The Roman Road

THE ROMAN ROAD—SIGNPOSTS TO SALVATION
pdf
Dr. Paul Manuel—2005

One of the most notable achievements of the Roman Empire was a highway system that connected major cities throughout the region. A similar interconnectivity also characterizes Paul's epistle to the Roman church, as he describes elements of God's plan for man's salvation. A collection of passages
from that letter, popularly called "The Roman Road," offers a systematic way to understand and present major elements of the gospel. Many people think they will go to heaven because they have lived a good life or because they have fulfilled some religious obligation. God's standard, though, is higher than we can reach, so we need a way to God that depends not on our goodness but solely on His grace. Below are several signposts on the road to salvation, directing us to a relationship with Him.

• The existence of God

Rom 1:20 ...since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.

We must recognize that God is the Creator of everything and that we are part of His creation.

• The glory of God

Rom 3:10 ...it is written, "There is none righteous, not even one" ...23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

No matter how good we may think we are or try to be, we cannot meet the perfect standard of God's own character. We are sinful and need His forgiveness.

• The power of God

Rom 1:16 ...I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

God is able to solve our problem, which He has done, and He makes that solution available to whoever accepts it in faith.

• The goodness of God

Rom 2:4 ...do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?

Realizing the benevolence of God should compel us to change the direction of our lives and turn to Him.

• The love of God

Rom 5:8 ...God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Thankfully, our sinful state has not deterred God from helping us. Because of His great love, He sent Jesus to die in our place.

• The gift of God

Rom 6:23 ...the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal fife in Christ Jesus our Lord.

The penalty for our sin is death, the physical separation of our soul from the body and the eternal separation of our soul from God. What we could not remedy, God did by accepting Jesus' death for us and by enabling us to spend eternity with Him.

• The salvation of God

Rom 10:9 ...if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; 10 for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.

To benefit from God's gracious offer of forgiveness, we must tell Him that we
accept Jesus as our Lord (our authority) and that we believe He raised Jesus from the dead.

If you believe these signposts on The Roman Road and want to accept the gift of salvation, you must repent of your sins, declare your trust in the pardoning
effect of Jesus' sacrifice, and commit yourself to obeying God. The following
sample prayer is not an empty ritual but is a sincere declaration of faith and a willful decision to follow Him. Use it if it expresses the true desire of your heart.

Dear God: I know that I have broken your laws, that my sins have separated me from you, and that I need your forgiveness. I am truly sorry, and now I want to turn away from my rebellious life. Please forgive me, and help me to avoid disobeying you again. I believe that Jesus died for my sins, that You raised him from the dead, and that he lives today. I invite Jesus to become the Lord of my life, to rule and reign in my heart from this day forward. May your Holy Spirit help me to obey You. Thank you for pardoning my sins and for giving me eternal life. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.

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If you have accepted the offer of God's forgiveness, other signposts mark additional benefits you receive.

• The peace of God

Rom 5:1 ...having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

One of the benefits of your new standing with God is that you are reconciled to Him and are no longer His enemy.

• The assurance of God

Rom 10:13 ..."Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved."

When you turn to Jesus, expressing your faith in prayer, you can be confident that God will save you.

• The family of God

Rom 8:16 The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God.

Not only does God save you from the penalty of your sin, He adopts you into His family.

• The security of God

Rom 8:38 ...I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

No matter what forces you may encounter, your relationship with God is eternally secure.

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Along with additional benefits come added responsibilities as you continue on the road and draw closer to God. These signposts mark ways your character can and should become increasingly like His character.

• The obedience of God

Rom 8:12 ...we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh—13 for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.

When you accept God's pardon for your sins, you are responsible to obey His precepts, and the Holy Spirit helps you to do that.

Rom 6:3 ...do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death?

One act of obedience should be to demonstrate publicly your purification from sin and your commitment to righteousness by being baptized.

• The will of God

Rom 12:1 ...I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, [which is] your Spiritual service of worship. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

As you turn over more of your life to His control by conforming what you do to what He commands, you understand better His will for your life.

• The contemplation of God

Rom 12:12c [Be] devoted to prayer,
Rom 15:4 ...whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.

You should spend time with God in prayer and Bible study. It does not have to be long periods, just regular periods.

• The testimony of God

Rom 10:14 How...will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher?

You should also take advantage of the opportunities that arise to tell others about your faith in Christ and about what God has done for you.

• The worship of God

Rom 16:27 To the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, be the glory forever. Amen.

Having received salvation, the most appropriate response from you is to praise God. Find a local church where you can worship Him with others and receive support for your faith.

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These are not the only signposts along The Roman Road, but they are among the most important ones, directing you to salvation and to an eternal relationship with God.

For a pdf see here.