The Encourager
“The Romans Road by Mike Richardson”
THE ROMANS ROAD Mike Richardson
As we begin a new year with wondrous possibilities it is a good time to stop and take inventory of what our goals will be in the new year. It is also a good idea to stop and consider the potential for good and bad that could come in this upcoming year. Some who are with us at the beginning of this year may not be so when this year closes. Some may get married, others may have great promotions at work while others suffer great setbacks. However, I would like for us to consider our spiritual goals for the new year. If one is not a Christian I would appreciate them reading this article and consider the steps to salvation found in the book of Romans.
When people want to make their life right with God, when they want to come to the cross to meet the Savior, what do they do? How can one make their life right with God? I want to take you down an old road that we might call The Romans Road. I want us to go through the book of Romans and look at five passages on how one comes to Christ. This road will lead one to the Son of God who has the power to remove sin and add you to His family.
(i)Step One on the Romans Road is to Admit You Are A Sinner (Rom.3:23). Until we come to the realization that we are sinners we will never take the first step to correct what is hindering fellowship with God. Every one of us has transgressed the law of God either by commission or omission. I care not how good a person you may be, you are still a sinner in need of the grace of God. The first step one must take is realize they are a sinner. One must recognize they have violated the law of God and need to come to God so the offense can be removed.
(ii)Step Two on the Romans Road is to See the Gift Offered (Rom.6:23). Paul said, “The wages of sin is death.” A wage is what is earned. We are separated from God because we sinned (Isa.59:2). Because of sin there is physical death as well as spiritual death which is eternal separation from God in hell. God is holy, pure, just and cannot tolerate sin. However, notice that God is willing to give a gift. “but the gift of God is eternal life.” God loves us so much He was willing to offer us the gift (something we don’t deserve) of eternal life. The second step is to see what God has offered every individual.
(iii)Third Step on the Romans Road is to See the Love of God (Rom.5:8). God demonstrated His love in while we were yet sinners. That verse means so much to me, God didn’t just say He loved me, God manifested, showed, demonstrated His love by sacrificing His Son on the cross of Calvary. One never has to doubt God’s love they can see it on the Jerusalem skyline when His Son was nailed to a cross for your sins.
(iv)Fourth Step on the Romans Road is How We Receive New Life (Rom.6:3-11). Paul tells us to receive a new life we must be baptized into the death of Christ. The old man is buried with his past sins, and we raised (resurrected) to a new life. Baptism is obeying God to be put back into a right relationship with God. We are born again when we are baptized. On the Romans Road, we have a picture, we see we are sinners, separated from God with eternal hell before us. But, God loves us and sent His Son to die for us that the blood of Jesus can forgive us and we contact that blood through baptism.
(v)The Fifth Step on the Romans Road is We are Saved (Rom.10:9-10,13). In obedience to Christ we commit ourselves to Him and let Him take control of our lives. We are redeemed by the blood of Christ.
Have you walked down the Romans Road to salvation?
