Simple “Romans Road” to salvation

The “Romans Road” is a simple way of presenting the gospel using verses from Romans. It was written by the Apostle Paul during his 3rd missionary journey about 23 years after the events of the gospels to Christians he had heard about but never met. Paul wanted to give them a complete description of the fundamentals and foundations of Christianity: sinful nature of all men in the eyes of God, justification by faith in Jesus Christ, freedom from sin, and victory in Christ, judgment, spiritual growth, and godly living. This is just what we need to get started in good Bible study.

1) I’m a “good person” do I really need salvation? In many years of talking to people, I think 9 out of 10 people categorize themselves as “good” people and don’t understand their need for salvation.

 For everyone has sinned;  we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. (Romans 3:23)

As the Scriptures say,  “No one is righteous—not even one.  (Romans 3:10)

When Adam sinned, sin entered the world. Adam’s sin brought death,  so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned.  (Romans 5:12)

• What is the gospel?
• The gospel of rest

2) I’m not a really bad person, is my sin really that bad? Almost everyone considers themselves to be “relatively” better (less bad, less sinful, and less depraved) than others and so forgive themselves for their “relatively” minor sins.

 For the wages of sin is death,  but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6:23)

• YODO — You Only Die Once
• The controversy of sin

3) I’m too bad to be saved, how can there be any hope for me? Those, who don’t consider themselves better than others, often consider themselves to have missed the mark, with so many sins stacked up on their side of the scale, that there’s no hope for them.

 But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.  (Romans 5:8)

• Who is the chief, or foremost, sinner?
• Have you served your time?

4) How can I be saved? The concept of salvation by faith is alien to our human nature, we want to do something to earn our salvation, but the task is too great for us, we need divine intervention.

 And that message is the very message about faith that we preach:  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. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved. (Romans 10:9-10)

• The shocking war between the good intentions of the flesh and the spirit
• What should I do to inherit eternal life?
• The Sinner’s Prayer

5) Did God accept me? After a person has come to Jesus Christ for their personal soul salvation, it is extremely common for them to doubt their salvation, to doubt that God will keep his promise, that they are safe in Christ.

As the Scriptures tell us, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced.” Jew and Gentile are the same in this respect. They have the same Lord, who gives generously to all who call on him. For  “Everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved.”  (Romans 10:11-13)

Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith,  we have peace with God  because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. (Romans 5:1)

 So now there is no condemnation  for those who belong to Christ Jesus. (Romans 8:1)

 And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love.  Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:38-39)

• You can know you are saved
• The believer is a new creation
• 7 evidences of salvation
• More impossible ways to lose your salvation

6) What should I do now? The new child of God is embarking on the most exciting journey of their life, where should they start, and what should they do?

For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our message?” Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ. (Romans 10:17)

• Are you a “Noble Berean?”
• Where do I start?
• 20 Things Godly Christians Do Every Day
• 3 requirements for effectual fervent prayer: ask, seek, and knock

For further study:

• Be Right (Romans): How to Be Right with God, Yourself, and Others (The BE Series Commentary) by Warren W. Wiersbe — It can be argued that no book of the Bible has had a greater effect on Christianity than the book of Romans. In this classic commentary by Dr. Warren W. Wiersbe, you can refresh your own understanding of this seminal work, Paul’s masterpiece letter to the church in Rome. Dr. Wiersbe’s careful exposition of the text allows the truth to soak into your heart and mind as you read and understand these essential truths of Scripture.
• How to Read the Bible Book by Book: A Guided Tour by by Gordon D. Fee and Douglas Stuart — Reading the Bible need not be a haphazard journey through strange and bewildering territory. Like an experienced tour guide, How to Read the Bible Book by Book takes you by the hand and walks you through the Scriptures. For each book of the Bible, the authors start with a quick snapshot, then expand the view to help you better understand its message and how it fits into the grand narrative of the Bible. Written by two top evangelical scholars, this survey is designed to get you actually reading the Bible knowledgeably and understanding it accurately.