I had a friend who was thinking about becoming a missionary with Wycliffe Bible Translators. To prepare for this he went through Summer Institute in Linguistics (SIL). On the application for this program he was asked to explain how he would share the gospel with someone who had no knowledge of the Bible, or of our Lord Jesus. And he had to do it in 3 minutes!
Dr. Francis Schaeffer was
asked once how he would share the gospel with someone if he had one
hour to do it in. Dr. Schaeffer said that he would spend the first 45
minutes talking about sin and guilt and judgment, and the last 15
minutes telling them about Jesus, the cross, and how they could be
saved.
I want to give my version of The Roman Road to Salvation, using only the Bible, and combining the two ideas above:
The Roman Road to Salvation
Romans 1:18-32:
Romans 1:18-32:
"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 hath shewed
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 they are without excuse: Because
that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were
they thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish
heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools.
And changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like
to corruptible men, and to birds, and four footed beasts, and creeping
things. Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts
of their own hearts, to dishonor their own bodies between themselves:
Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshiped and served the
creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. For this
cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did
change the natural use into that which is against nature: and likewise
also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their
lusts, one towards another; men with men, working that which is
unseamly, and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error
which was meet. And even as they did not like to retain God in their
knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things
which are not convenient; being filled with all unrighteousness,
fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy,
murder, debate, deceit, malignity, whisperers, backbiters, haters of
God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient
to parents, without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural
affection, implacable, unmerciful: Who knowing the judgment of God, that
they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the
same, but have pleasure in them that do them.
Romans 3:9-18:
"What
then? Are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before
proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin; As it is
written, There is none righteous, no, not one: there is none that
understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone
out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none
that doeth good, no, not one. Their throat is an open sepulchre ; with
their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their
lips: whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: Their feet are
swift to shed innocent blood: Destruction and misery are in their ways:
And the way of peace they have not known: There is no fear of God before
their eyes."
Romans 3:23:
"For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God."
Romans 5:8:
"But God commended his love toward us in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."
Romans 6:23:
"For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life, through Jesus Christ our Lord."
Romans 10:9,10:
"That
if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and 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."
Romans 10:13:
"For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."
Recommended reading, listening and viewing:
