Romans Road Part 5

The Romans Road is God’s complete plan of salvation as detailed in the book of Romans. It begins by establishing that God is the creator of the universe, everything in it and the laws that govern it. The laws of the physical universe (physics, chemistry, biology, mathematics) and the moral laws (found in the Bible).

God created man to live on the earth in a loving relationship with Him (Romans 1:20-21). Adam and Eve ruined that perfect creation and loving relationship when they sinned, “through one man (Adam) sin entered into the world, and death through sin” (Romans 5:12).

Sin was not unique to Adam, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Each of us willfully violates God’s moral law. Violating God’s law has consequences, “For the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23). Death is both physical and spiritual. Physical death ushers in our spiritual death - eternal separation from God and punishment for our sins. Fortunately, the same verse goes on to tell us, “but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23).

We need this gift because there is nothing we can do to earn forgiveness for our sins. Therefore, Jesus (God in human flesh) paid the penalty for us, “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). Adam sinned and mankind experienced death. Jesus died and was resurrected so mankind could have life, “as sin reigned in death, even so grace would reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 5:21). While our physical life will still end in death, we will live eternally in the presence of God enjoying the loving relationship for which He designed us.

God’s initial creation and relationship with man were perfect. Sin destroyed that perfection and brought death physical and spiritual death into creation. Man continues to sin and cannot redeem himself. In the ultimate act of grace, Jesus paid the penalty for man’s sins – through His crucifixion and resurrection. Therefore, God offers us a gift, eternal life by grace through faith, if we will accept it. All this demonstrates God’s kindness and tolerance and patience.

We receive that gift through faith. Faith is the actions we take based on what we believe. In order to believe God, we must change our minds (repent) about what we currently believe. Currently man does not recognize God as their creator. They do not believe all of God’s moral law so they do not see themselves as sinners. They deny that a price must be paid for their sins; therefore, they see no need for a redeemer.

We must repent from our false beliefs and agree with God about what we are, what we deserve and how to escape eternal death. In an act of ultimate kindness Jesus died for us - “the kindness of God leads you to repentance” (Romans 2:4).