The Roman's Road

End goal: Students to understand salvation and receive it if they haven’t received it yet.

The Human Problem

In Genesis 3 we read the story of sin entering the world through Adam and Eve

When God created us, He created us in His image

God is “Spirit” (John 4:24) so we don’t “look like” God

We resemble God meaning we are different than the animals (we have dominion over them) and we were made to imitate Christ

Romans 3:23

Romans 3:23 ESV

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

We’ve all sinned

Sin is a disconnect from God (activity we do that goes directly against God’s will)

So what? What does that mean?

Romans 6:23 (first half)

Romans 6:23 ESV

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

The consequence for our sin is DEATH

If it weren’t for the next part, we would die as sinners and be eternally in pain in hell

Humanity’s Hope in Christ

Romans 5:8

Romans 5:8 ESV

but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

If you don’t know the story of Jesus, here’s a quick synopsis:

Jesus lived a perfect life (no sin physically or mentally), crucified on a cross (bearing our sins), dies, and resurrects three days later, therefore defeating death and saving us from our sins and the wages of sin (death)

Why do we still die? (Ask me later)

The Sinner’s Response

Our response is simple but genuine

Romans 10:9-10

Romans 10:9–10 ESV

because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.

That’s it! When given a gift, you don’t try to pay someone back for buying the gift for you do you? All you do is accept the gift and say “thank you!”

The Result of Salvation

So we’ve accepted Jesus into our life... what now?

Romans 5:1-2

Romans 5:1–2 ESV

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

Jesus begins living in and through us which we call the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:9)

Glove Illustration (Glove can’t pick up the Bible on it’s own)

So What is Baptism?

Going public with our faith (Matt 10:32-33)

Matthew 10:32–33 ESV

So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.

An act of obedience (Matt 28:19)

Matthew 28:19 ESV

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

Unites all believers (1 Corinthians 12:13)

1 Corinthians 12:13 ESV

For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit.