The Roman Road of Salvation

Since there is considerable confusion regarding what we must do to be saved, it was put on my heart to explain the road to salvation. Many wrongly believe that God's word is rife with contradictions. Scholars have proven otherwise. But it is now necessary that we look upon God the Father's heart regarding the matter of salvation, my friends, for God cannot lie.

"The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance" (2 Peter 3:9, NIV).

He is not willing. However, He does not force anyone to believe. For what God would compel one to believe? Free will (volition) is our ability to live the way we prefer. We see then God is not willing to see his creation suffer the eternal suffering in the Lake of Fire. However, the majority of humanity rejects God.

To clarify lest there be any confusion, the Roman road is not the roads of the ancient Roman Empire. These were built primarily by Roman soldiers beginning around 300 B.C. in order to move Roman troops to trouble spots within the vast Empire. They were used to put down any resistance.

Let's take a look at the Roman Road, as it is the way of salvation in the Holy Bible, the 100% true word of God. Let's look at the first step along the road.

"...for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God..." (Romans 3:23, NIV). Sin began in the Garden of Eden when Adam and Eve rebelled against God. They fell for the temptation of the serpent (Satan). This led to their spiritual death and eventual physical death. Sin was passed down to humanity from Adam and Eve, and everyone born is born into a sinful condition. Everyone, even infants.

The second step along the road: "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 6:23, NIV). All have sinned and all are condemned to death both physically and spiritually. What shall we do in this case? How can we avoid this? Let's find out, for our eternal destiny is at stake.

Step three of the walk. "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8, NIV). In the book of John in the New Testament the word love is often repeated.

Jesus suffered a horrible beating and eventual death on the cross. This was the plan for humanity of God the Father to reconcile humanity to Him for those who believe on Christ Jesus. In the Old Testament, believers were saved by faith by looking forward to the cross. After the death, burial and resurrection to life of Jesus, people looked back to the cross.

Notably, even the ancient historian Josephus, wrote about the existence of Jesus. This archaic testimony adds credence to the Bible and comes from outside of the Biblical text.

Continue to walk with me here. "If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved" (Romans 10:9-10, 13, NIV).

You see, a public confession is required of us after belief.

Moving on we read: "Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ" (Romans 5:1, NIV). This doesn't mean we will have peace in this evil world but rather peace with God. He has us in His able hands! In this life trials, tribulations and temptations will beset us. But our attitude is 90% of how we will react, 10% of what befalls us in this life.

And here's the great part! Once you have made a profession of faith, we observe this: "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus" (Romans 8:1, NIV).

You see, those who do not believe are condemned already, but we who believe are not. We are set free! God the Father cannot look on sin. However, and receive this truth: When the Father looks upon us, He doesn't see our sin but rather Jesus atoning for our sins past, present and future. Jesus is the propitiation for our sins. This means he paid the price for sin when he hung on the cross. The Bible tells us that from noon till 3 p.m. the world went dark while Jesus took upon Him the sins of the world.

And here is added assurance, my friends: "For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 8:38-39, NIV). Once we place our faith in the finished work of Jesus on the cross, absolutely nothing can separate us from God. What a gift! And it is absolutely free!

My prayer for those who have read this will accept God's free gift of salvation. May the Holy Spirit guide you in your decision.