection for the forgiveness of your sins.

Second Corinthians 6:2 teaches, "now is the day of salvation." No one knows how long he or she will live. We must not delay, but place our faith in Jesus and be saved now while there is time. As John the Baptist taught, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand" (Matthew 3:2).

Are you in need of salvation? Are you ready to place your faith in Jesus Christ as your Savior and receive this free gift of eternal life? If so, do it now. There is no special prayer you must pray to do so. Romans 10:9 says, "if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." The following prayer is one way you might make this confession with your mouth:

"Dear God, I realize I am a sinner and could never reach heaven by my own good deeds. Right now I place my faith in Jesus Christ as God's Son who lived a sinless life, died in my place to cover my sinfulness, and rose from the dead to give me eternal life. Please forgive me of my sins and help me to live for you. Thank you for accepting me and giving me eternal life."

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understand

God made the way for us to be saved from the penalty of our sin by taking it upon Himself.
The plan of salvation was promised in the Old Testament and fulfilled in the New Testament through Jesus dying in our place and rising from the dead.
God made salvation possible for all who would believe in Him.

reflect

How does understanding that salvation is a free gift through Jesus, not something we can earn, influence the way I approach my relationship with God?
In what ways can I see God's love for me through His plan of salvation, even when I feel distant or unworthy?
How does the fact that Jesus' death and resurrection fulfilled God's long-promised plan of salvation challenge my response to the gospel today?

engage

How did God’s plan of salvation unfold with time?
What does God’s plan of salvation reveal about Him and His character? What does it reveal about His heart for humanity?
Salvation is available to all; yet it is exclusive to those who will believe. In what other areas of life are there exclusive ways of doing things (for example following traffic laws)?