THINK SERIES The Roman Road

What’s Wrong With The Roman Road

we need to look at and understand the Roman Road.

We need to do this because of its misleading application of the Truth of Salvation.

Let us Examine The Roman Road

The Roman Road Romans 1:20-21: "For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened." We must acknowledge God as the Creator of everything and accept our humble position in God's creation.  

Romans 3:23 “For all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God.” The Roman Road Romans 3:23 “For all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God.” We must all realize that we are sinners and that we need forgiveness. We are not worthy of God’s grace.

The Roman Road Romans 5:8 “But God demonstrates His love toward us, in that, while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Through Jesus, God gave us a way to be saved from our sins. God showed us His love by giving us the potential for life through the death of His Son, Jesus Christ.

The Roman Road Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” If we remain sinners, we will die. However, if we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, and repent of our sins, we will have eternal life.

Call upon the name of the Lord and you will be saved! The Roman Road Romans 10:13 “For whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.” Call upon the name of the Lord and you will be saved!

The Roman Road Romans 11:36: "For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen." Determine in your heart to make Jesus Christ the Lord of your life today.

Now is the time they ask you to say a little prayer and presto   YOUR SAVED

The problem is that the book of Romans IS NOT Addressed to the sinner It is addressed to the CHURCH AT ROME

To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Romans 1:7 To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.  These people are already saved.  We have no right to read this book until we have entered into salvation. 

We need to understand the Bible, what books are to the sinner, what books to the Church etc.  Lets break it down into categories;

The Gospels Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. Gospel means “Good News”.  It is the good news that Jesus has brought Salvation to the sinner.  The Gospels contain the birth, life, ministry, death, burial and resurrection of Lord Jesus Christ.  Jesus tells us what we need to do to be saved, Jesus preached repentance as well as the need to be born again of the water and born again of the spirit in John 3:3-7.

the Acts of the Apostles The book of Acts, what the Apostles did, the history of the New Testament church.  How they applied the ministry of Christ.

The Epistles Epistle is a letter, letters to the churches.  Teaching the saints of the churches how to live, how to stay saved. We have the Pauline Epistles and also the General Epistles.

The book of Revelations, the end time, the judgment etc.

JUMP BACK To the Words of Jesus Jesus said many, many things. He preached Repentance, he preached baptism in his Name, he preached receiving the Gift of the Holy Ghost. Repentance – Matthew 3:2 – ( His first message ) Baptism – Mark 16:16 – ( Baptism is important ) Receiving the Holy Ghost – John 7:38-39 – ( Our Comforter ) Luke 24:47-49 And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And ye are witnesses of these things. And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high. Jesus told us in Luke 24:38-39 to preach repentance, remission of sins which is baptism ( Read Acts 2:38, Baptism in his name for REMISSION ) and also wait for the promise, the Holy Ghost and ye shall receive power ( Read Acts 1:8 ).

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. This verse aligns with the “ROMAN ROAD”. Unfortunately when we take a verse here and a verse there, we can make the Bible say anything. Things like a “Simple Belief System” and “Acceptance in our Hearts” become a true and pure message, easily digested, a feel good message. If we begin to read the whole chapter, the whole book, the whole Testament and the whole Bible, we begin to see the whole message. Lets start at the beginning of John chapter 3, here we find Jesus saying some hard words that are watered down or even rejected in most Christian churches in modern times as they are unpopular, and might offend our fleshy minds. John 3:3-5 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

John 3:3-5 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. How can one be BORN AGAIN? When the old man is dead! How do we die? Kill off the old man in Repentance! Having a Re-birth? Water – Baptism! Spirit – Receiving the Holy Ghost! Jesus said “Except a man be born of water and of the spirit, HE CANNOT ENTER INTO THE KINGDOM OF GOD” Seems like Jesus taught we need more than just a “Simple Belief System”, but rather a faith in him and a trust, so that we will prove our belief and follow his commandments. An act of obedience. 1 John 2:3-4 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. So many claim to be Born Again, when they have never truly repented, never been baptised in his name and never received the Holy Ghost ( The Bible way ).

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. We have gone to the beginning of John chapter 3, now lets go toward the end. John 3:36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. In this a passage Jesus proved the phrase “Believeth in him” really means to “OBEY HIM”. The phrase “Believeth Not” comes a single Greek word “APEITHEO” meaning – To disobey, be disobedient. By simple reasoning then “Believeth” means the exact opposite “To obey” So in John chapter 3 alone, we find ridiculous amounts of evidence against the simple “Roman Road” to salvation. If we believeth in him, we will be obedient to him, we will repent, we will be baptised, we will receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. If we accept the “ROMAN ROAD” for salvation, we are calling Jesus a liar.

ROMAN ROAD Some say – “Just BELIEVE in Jesus and you will be saved”. Satan and devils believe in Jesus! Are devils able to be saved? The Bible says “Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble” James 2:19. “For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment”: 2 Peter 2:4

BREAK THE BONDAGE OF FALSE DOCTRINES Jesus told us what to do to be saved in John 3:3 The Apostles told us how to do it in Acts 2:38.  And then the Epistles tell us how to stay saved, how to live, how to act.

Please reconsider your thinking on the Roman Road IT IS A LIE

Rockhampton Pentecostal church Our vision is that Jesus will be lifted up throughout all the earth that every soul will come to know the glorious gospel of our God. We read in the Bible of a glorious people, robed in righteousness and serving God with their whole heart. In the midst of this people the sick are healed, the broken are mended, the tormented find peace and the lost find purpose for their life. We are striving to be more like these people that place Jesus first, and who will ultimately live and reign with Him in eternity. We are a church which finds its strength only in Jesus, its direction only from God's Word and its objectives fulfilled through the power of the Holy Spirit. We will never give up and will not look for excuses why every person cannot know the hope and salvation that is found in Jesus Christ. Start Again