Pastor Bear here. We talked on Sunday about some useful models to learn that are helpful when sharing your faith with others. One of the most popular is known as “The Romans Road”. Don Hess wrote a great article explaining the Romans Road which I was eager to share with you.
by Don Hess
The “Romans Road” consists of verses from the book of Romans that can help in bringing saving knowledge into a spiritual conversation.
It is not intended to be a regimented approach to leading a person to the Lord, but helps the pre-Christian to have a basic understanding of salvation. It is the Lord (Holy Spirit) that brings saving faith into the heart. You are there only as a messenger of the Gospel that the Lord uses to walk alongside the inquiring person.
We need not fear saying something wrong, but just be respectful and courageous in presenting the “Good News.” “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes,…” Romans 1:16a (ESV)
Spiritual conversations can start in many ways – so having at least one 30-Second Story ready could start the walk down the Romans Road. There are many ways to tell God’s story of salvation; this is only one short sequence to get you started.
We need not fear saying something wrong, but just be respectful and courageous in presenting the “Good News.”
A few benefits for using the “Romans” path is that it keeps the conversation in one book of the Bible in a logical sequence of Biblical events that leads from humankind’s sin problem to an eternal solution.
Your caring conversational style needs always to be respectful of the person’s boundaries, allowing the person to think through the story, instead of giving a “sales pitch”. Listening and answering their questions is also important.
Depending upon the situation – and the time you have with the person – you may simply tell of God’s salvation plan by using your own words. However, taking up the “Sword of the Spirit” and having memorized the Scriptures is a great asset in keeping the conversation short and flowing.
Here are the verses we recommend learning so that you can walk a friend down the Romans Road:
1. Romans 3:23. God’s story starts with the problem. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
2. Romans 5:8. God loves us and has provided a solution. “But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
3. Romans 5:12. How did it happen? “Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin,…so death spread to all men because all sinned.”
4. Romans 6:23. What is God’s solution? “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” We cannot earn God’s gift of forgiveness. All we can do is reach out and receive His gift.
5. Romans 10:9b. What can we do? Actually nothing – but by faith – “…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.” Saved from what? – eternal death – forever separated from God. (eternal punishment).
6. Romans 10:13. How do I know that God will hear my prayer? “For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
Remember in sharing the gospel with others our Lord’s frequent comparison of evangelism to gardening. Your role in a given conversation may be to plant a seed, or water it, or do a little weeding. Sometimes you will be privileged to be present when a person crosses the line of faith.
How do you know when that time comes? You will sense by the Holy Spirit when the person is ready. And when that happens, you can guide them to pray a prayer similar to this:
“Father in Heaven, I believe that Jesus Christ died in my place to save me from my sins. I believe that he rose again from the dead and is my Savior. I am truly sorry for my sins and ask you to forgive me and give me the gift of eternal life. I do trust Jesus as my Savior and desire to follow Him as my Lord. Help me to live in a way that is pleasing and honoring to You. In Jesus Name. Amen”
Remember we are only the messenger – God is the one who brings salvation into the heart of the person. “My soul will rejoice in the Lord, exulting in his salvation.” Psalm 35:9a