The Romans Road to Salvation – 12 Steps in Understanding the True Gospel

The purpose of this study is to simply walk through the Bible Book of Romans to understand the True Gospel. Too often, people simply take one or two verses out of context to understand salvation. This ‘longer’ Romans Road attempts to clearly depict the True Gospel, which is that people are utterly unable to merit salvation by any means including their vain attempt at exercising saving faith. Saving faith is a gift from God to His chosen people. Faith itself is called a work in the Bible (John 6:28-29, 1 Thess 1:3, James 2:17-19, etc.). It is the faith of Christ that is given to His people by which they are saved (Phil 3:9, Gal 2:20, Phil 1:9, Eph 2:8-9, Eph 1:4-5, etc.).

Please visit other webpages on this website for a more detailed study on the True Gospel of Saving Faith and Election in general. Click You Tube video link below or continue the study that follows.

Background – Romans Road to salvation

Romans Road used by many Evangelicals to share the Gospel
- Typically, only 4 to 7 verses (omit key portions of the Book of Romans, leads to a false gospel)
  - Many ‘dispensationalists’ believe that Ro 9-11 do not really apply to Gentile Christians
- 113 Provinces of Rome interconnected by 372 roads
- Total length – 400,000 km (250,000 miles) – 20% stone-paved
- Many Roads still visible
  - Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_roads
- Vast majority of evangelicals believe in free will (DIY gospel)
- Example:
  - None righteous … all have sinned … Ro 3:10,23
  - The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ … Ro 6:23
  - While we were sinners, Christ died for us – Ro 5:8
  - If you confess with your mouth, the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved – Ro 10:9
  - For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved – Ro 10:13
  - Implies ‘free will’ salvation

Step 1 – The utter inability of man to please God

As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understands, there is none that seeks after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one…For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God. – Ro 3:10-12, 23

Step 2 – Although the truth of God is evident, mankind practices ungodliness and unrighteousness

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God has showed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse. Ro 1:18-20

Step 3 – The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life

For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. – Ro 6:23
Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned. Ro 5:12
The soul that sins, it shall die … Eze 18:20

Step 4 – God commends His love to us, that Christ died and saved us from the wrath of God

But God commends His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. – Ro 5:8-9
God is Love, God sent His only begotten Son – 1 John 4:7-9

Step 5 – God’s mercy is not based on man’s free will or work, but only by God’s mercy to those He has chosen

For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calls; It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger. As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated…For he says to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. So then it is not of him that wills, nor of him that runs, but of God that shows mercy. – Ro 9:11-13, 15-16
Stumbling block of ‘Election’
You have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you … (John 15:16)

Step 6 – The righteousness of God (witnessed by the law and prophets) is by the Faith of Jesus Christ

But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference. – Ro 3:21-22
And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: (Php 3:9)

Step 7 – The Faith of Jesus Christ is given to His people (Eph 2:9-10, Phil 1:29, 2 Pet 1:1, John 6:65, etc.) resulting in righteousness and salvation

That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. – Ro 10:9-10
Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Savior Jesus Christ (2Pe 1:1)
For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake; (Php 1:29)

Step 8 – Although offensive to man, the Gospel reveals the righteousness of God, from Faith to faith

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, the just shall live by faith. – Ro 1:16-17

The Gospel is offensive / hated
Faith to faith – Faith of Jesus Christ given to His people to believe
John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven. (Joh 3:27)

Step 9 – Christians have access to peace with God by being justified by the faith that comes from our Lord Jesus Christ

Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. – Ro 5:1-2
Faith – the Faith of Christ given to His people by His sovereign good pleasure

Step 10 –Due to the leading of the indwelling Holy Spirit of God, the body of a Christian is considered dead, but the Christian’s spirit is alive

But ye are not in the flesh, but in the spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness…For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. – Ro 8:9-10, 14

Step 11 –Every Christian will not walk after the flesh, but by the spirit, fulfill the righteousness of the law

There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death…That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. – Ro 8:1-2, 4
If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1Jn 1:8-9)
For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. (Gal 5:17)

Step 12 – Therefore, Christians present themselves as sacrifices by not conforming to the world, but being transformed by the renewing of their minds

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. – Ro 12:1-2
For it is God which works in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. Php 2:13