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FPB Seminars

Plan of Salvation

Jimmy France

Plan of Salvation: Introduction

Plan of Salvation: How to Be Forgiven

Plan of Salvation: Doable Christ-centered Obedience

Plan of Salvation: How to Overcome Sin Like Jesus Did

Let's begin then by looking at the expectation that we have in this section.

Like the last section, we're going to look at this in 3, or 4 actually, structures, 4 sections.

We're going to look at the expectation first.

Second, we're going to look at the process by which through Christ we can meet that expectation.

Third, we're going to look at the promise and promises actually and there are some powerful promises in this section.

I'm looking forward to actually showing this to you this morning.

And then finally we'll review what we've just gone over.

So let's take a look at this expectation is to obey Christ.

Do you realize that any 1 of us can actually take a look at Christ and find in His Word what He expects?

For example, our sitting here this morning gives evidence of the fact that we believe expectation of keeping the seventh-day Sabbath.

Also diet, that's another, the way we dress, our entertainment, things like this.

But the bottom line is this, If I do not believe that my heavenly Father cares for me, guess what my result is to Him?

I mean I can sugarcoat that with all kinds of words.

I love Him, but in reality if I don't think that my Heavenly Father cares for me, I won't care for Him.

If I truly am convinced that my Heavenly Father and His Son, Prince Charming Jesus Christ, really cares for me and that actually the prince of darkness, the devil, does not, my heart is after Christ.

And actually that is the place that we're going to find the strength to obey God.

So let's again begin with the expectation.

Component or step number 1 is simply, I have to know what pleases Christ.

And so the place that we go in the Bible is in Psalm 119, 105, you have, Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.

In other words, if I want to know what God expects as a Christian, this is my ultimate how-to book to know what He expects, seventh-day Sabbath, tithe, whatever happens to be his expectation, this is the place, I find that.

The thought next would be, is this expectation simple and reasonable and doable?

And how many of us can actually keep the Sabbath day?

It certainly doesn't come from me, I can tell you that.

But what you're going to actually find is that the verse that Pascal read this morning, that we've read many, many times, actually hints at where the strength comes from.

This is actually relatively new to me and perhaps to you too, but I want us to take and look this, take a look at this process.

There is a gentleman, I don't know how many people have had the privilege of hearing Ravi Zacharias, that's spelled R-A-V-I, Ravi Zacharias, his title says it all, Let My People Think.

And so what I'm hoping through the next several slides, we have 20 this morning, is actually help God's people, us, to think.

So on this promise we have Philippians 4, 13, I can do all things through Christ who does what?

But have you ever paused to ask yourself where and how He strengthens me?

I didn't know this until I started reading the material in the Scriptures, and like the Bible says, the Holy Spirit will guide us.

Take a look at this next verse on your screen.

In Proverbs 24, verse 5, it says, a wise man is strong, yea a man of what?

So according to the scriptures where does strength come from?

So if we tie these pieces together, where does my strength come from?

It has to be knowledge of something or someone.

Those of you who love the book of Daniel, this should helpfully open up just, not just visions of medals and dates, etc.

This should begin to open up the very place where we should see it is in knowing God.

It says, Daniel 11, verse 33 ties these 3 verses together by saying, the people that do what?

Why is it that David is down there on the field of battle and his taller king, like we said last night, is not.

It's because David knew his God and was down on the battlefield and won, and Saul was not.

But what specifically about God's character?

Notice this, 2nd Corinthians 4 6, For God who commended the light to shine out of the darkness, has shined in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory, and God's glory is what?

When Moses said, show me your glory, God showed him not a big bank account, but his character, love, mercy, etc.

Tying all these together, we see that I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me through a knowledge of the character of my God.

I don't know if you've ever seen that before, that's relatively new to me.

I can know that the seventh day Sabbath is the 1 I'm supposed to keep, but outside of a knowledge of the character of God, I have no power to do it, period.

