The Roman Road

The Roman Road
When I was a teenager I used to go out with my uncle and witness about Jesus. My favorite set of scriptures to use at that time was a group of scriptures my uncle called the Roman Road. I don't know if he came up with that all by himself or if he learned it from someone else. I can only acknowledge the powerful combinations of scriptures from the book of Romans are an effective way of presenting the gospel.

Romans 3:10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no not one:

This is a reference to Psalms 14:1-3 and in combination with this next scripture.

Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

The point of these to scriptures is to show that none of us are perfect. We all make mistakes. We are all sinners. Most people will acknowledge with little argument that they have done things in their lives that are not right, but some people have a difficult time accepting this simple concept. I think what it really is that they are trying to escape is responsibility for their actions.

Romans 5:12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

This verse refers to the sin of Adam's disobedience, which is the first sin of man and the reason that sin was passed on to all men.

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

This verse shows that there are repercussions coming for our sin. We are personally responsible for our mistakes and the inevitable cost we must pay is death. Yet the verse also speaks of a gift. Is not a gift something that is freely given away? In this case we know what the gift is. It is eternal life.

Romans 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Now we are starting to get down to the bare bones of the gospel. It all starts with single greatest act of love in history. A man came to this earth named Jesus he lived and he died all according to some very ancient prophecies, which can be found through out the Old Testament. The story of his life, death and resurrection is told in the four gospels Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. Now because of this many of us believe that Jesus was the Messiah, the only begotten Son of God and the Christ. We believe that he sacrificed himself to pay the final price for our sins for us and that he was raised from the dead on the third day proving his victory over death. So maybe you are wondering how to receive this most wonderful gift of life everlasting.

Romans 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. 12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. 13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Here the book of Romans spells out the means of reaching out and accepting God's gift. Confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that he was raised from the dead.

May the Lord bless the reading of his word.

I have heard statements by people claiming that Christians are now teaching and believing a different gospel than that taught by the original Christians. I decided to address that here. 1 Corinthians 15:1-11 which most modern historians and scholars consider to be the oldest written proclamation of the Christian creed. Modern historians and scholars date this proclamation of the Christian creed to within 2-6 years after the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Note that he says that most of the people who saw Jesus alive are said to be still living as if he is saying, "If you don't believe me go ask one of them they are still around."

1 Corinthian 15:1 NIV Now, brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. 2 by this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain. 3 For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. 6 after that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. 7 then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, 8 and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born. 9 for I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10 but by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them-yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me. 11 Whether, then, it was I or they, this is what we preach, and this is what you believed.

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