The Romans' Road, Part 2

In yesterday's post, I introduced the Romans' Road - a 'map' that uses Paul's great Letter to the early disciples of Jesus, in the city of Rome, to set out a path, or road, to full salvation.

In that post, we had looked at the need to believe that Almighty God exists; the need to realise that you and I are sinners who need forgiveness; and the need to accept that Father God, out of His great love for us, has demonstrated that love by providing the potential for a new life, in Him, through the sacrificial death of the Lord Jesus, the Christ - Almighty God in the very human flesh that He had created.

However, as we move on to step 4, we need to realise that knowledge without action is of no use at all! If we remain sinners, we will die both physically (as is the lot of everyone until the rapture of the saints) and spiritually. However, if we repent of our sins, and accept the Lord Jesus as our Saviour and Lord, we shall have, here and now, eternal life - that is, the very life of Almighty God in us! 

So Paul writes: "For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Rom 6:23). Centuries before, the Jewish prophet Isaiah had written these inspired words: "Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, or His ear dull, that it cannot hear; but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hid His face from you so that He does not hear." (Isa 59:1-2). This is an Old Testament call to repentance! 

Perhaps the best-know words from the New Testament - John 3:16 - go further than those specific words: "For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God sent the Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. He who believes in Him is not condemned; he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the Name of the only Son of God." (John 3:16-18). Please note the high-lighted words. That word "have" is in the present tense. That means, as I have indicated above, that the new life in Jesus is not just something for after our physical death. It's something that we experience, and enjoy, here and now! And notice the phrase that is highlighted. Again, the tense is the present. When I believe (and the Greek word could be translated "have faith in" or "put my trust in") the Lord Jesus, I am no longer under Gods' condemnation! What an offer! And it is free to all who come to Jesus, in simple faith; confessing, and repenting of, their sin; and asking for His salvation!  

Step 5 is simple to understand - but not always easy to do! Paul writes: "... if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For man believes with his heart and so is justified, and he confesses with his lips and so is saved." (Rom 10:9-11). Oh, and ladies - "man" is used here generically, so you are fully included! Paul further writes, to the disciples of Jesus in Ephesus: "For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not your own doing, it is the gift of God - not because of works, lest any man should boast." (Eph 2:8-9). This is a reminder that we bring nothing to our salvation - except the sin, and sinfulness, from which we need to be saved. All is of Him - His love; His grace.

That leads us on to Step 6. There are no special rituals; there is no "magic formula"; "... there is no distinction ...; the same Lord is Lord of all and bestows His riches upon all who call upon Him. For, 'every one who calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved'." (Rom 10:12-13). 

The final step encourages you to determine, in your own heart, to make Jesus, the Christ, Lord of your life - today! "I appeal to you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may prove what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." (Rom 12:1-2).

The "Romans' Road" shows you the pathway. Are you ready to set out on that path? If you have decided to receive Jesus as your personal Saviour, and Lord, then may I welcome you to the biggest, and most wonderful, family in the world?! May I also encourage you to follow up on your commitment, and grow closer to Him by:

• telling someone else about your new faith, and life, in Jesus;
• being baptised, on your own confession of faith, as commanded in the Scriptures;
• spending time with God, each day, by reading His Word, and praying to Him. This doesn't need to be a long time, at the beginning, although as you are drawn ever closer to Him, you will discover that you want to spend more time in His presence!;
• seeking fellowship with other genuine disciples of Jesus. This is often done, most easily by
• finding a local group of believers, who accept the Bible as God's Word, and who seek to live by its teaching, in the power of God the Holy Spirit. I would be happy to help you find such a group in your area. Sadly, just as not every person who claims to be a "Christian" is a genuine disciple of Jesus, so not every group that refers to itself as "church" is Christ-, and Bible-centred!

It's a wonderful life, That I have been travelling for, now, more than sixty years. I have not been Jesus' best disciple - but that's why I am so glad that my salvation depends, not on anything that I may have achieved, but solely, and completely, on His finished work on the cross of Calvary. 

Hallelujah! Thank You, Jesus.