The Message of Salvation
I often pray about what subject God would like me to write on, and I keep feeling like He is asking me to write about the plan of His salvation. I realize that is a common theme in many of my blogs, but I think He wants me to be more specific. I pray the Holy Spirit helps me write this.
One of the passages today in my Bible study was 2 Corinthians 5, which just happens to be perfect for this blog (included with white and yellow). Also, I keep picturing the message of salvation gloves my parents (and others) used to wear when teaching literal and spiritual children about salvation. (The image I used for this writing is not exactly like the ones I remember, but from the 1970s-80s, but it is similar.) I am going to use the salvation glove as inspiration for this writing. I realize the "Colors of Salvation" chart I found to accompany the glove has the additional color of blue, but I think that is also important so I will include that color as well. Let's start with the color black.
Black = Sin: As soon as we are of an age to choose to break a rule (not always the same age for every person), we have made an active decision to sin. It may be something simple as a ten-year-old lying about whether or not he was the one responsible for breaking a pricey item and then blaming someone else. Or a thirteen-year-old who sneaks out to a school dance to which her parents disapproved. Or a thirty-year-old who cheats on her husband. Or a fifty-year-old who cheats on his taxes. Or even the eighty-year-old who steals items from his children when they make him angry. Are all these offenses that will send a person to hell? Well, that is between them and God, but I can say for certain that when we rebelliously choose to do wrong, we are putting our soul in danger. When we say, "God, I will not follow your rules," you can be sure living in that black area of sin.
(Romans 3:23) For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.
Red = Blood of Jesus: So if we are all living in a state of sin, how can we ever find hope for eternity? ONLY through the shed blood of Jesus on the cross.
Jesus was born for the sole purpose of sacrificing His life thirty-three years later. Jesus gave up His throne surrounded by angels for a life where His authority was rarely recognized. He came to this cruel and heartless world in the form of pure innocence and humility. He knew He would never fully be accepted by His peers, and that even those who claimed to love Him would desert Him in the end. He knew not just the emotional sorrows He would face, but the physical as well. He would willingly endure excruciating torture (The word excruciating exists because of the severe pain suffered during crucifixion.). Yes, He also knew He would be raised from the dead three days after His death, but He did not endure long hours of agony just to glorify Himself. He allowed Himself to be beaten raw and pierced through to die a slow death just for you and me!
His blood on the cross is the only reason you and I have the option of spending eternity with Him in paradise. He paid for our sins by hanging in humiliation on a cross with wood splinters buried into an already raw and bloodied back, a crown of literal thorns causing blood to burn his eyes as it dripped down His face.
Jesus died to save us from our sins as we can never, ever save ourselves. Even though our works will be judged (Matthew 16:27 - For the Son of man shall come in the glory of His Father with His angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.), they can never earn our salvation.
(1 John 1:7) If we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
(Revelation 1:5) Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood.
White = Purity: Now that we know about this free gift, let's apply His precious blood to our lives. First, but certainly not last, we must ask Jesus to forgive our sins and ask Him into our heart to rule as our Savior.
The wonderful news is that Jesus will always forgive us of our sins each and every time we ask! But we are not to exhaust His grace or take advantage of it by taking our sins lightly. We must still show God the utmost reverence and follow His rules.
(Romans 6:1-2) What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?
We must strive to give up our sinful lifestyles and keep those sins as bay and not repeat our mistakes, lest we lose this precious gift from Jesus. It is a daily decision to walk in purty before a holy God. (Please read all of Romans 6.)
(Romans 6:18-23) Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness. I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness. For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness. What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death. But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
(Luke 13:23-24) Then said one unto him, Lord, "Are there few that be saved?" And He said unto them, "Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able."
(2 Corinthians 5:15-21) And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again. Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more. Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
Blue = Baptism: Being both water baptized and baptized in the holy spirit is necessary as an act of salvation.
