EVANGELISM: THE ROMANS ROAD METHOD OF EVANGELISM

 WRITTEN BY KLEVINE GERALD

What is evangelism?

Evangelism is spreading the good news/gospel about Jesus. That is perhaps one of the simplest definitions that one can give when asked the question. It is revealing God’s unconditional love to the dying humanity. It is this revelation that brings man to the loving Father.

What is the Romans Road Method of evangelism?

The Romans Road method of evangelism is an intellectual presentation of the gospel through the systemic layout of scriptures from the book of Romans. So, scriptures are properly laid out from the book of Romans so as to bring to light the manner in which God’s salvation is provided towards mankind. This method follows a simple five steps format answering some of the fundamental questions that are connected to salvation. The steps are laid out in question format for simplification and are as follows:

1.      Who needs salvation?

2.      Why do they need salvation?

3.     How does God provide salvation?

4.     How does one receive salvation?

5.      What are the results of receiving salvation?

Let us get straight into the word as we follow these steps and try to answer the questions. Oooh am now getting excited!!!

Who needs salvation?

To answer this question let us open our bibles in the book of Romans 3 verses 9, 10 and 23

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:

Romans 3:9-10 KJV

For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God…

Romans 3:23

These verses illustrate that it is people who need salvation and not just people but unsaved people. “But what do you mean brother? Paul said there is none righteous?” Well said my friend. Let us dig into scriptures to get clarity. Remember scripture interprets scripture. Let us look again at what Paul said.

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: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God…Romans 3:9-10;23 KJV

“Aha!!!! Now you see brother!!” Now wait a little bit my friend. Paul was writing explaining to the saints about why man needed salvation and the state of mankind outside of God’s Saving Grace. That is why He wrote and said we have proved that both Jews and Gentiles, they are under sin…For all have sinned and, come short of the glory of God. First of all, as I have said Paul was explaining to the saints that is people who were already saved about the state of mankind outside the will of God which is salvation from sin and the consequences of sin. Secondly, he made it plain that man had fallen short of the glory of God that is being separated from God because of their sin. Let us, move a little bit further to get a clear understanding. Get set go!!

For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

Romans 3:23-24

Those who believe in the Lord Jesus have been freely justified by what? It is by the grace of God. Well done friend. So, you see it is those that are unsaved that Paul was referring to. But they also have the chance to be saved if they are willing to believe in the finished work of Christ. We shall touch on this as we dive deeper on how one can receive salvation and be part of those who have been called to be saints. So, we have established that it is the dying humanity outside of the will of God who needs to be saved from sin. I hope we are now on common grounds.

Why do they need salvation?

Remember what Paul said regarding the saints that they are justified freely by the grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. Another question then rises: Why do they need salvation? Can we just live without this salvation thing? Well, my friend, again let scripture answer this question. Let us open our bibles from the book of Romans again chapter 6:23. Let us read together:

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (KJV)

Our sins deserve a penalty and that penalty is death. When one is not saved, he has no hope except the fear expectation of God’s judgement which is specifically reserved for those who do not believe and receive him. We cannot have a relationship with God without being saved from the power of sin. It is sin that made man to lose intimacy with His God. And man!! It is not possible to be reconciled with God without believing in what He has done through His Son on the cross. Simply put, no Jesus no hope, no hope no salvation. There is no other way. Jesus is the only way my friend. Man is just in danger of the coming wrath or anger of God on the sons of disobedience if he refuses to believe.

Colossians 3:6 For which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: (KJV)

Colossians 3:7 In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them. (KJV)

I cannot explain it better than this. The son sons of disobedience being referred to here are unbelievers. That is why Paul had to say that ye also walked some time meaning saints or those who are saved once were connected to the sons of disobedience and their lifestyle but because of faith in Christ they were set apart or made righteous. Does it mean they have to sin? No way. The grace of God which they have received empowers them to live a righteously and also helps them in their moments of weaknesses. Christ has settled their accounts once and for all. Praise the Lord. And He is ready to set your if you can just believe and receive Him. But you might say how is this possible brother? Well, my loving friend let us dig a little further and see just how God has made this possible. Are we ready. Let us go!!

How does God provide salvation?

Romans 5:6-7 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. (KJV)

Romans 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (KJV)

God has provide a way. Aren’t you glad that He just did? No one is worthy to come in His presence. No one is worthy to be called righteous. No one is worthy to be justified by Him. The unconditional love is provided for underserving man. To man without strength, man battling and struggling with sin, man in desperate need of a savior---God has made a way. For when we were without strength in due time Christ died for the ungodly. Christ is the way. Christ is the only way. For there is no other name through which we can be saved but the name Jesus. Jesus is the way and the only Way. And to show just how God did it let us go back a little bit to the scriptures that we read.

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (KJV)

Remember we established that our sin deserved death. But look at this. Please read this slowly, loudly and attentively. There is just something mind-boggling about this following scripture:

Romans 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (KJV)

Our sin deserved death but Christ came at the instruction of God to die on our behalf. The world full of sin and very…very corrupt. With all kinds of sinful stuff that goes on around us. With the extremes of wickedness of mankind. With all kinds of lies, murders, adultery, gossiping, deception, revelries…the list goes on and on. But…...But…...But…. But……But……But……But… But!!! God proved His loved and showed it by offering His Son to die for such man. This is too good to be true man!!! This is just reckless love. And He loved us when we were still in our sins. ‘You might say but brother I have sin. You don’t know all the stuff that I did”. Well, beloved friend God is willing to accept you. You just need to believe. He did not spare His only son for a careless people. He made a righteous man to die for an unrighteous people. His love is way beyond our comprehension. Can you offer your son to die for someone else? Can you offer Him to die especially for a sinful person? But God did it!! This is just mindboggling!! “Well, you have said that brother but how can I receive this salvation.” What do I have to do? This is exactly what we want to establish in the next step. Are you ready for this. Lest us dive in.

How does one receive salvation?

Romans 10:9-10 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. (KJV)

Read the scripture again. According to this scripture one has to confess with his own mouth that Jesus is the Lord and believe in his heart that God has raised Him is the from the dead. That is exactly how one receives this precious gift offered by a loving Father to salvation.  Once you believe and confess this Jesus becomes part of you and you become part of Him. This means He literally comes in to dwell inside you and He begins to function in you, giving you the strength you need to live the life that He intended for you from the beginning of creation. That is, you begin to walk the righteous life that He wishes for you. As we are finishing up. OH, what a journey it has been. Let us look at the benefits or the results of having being born again or receiving salvation.

What are the results of receiving salvation?

For this final step let us lay scriptures that reveals the life of a person who has received Jesus. Our focus is mainly the book of Romans so we will not offer an exhaustive list but thus will act as the basic knowledge to help you understand the life of a believer. For one last time. Let us go!!!

Romans 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: (KJV)

Romans 8:1 (NIV)Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,

Romans 8:38-39 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (KJV)

We thank the Lord for taking us through this journey together my friend. May the good Lord help you to grow in His word. We have just come to the end of this powerful session.

Prayer to receive Christ.

If you haven’t received Christ and you would love to do so let us pray this prayer together. Wherever you just believe in your heart and pray this prayer with your mouth:

Heavenly Father, thank You for Your love for me, for sending Jesus Christ to die on the cross for all my sins. His precious blood washes me clean. You raised Him from the dead. He’s alive today. And I thank You all my sins are forgiven. I’m righteous by the blood. I’m under God’s favor. And I thank You Father that surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life from this day forth. In Jesus’ name, Amen.