The most pragmatic doctrine of all is this: what do we do with the Bible?

• “scale of Biblical use" (not considering those who totally reject the Scriptures or know nothing of them) there are the following:

  • Fairy tales and myths with good moral values

  • Allegorical understanding

  • Literal understanding

  • “Right Division" understanding

    
    

• “plan of salvation."

“Christendom" cannot even settle on a single plan of salvation

• Why not? Because the underlying doctrines are different!

• The Gospel Coalition (Tim Keller, Al Moehler, Russell Moore, David Platt, etc“We believe that from all eternity God determined in grace to save a great multitude of guilty sinners from every tribe and language and people and nation, and to this end foreknew them and chose them."

• The SBC website -- https://www.sbc.net/knowjesus/theplan/

  • I acknowledge I am a sinner in need of a Savior -- this is to repent or turn away from sin

  • **I believe in my heart that God raised Jesus from the dead -- this is to trust that Jesus paid the full penalty for my sins

  • **I confess Jesus as my Lord and my God -- this is to surrender control of my life to Jesus

  • **I receive Jesus as my Savior forever -- this is to accept that God has done for me and in me what He promised

    
    

• *The Roman Catholic Church: The Church understands that we are all sinners in need of a savior. We are inheritors of original sin and all its consequences, and by actual sin we distance ourselves from God. We can't save ourselves, but we don't need to: Jesus Christ has paid the price for our sins. The Catholic Church teaches that salvation comes through Jesus alone, “one mediator between God and man". The saving grace won by Jesus is offered as a free gift to us, accessible through repentance, faith, and baptism. We turn away from our sins, we are sorry for them, and we believe in Jesus Christ and the gospel. Repentance shows our willingness to turn from things that keep us from God, and baptism renews us, filling us with the grace necessary to have faith and to live it. “salvation by works," but this is an empty accusation. This idea has been consistently condemned by the Church. Good works are required by God because he requires obedience to his commands and promises to reward us with eternal life if we obey**. *https://www.catholic.com/qa/what-is-the-catholic-understanding-of-the-biblical-plan-of-salvation

The Doctrine of Free Grace is the Plan of Salvation That Rises Out of Rightly Dividing the Word

• Free grace salvation requires *no works to receive, keep, or prove salvation**. Salvation is freely given to all who place their trust in the offer of God through the completed work of Christ.*

• “grace" by separating works to the kingdom salvation offered to Israel.

• “plan of salvation" will always include works somewhere.

• The glorious good news: 2 Corinthians 5:19-21.