Have you ever heard some preacher say: βThere are many things in the Bible which are hard to understand but, thank God, the plan of salvation is as simple as can be.β
Well the plan of salvation is simple IF we obey II Timothy 2:15, βrightly dividing the Word of truth.β Otherwise it is far from simple.
The Apostle Paul wrote: βWe conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the lawβ (Rom. 3:28). Yet James wrote: βBy works a man is justified, and not by faith onlyβ (James 2:24).
Again, at Sinai God said to Israel through Moses: βIf ye will obey My voice indeed, and keep My covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto Me above all people β¦β (Ex. 19:5). But our Lord said, as He sent His apostles to witness for Him that, βHe that believeth and is baptized shall be savedβ¦ and these signs shall follow them that believe: in My name shall they cast out demons, they shall speak with new tonguesβ¦β etc. (Mark 16:16-18). Thus, according to their βgreat commissionβ water baptism was required for salvation and miraculous signs were the evidences of salvation.
Confusing? Contradictory? Not if we βrightly divide the Word of truth.β It was after βthe law was given by Moses,β after our Lordβs earthly ministry, after the commission to the twelve, that God raised up another apostle, Paul, and sent him forth with βthe gospel of the grace of Godβ (Acts 20:24).
It was Paul who was sent to declare: βBut NOW, the righteousness of God without the law is manifestedβ¦β (Rom. 3:21). βTo him that worketh not, but believeth on Him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousnessβ (Rom. 4:5). βTherefore, being justified by faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christβ (Rom. 5:1). source