There are many possible ways to explain the Gospel. The entire Bible is meant to point people to Christ and it uses a variety of different ways. The best method to use depends on the person and the situation. However, one of the easiest and most straightforward methods is called the Romans Road.
Romans Road breaks the Gospel down into five different points. Then it uses verses from the book of Romans to teach each point.
Let’s take a look:
1) What does sin look like in our lives? Is it possible that people can be good enough and can get into Heaven on their own?
Romans 3:23 (ESV)- For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.
Romans 3:10 (ESV)- As the Scriptures say, “No one is righteous—not even one.
Romans 5:12 (ESV)- When Adam sinned, sin entered the world. Adam’s sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned.
Lesson Learned: Everyone has sin in their lives. It doesn’t matter how good you think you are, everyone is guilty of sin.
2) What are the consequences of sin in our lives?
Romans 6:23a (ESV)- For the wages of sin is death…
Lesson Learned: Any and all sin has the consequence of death.
3) “Am I too bad to be saved then? Is there any hope for me?”
Romans 6:23b (ESV)- For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 5:8 (ESV)- But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.
Lesson Learned: Even though we are all guilty sinners--God loves us. Jesus died on the cross to save us because of that love.
4) “If salvation is too big of a task for us; how can I be saved?”
Romans 10:9-10 (ESV)- 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 10:13 (ESV)- ...for everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.
Lesson Learned: We need help from God. Because of Jesus’ death on our behalf, all we have to do is believe in Him, trusting His death as the payment for our sins--and we will be saved!
5) “I’ve believed, did God accept me?”
Romans 10:11-13 (ESV)- 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 5:1 (ESV)- 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 8:1 (ESV)- So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.
Romans 8:38-39 (ESV)- 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.
Lesson Learned: God says belief equals salvation. So if you’ve believed Jesus paid for your sins, then you are saved and nothing can take that salvation away.
In Closing:
If you’ve taken someone through the Roman’s Road and they would like to accept Jesus as their Savior, you can lead them in prayer. Let them know that the prayer isn’t what gets people into Heaven; only faith in Jesus gets people there. But, praying is how we communicate with God and it is a big part in having a relationship with Him, so it’s a great way to declare your faith.
Here’s an example of a prayer you can lead them in:
Dear God, I am so sorry that I have messed up and sinned. I know I deserve punishment and that Jesus took that punishment for me. I know that I need your forgiveness and your help. I am putting my faith in Jesus and His payment for my sins. Thank you for forgiving me and for wanting a relationship with me. In Jesus name, Amen
Finally, you can let them know that since they have accepted Jesus’ payment for their sins, they are adopted as a son/daughter of God. He promises they are on their way to Heaven and that there is nothing in Heaven or on the Earth which can separate them from Him and His love.
This series of blog posts titled, “Holding on to Reason”, is named after Amanda’s favorite C.S. Lewis quote: “Faith is the art of holding on to things your reason has once accepted, in spite of your changing moods.”