So now you understand why Christ says in John 17, 3, this is a life eternal, not just knowing a whole bunch of facts.

It is to know you and Jesus Christ whom you've sent.

This is why we're counseled to spend a, it would be well to spend a thoughtful hour not just ruminating over Seventh-day Sabbath, etc., it's knowing Christ, His character, that's the place the power comes from.

Notice what 2 Peter 1, verses 2 through 4 says, Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge, there it is again, of God and our Lord Jesus Christ, according to his what?

Do you see right there the connection between knowledge and power?

Has given unto us all things that pertain unto this life and godliness through what?

Knowledge of not just facts, it's a knowledge of Him.

When you are convinced that your Heavenly Father loves you, all of a sudden power comes with it.

For example, my wife and I have had our seventh anniversary, October 23, last month, and it's just incredible that you probably heard this before, since most of you are not married, it probably doesn't make much sense to you at this point, but your love will grow and your joy with your spouse will grow as you, in other words, your love for your spouse will increase beyond your wedding day by a revelation of the character of who she is, who he or she is.

And for me, there have been times the last 2 years especially where I've started up a new business, just different wonderful revelations of Monica's character for me have made my love for her deepen and through a knowledge of her love for me, my love for her has increased.

So you've seen the connection between strength and knowledge of God's character tied biblically.

I want to go now to the spirit of prophecy.

And 1 gentleman asked if I could give my testimony.

When I was at Little Creek Academy from 82 to 86, I came near the end of my first semester at Little Creek, and I have a rich heritage of people who walk with God.

My mom and dad are here, and I appreciate that.

They're still alive, 93 and 90, and my dad's parents have passed away.

But the point is, I went to the forerunner of this school with a rich heritage, but near the end of my first semester, I thought I need to do what Joseph did when he was being taken off to Egypt.

And so I figured I need to get more into the Bible and more of the spirit of prophecy.

And so I made a color code, 3 colors to underline the Bible and they're also in the Spirit of Prophecy.

I would spend the first part of my devotion in the Bible and then the second portion in the Spirit of Prophecy.

And I say that all to say this, that in the last almost 30 years I have read through the Bible at least 20 times.

Different translations, I would encourage you, read a wide variety because there are nuggets in each 1 of these translations that you won't see otherwise.

We'll touch on that here this morning, just 1 of those versions.

Anyway, and so also I have read, after I have 2 more to finish, Voice and Speech and Song in Volume 1 of Signs of the Times, I will have read 65 books of Mrs.

White cover to cover, not a quotation here, quotation there, and it all started back at Little Creek.

But the point is this, that when you read God's Word and you read the Spirit of Prophecy, you become knit to the character of God in a way you could not have otherwise.

And I encourage you students, you have an opportunity now that perhaps you have not thought of since you're not in your future yet, take time to know God in the Bible, in the spirit of prophecy, read it.

Don't let anyone beguile you that either 1 of those sources is anything but what it is, inspired.

And so what I do now when I share these thoughts, I want you to see that I try to, my practice is to show the Bible first, which we've just done, and then the Spirit of Prophecy.

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Series

Plan of Salvation

Plan of Salvation: Doable Christ-centered Obedience

Transcript

Parent Series

Sponsor

God’s Christmas Present

50m

Come Lord Jesus

03 The Crossword Puzzle

1h

Talking Points 1st Quarter 2026: Uniting Heaven and Earth: Christ in Philippians and Colossians

09 Reconciliation and Hope

30m

Looking Back, Looking Forward, Standing Firm

52m

Answering the Angels

05 Will Heaven Be Safe With Us in It?

1h 2m

The Sanctuary, God's Answer to the Sin Problem

Why Jesus Waits

1h

Workshop: Abiding in Christ

Overcoming the World

1h 5m

Fully Charged

38m

Talking Points 1st Quarter 2026: Uniting Heaven and Earth: Christ in Philippians and Colossians

06 Confidence Only in Christ

30m

Professedly Christian

45m

Sound Doctrine