The Romans Road: Explaining the Gospel Clearly

Introduction

Thank you for being here tonight. I am going to make some assumptions about you being here. I believe you want to go further. You want to take what we learn together here and apply it to your life. With that being the case I would like to adjust our Sunday evenings to help take us all further. Which means the evenings will have a different format then the morning, on many occassions. Not for the sake of novelty but for the sake of desiring to be effective in our pursuit of letting this Word change our lives.

Many believers love the gospel deeply but feel unsure how to explain it clearly. If someone asked, “How does someone become a Christian?” many believers know pieces of the answer but struggle to walk someone through the message step by step. The early church did not struggle with this.‌

Acts 8:4 KJV

4 Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.

Ordinary believers carried the message everywhere they went. The goal tonight is simple. To help every believer confidently explain the gospel directly from Scripture.

Then: We will spend time in prayer asking God to open doors for us to walk in and share this message.

Romans 3:23 — We sin Romans 6:23 — Sin kills Romans 5:8 — Christ died Romans 6:23 — God gives Romans 10:9 — We believe Romans 10:13 — God saves

Simple path to remember:

Sin → Death → Christ → Gift → Faith → Saved

1. We All Sin

We are more sinful than we think

Romans 3:23 KJV

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

No one escapes this condition.

The standard is God’s holiness, not comparison with others.

Our problem is deeper than behavior.

Sin is breaking the commands of God? Have you done this? The Ten Commandments makes it clear that we have.

Transition:

If everyone sins, the next question becomes obvious.

What does sin produce?

2. Sin Brings Death

Sin is more deadly than we realize

Romans 6:23 KJV

23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Wages are something earned.

The payment is death.

Sin separates us from the life God created us to have.

At this point a natural question arises.

If sin leads to death, is there any hope for sinners?

3. Christ Died for Sinners

Jesus did more than we imagine

Romans 5:8 KJV

8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

God Took the Initiative

Humanity could not solve the problem of sin

God acted. “But God.”

Christ died in our place

Jesus took the penalty our sin deserved.

Once someone understands the cross, the question changes again.

How does someone receive what Christ accomplished?

4. Eternal Life Is God’s Gift

Grace is bigger than we deserve

Romans 6:23 KJV

23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Salvation is a gift received or rejected, but never earned. Death is deserved. Forgiveness cannot be earned.

The gift comes through Jesus Christ

Salvation is found in Him alone.

False religion says earn your way to God. The gospel says God gives what we could never earn.

If salvation is a gift, the next question becomes simple.

How does someone receive that gift?

5. Salvation Is Received by Faith

Faith is simpler than we expect

Romans 10:9 KJV

9 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.

Faith Trusts Christ

Trust that Christ died and rose again.

Acknowledge His authority.

Not through works or religion.

Someone might still ask one final question.

Is this promise really for anyone?

6. Anyone Who Calls on Christ Will Be Saved

Salvation is closer than we believe

Romans 10:13 KJV

13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

The Invitation Is for Everyone

“Whosoever” removes barriers

Calling on the Lord means trusting Him

God promises salvation

This verse is one of the clearest promises in Scripture. Anyone who calls on Christ in faith will be saved.

Conclusion

We sin. Sin kills. Christ died. God gives. We believe. God saves.