Romans Road

Primary passages: Romans 3:23; 6:23; 5:8; 10:9–13 Goal: Use Romans to explain the Gospel in a conversation, not merely recite references.

Review

Ask someone to explain God → Sin → Christ → Response in one minute.

Then ask: “If a friend said, ‘How do you know that is true?’ where would you take them in the Bible?”

Introduce the Romans Road as one useful route through Scripture, not the only biblical way to share the Gospel.

Our need: Romans 3:23

Romans 3:23 NLT

23 For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.

Read the verse. Ask:

“Who does all include?”

“What does sin mean?”

“Whose standard have we fallen short of?”

Model an explanation that includes yourself: “We have sinned,” rather than “You are a sinner.”

Demonstrate: “This verse says every one of us, including me, has fallen short of God’s good and holy standard.”

Sin’s consequence: Romans 6:23a

Romans 6:23 NLT

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

Read the first half of the verse. Explain the word wages: what sin earns.

Ask: “What is the difference between wages and a gift?”

Do not race to the next reference. Give the listener time to understand why salvation is needed.

Christ’s love: Romans 5:8

Romans 5:8 NLT

8 But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.

Read the verse. Emphasize that Christ died for us while we were still sinners. God did not wait for us to make ourselves worthy.

Connect the cross to the resurrection through 1 Corinthians 15:3–4. Do not present Jesus’ death without telling the listener that He rose again.

God’s gift: Romans 6:23b

Romans 6:23 NLT

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

Return to the rest of Romans 6:23. Salvation is a gift in Christ, not a reward for religious performance.

Ask: “If someone said, ‘I hope I have been good enough,’ how would you answer from this verse?”

Our response: Romans 10:9–13

Romans 10:9–13 NLT

9 If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved. 11 As the Scriptures tell us, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced.” 12 Jew and Gentile are the same in this respect. They have the same Lord, who gives generously to all who call on him. 13 For “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

Read the passage. Explain that faith means trusting the risen Jesus as Lord. Confession expresses that faith; repeating certain words is not a magical act.

Ask: “What would you say to someone who knows facts about Jesus but is trusting their own goodness?”

Partner practice

One person says: “I am a good person. Why would I need to be saved?”

The other person uses the Romans passages, stopping to explain each one and ask a question. Switch roles halfway through.

The listener should ask at least one question or express one misunderstanding. The speaker should respond conversationally rather than trying to finish a memorized presentation.

Assignment

Mark the passages in your Bible. Practice explaining the Romans Road aloud to one believer, then look for an appropriate opportunity to discuss it with someone who needs Christ.

Central statement: The Romans Road is a guide for a conversation, not a script to rush through.