Romans 3:23
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God…
Romans 6:23
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 5:8
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Romans 10:9-10
If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.
Romans 10:13
For, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
Devotion
As we close out our study of the Book of Romans, it is important to look back and review some key passages from Romans. The five verses above are usually referred to as The Romans Road. These passages provide a roadmap through Paul’s Christology. They explain the problem of sin, man’s dilemma, God’s provision, and our appropriate response to God’s grace and mercy.
So, the Romans Road to salvation is a way of explaining the Good News of salvation using verses from the Book of Romans. It is a simple, yet powerful method of explaining why we need salvation, how God provided salvation, how we can receive salvation, and what are the results of salvation.
The first verse on the Romans Road to salvation is Romans 3:23, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” We have all sinned. We have all done things that are displeasing to God. There is no one who is innocent. Romans 3:10-18 gives a detailed picture of what sin looks like in our lives. The second Scripture on the Romans Road to salvation, Romans 6:23, teaches us about the consequences of sin: “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” The punishment that we have earned for our sins is death. Not just physical death, but eternal death!
The third verse on the Romans Road to salvation picks up where Romans 6:23 left off, “but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 5:8 declares, “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Jesus Christ died for us! Jesus’ death paid for the price of our sins. Jesus’ resurrection proves that God accepted Jesus’ death as the payment for our sins.
The fourth stop on the Romans Road to salvation is Romans 10:9, “that 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.” 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! Romans 10:13 says it again, “for everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Jesus died to pay the penalty for our sins and rescue us from eternal death. Salvation, the forgiveness of sins, is available to anyone who will trust in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.
The final aspect of the Romans Road to salvation is the results of salvation. Romans 5:1 has this wonderful message, “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Through Jesus Christ we can have a relationship of peace with God. Romans 8:1 teaches us, “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” Because of Jesus’ death on our behalf, we will never be condemned for our sins. Finally, we have this precious promise of God from Romans 8:38-39, “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Questions to Ponder
Would you like to follow the Romans Road to salvation? If so, here is a simple prayer you can pray to God. Saying this prayer is a way to declare to God that you are relying on Jesus Christ for your salvation. The words themselves will not save you. Only faith in Jesus Christ can provide salvation! “God, I know that I have sinned against you and am deserving of punishment. But Jesus Christ took the punishment that I deserve so that through faith in Him I could be forgiven. With your help, I place my trust in You for salvation. Thank You for Your wonderful grace and forgiveness—the gift of eternal life! Amen!”
If you prayed to receive Christ today, let somebody know that you became a part of God’s family! You can also reply to this email and I will pray for you as you begin your new spiritual journey. – Pastor Dave
Prayer Points
- Worship the LORD as the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. Praise Him for being the Resurrection and the Life, the One and Only, Savior, Word made flesh, Immanuel God with us, Holy Spirit that seals us in Christ, etc.
- Pray for every single person who heard Bob/Shirley’s sermon this past weekend and read Pastor Dave’s devotional today. Pray for eyes to be open, hearts receptive, and mouths declaring Jesus Christ is Lord of their life. Pray they reach out and share with others that they are born again!
- Thank the Lord for your own walk with the LORD. Ask the Lord to empower and enable you to move toward others today in the love of Jesus Christ and share the Gospel.
- Pray for every brother and sister at Oak Pointe and in the greater one church, that we will live a life that is pleasing to the LORD, walking in the fullness of Him, and loving Jesus and loving others.
Suggested Prayer
Bright Morning Star that rises in my heart, Ancient of Days, Eternal God, King of Glory, I declare You are perfect, holy, powerful, and all-together lovely. I cannot thank You enough, Lord, for opening my eyes, tenderizing my heart, and inviting me to receive You, Jesus Christ, into my heart.
Thank You for my salvation. Thank You for loving me so well and richly blessing me with Yourself, by Your Spirit that lives within me. Thank You for forgiving me from my sins and reconciling me back to You. Thank You that I have victory in You on this side of eternity. Help me, Lord, to depend upon You for all things. Give me a greater hunger for Your Word. Help me to understand it, remember it, and live it out. Teach me how to pray daily, Abba. Show me how to love, forgive, bless, serve, and fearlessly make known the Gospel, just as Paul did. Oh God, teach me and Your beloved church Your ways. Cause us to be holy and blameless unto the end. I ask in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.