In one of my husband's blogs (https://thankful-julie.blogspot.com/2026/05/jesus-said-he-is-series-part-5-living.html) he put it this way, "After we truly repent of our sins and put our faith in Christ and his atonement upon the cross, it is also essential that we are baptized in water. Water baptism is an act of obedience; it proclaims to the world that you have been born again. You are marked by God, and you identify with the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ through water baptism. You are also proclaiming that you have been crucified with Christ and are dead to sin and risen with Christ as a new creation! Many Christians have never been taught that there is more to their spiritual walk. In order to live an overcoming Christian life in these dark times, it is essential that we be filled with God’s Holy Spirit (Baptism in the Holy Spirit). You cannot be saved unless you have been filled (baptized) with the Holy Spirit. The atonement of Christ provided for the fullness of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in the life of the believer. The Holy Trinity is received by faith alone in the finished work of Christ. The Baptism in the Holy Spirit is a second act of Grace, and it is when a believer is filled and becomes indwelt by the Holy Spirit. The Baptism is an immersion of power that is accompanied by spiritual gifts according to God's will and must be sought after by faith. The Holy Spirit is God, he is the third person of the Holy Trinity, and he indwells us, as well as ministers to us. It is God’s will that we all experience the fullness of God and that is only possible by receiving the baptism in the Spirit. The infilling of the Holy Spirit was given through the laying on of the hands of the Apostles within Scripture. It was first given on the Day of Pentecost to those seeking God in the upper room. You may receive the baptism in the Holy Spirit by earnestly seeking God in prayer, or through the laying on of hands."
(John 3:5-7) Jesus answered, "Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again."
(Acts 2:28) Then Peter said unto them, "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost."
Green = Growth: I am not sure why the glove in the picture above has a sad heart on it, but I am going to talk about growing in Jesus as being essential for or salvation.
2 Corinthians 5 above reminds us that we should become a new creation when we get saved. For more on being a new creation, you can read my blog here on that topic: https://thankful-julie.blogspot.com/2026/03/2-corinthians-510-11-17-21-new-creation.html
When we walk in Christ and grow in Him, we must yearn to grow past the basics of the Salvation message (milk) and seek out the richer spiritual food to help us thrive and grow in Jesus (meat).
(Hebrews 5:12-14, AMP) For though by this time you ought to be teachers [because of the time you have had to learn these truths], you actually need someone to teach you again the elementary principles of God’s word [from the beginning], and you have come to be continually in need of milk, not solid food. For everyone who lives on milk is [doctrinally inexperienced and] unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a spiritual infant. But solid food is for the [spiritually] mature, whose senses are trained by practice to distinguish between what is morally good and what is evil.
I realize that some people may be new to Christianity and mere babes in the ways of the Lord. They are still on spiritual milk and have not yet progressed to the meat of understanding the deeper things beyond the basic gospel message. 2 Timothy 2:5 means that we are to do our own studying so we can learn to understand right from wrong, not let someone else tell us their version of right and wrong: "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."
The more we study the Bible, the more the Holy Spirit will teach us about what God hates, and we will learn how to choose to do right. Delving into the meat of God's Word will also make it clear who we should and should not follow and lets us know who the false teachers are know when what they are teaching does not align with the holy Word of God. We will know to run from such false teachers.
Yellow = Heaven: The shed blood and death of Jesus not only purchased our salvation, but because Jesus rose from the dead three days after his crucifixion, He also conquered death and hell so those who choose His free gifts can live with Him in eternity.
(Revelation 1:18) I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.
Because I know this is already a lot to read, if you want to later read more about how to choose heaven over hell, please see my writing on the subject here: https://thankful-julie.blogspot.com/2026/03/heaven-hell-series-part-6-how-to-choose.html
Now let's go back to 2 Corinthians that points to the end of this temporal life and the beginning of our eternal one. Then I will end with Revelation 21 that gives is a beautiful description of Heaven that can bring us hope.
(2 Corinthians 5:1-12) For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven: If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked. For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life. Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit. Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: For we walk by faith, not by sight:) We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences. For we commend not ourselves again unto you, but give you occasion to glory on our behalf, that ye may have somewhat to answer them which glory in appearance, and not in heart.
(Revelation 21:1-27) And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away."
And He that sat upon the throne said, "Behold, I make all things new... It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son."
"But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death."
And there came unto me one of the seven angels... And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal...And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass. And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald; The fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolyte; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a chrysoprasus; the eleventh, a jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst. And the twelve gates were twelve pearls: every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass.
And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it. And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there. And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it.
And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life.
Song: The Plan of Salvation sung by The Cathedrals.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YwzbAdXZ0So&list=RDYwzbAdXZ0So&start_radio=1
