DO YOU KNOW HOW TO GET TO THE 'ROMANS ROAD'?

If someone asked you how they could become a Christian, one approach that has been used for years is called the Romans Road.  It's a series of verses from the book of Romans that lead us from why we need Jesus to how we receive His love and forgiveness.  An easy way for you to use this approach would be to write the first passage of scripture on the inside front cover so you could find it very easily in case you forgot where you would find the first verse of the Romans Road which is Romans 3:23.

23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, Romans 3:23 (ESV)  Everyone of us have done things that are wrong in our lives... things like tell a lie, steal something, or anything else that the Bible describes as sin.  The Bible teaches us in several places that sin deserves a punishment.  Beside the verse 3:23, write 6:23 to help you find the next verse on the Romans Road...

23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23 (ESV)  What a punishment for sin!  Death!  But notice in this verse that there is an alternative... a "free gift" that is "eternal life".  The greatest gift you could ever receive is the gift of Jesus Christ into your life.  Eternal life is only found through Jesus Christ but you may wonder how did God make this gift possible for you and for me.  Beside 6:23, write 5:8 in the margin...

8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8 (ESV)  In spite of all of the sin that we have committed, God loved everyone of us so much that He paid the price for our sin.  That price was death and the One who died was God's only Son, Jesus.  Jesus died on a cross like a criminal even though He had not committed even one sin.  He took my place.  He took your place.  It should have been our crosses but the Bible says that Jesus paid the price in full. So what do we need to do in order to receive this free gift of eternal life?  Go to our next verse to find that answer (write 10:9-10 in the margin beside 5:8)

9 because, 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.  10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. Romans 10:9-10 (ESV)  We often teach the "A,B,C's" of becoming a Christian which is based on the verses you just read.  A is for admit... we have to admit that we are sinners.  B is for believe... we have to believe that Jesus is God's Son who died for us, was raised three days later, and now sits in heaven beside God praying for you and me.  And C is for confess... if we confess with our mouth that Jesus is Lord, we can be forgiven of all of our sins and have Jesus as the new Leader of our lives.  But you may wonder if anyone can be saved.  Write 10:13 in your margin and read the final passage of our Romans Road...

13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Romans 10:13 (ESV)  "Everyone"... man, woman, boy or girl.  Anyone who realizes that they are sinners can find eternal life in Jesus.  In order to admit that we are sinners, something has to happen in order for us to realize that we are in trouble and that is what the third Person of the Trinity does for us.  Maybe you have heard the phrase, "God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit".  The Holy Spirit is the One who helps us recognize and admit that we have sinned.  It is the Holy Spirit who leads us to the truth that Jesus died for us and it is the Holy Spirit who enables us to call Jesus our Lord and Savior.

So what do you do with all of these verses?  If you or the person you are sharing these verses with are ready to admit that you or they have sinned and if you or they are ready to ask Jesus to come in to your lives as the Forgiver and Leader of your life,  then pray a prayer like this...

"Lord, I admit that I am a sinner and I believe that Jesus died on the cross to pay for my sins.  Please forgive me of all of my sin and come into my life as my personal Forgiver and Leader of my life.  Thank you for saving me.  In the name of Jesus, Amen."

If you or your friend prayed this prayer and meant what you said, then you have just made the greatest decision you have ever made and there is a celebration in heaven going on because you just became part of the family of God.  Now to help you keep that commitment, find a church to help you learn more about how to grow as a new Christian.  Congratulations for making the best decision you could ever make!