By Ray Gano
In the past 50 or so years we as Christians have been losing much of our knowledge of the Bible. In other words we are becoming scripturally ignorant.
To prove that point, you can go to just about any church today and pick someone out randomly and they could not share the gospel with someone, nor do they have enough of a biblical understanding and knowledge to do this by scripture.
The answer that often comes out of someone's mouth when asked to share the gospel… "let me go get my pastor."
Sad thing is that in today's "sugar coated" world, many pastors also lack the same knowledge and can't share the gospel either.
In fact, most people today can rarely quote scripture at all save that of John 3:16. In fact the next time you hear someone quote it at work or on the street, ask them to then explain what it means, odds are they can't do that either.
Because of this I have felt the need to get back to some Bible basics and teach people how to share the gospel with both Jews and Gentiles.
Scripture says…
Romans 1:16 (KJV) For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
Many have heard about the Romans Road to Salvation, but many do not know what scriptures to turn to so that they can walk someone through the plan of salvation scripturally.
Just to clarify, The Romans Road lays out the plan of salvation through a series of Bible verses from the book of Romans. When arranged in order, these verses form an easy, systematic way of explaining the message of salvation. When I am sharing the gospel, I use a modified form of the Romans Road, but before you can modify it yourself, you first need to know the basics. Anyone from missionaries, evangelists and lay people can memorize and use Romans Road when sharing the good news. In fact a good idea is to highlight all the scriptures used in the Romans Road so that you can jump to them easily. Also write a "crib note" of chapter and verses and paste them to the inside cover of your Bible so that you have that handy and in case you cannot remember the exact verse.
The Romans Road clearly defines:
- Who needs salvation.
- Why we need salvation.
- How God provides salvation.
- How we receive salvation.
- The results of salvation.
The Romans Road of Salvation
Everyone needs salvation because we have all sinned.
Romans 3:10 (KJV) As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one
Romans 3:12 (KJV) They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.
Romans 3:23 (KJV) For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
The consequence (the price) of sin is death.
Romans 6:23 (KJV) For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Jesus Christ died for our sins. He paid the price for our death.
Romans 5:8 (KJV) But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
We receive salvation and eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ.
Romans 10:9 (KJV) 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.
Romans 10:10 (KJV) For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Romans 10:13 (KJV) For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved
Salvation through Jesus Christ brings us into a relationship of peace with God.
Romans 5:1 (KJV) Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
Romans 8:1 (KJV) There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.Romans 8:38 (KJV) For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
Romans 8:39 (KJV) 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.
Responding to The Romans Road
If you believe The Romans Road leads to the path of truth, you can respond by receiving God's free gift of salvation today. Here's how to take a someone down The Romans Road in prayer:
- Admit you are a sinner in need of a savior.
- Understand that as a sinner, you deserve death.
- Believe Jesus Christ died on the cross to save you from sin and death.
- Repent by turning from your old life of sin to a new life in Christ.
- Receive, through faith in Jesus Christ, his free gift of salvation.
The Jerusalem Road - How To Share The Gospel with Jews
Romans 1:16 (KJV) For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
Often we forget that we need to share the Gospel with the Jews, they are God's Chosen people and the apple of His eye. But in spite of that, they are still sinners in need of a savior and when you talk to someone who is Jewish, they do not readily accept the New Testament. So how do you share the gospel with them? You use the Old Testament.
The method of using the Old Testament is often referred to as "The Jerusalem Road."
We often forget that Scripture tells us to take the Gospel to the Jew first and then also to the Greek. But it is often difficult to share the Gospel with the Jew because they do not see Jesus Christ as the messiah and the son of God. Because they will not readily accept the New Testament, using the Romans Road scriptures are difficult, like I said, the Jewish people do not recognize the New Testament.
The Jerusalem Road of Salvation
There is none without sin
Psalms 14:3 (KJV) They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one.
Psalms 51:5 (KJV) Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.
Psalms 53:6 (KJV) Oh that the salvation of Israel were come out of Zion! When God bringeth back the captivity of his people, Jacob shall rejoice, and Israel shall be glad.
Good deeds cannot purify
Isaiah 64:6 (KJV) But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.
God requires a blood sacrifice
Leviticus 17:11 (KJV) For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul.
Applying the blood of the Messiah
Exodus 12:21 (KJV) Then Moses called for all the elders of Israel, and said unto them, Draw out and take you a lamb according to your families, and kill the passover.
Exodus 12:22 (KJV) And ye shall take a bunch of hyssop, and dip it in the blood that is in the bason, and strike the lintel and the two side posts with the blood that is in the bason; and none of you shall go out at the door of his house until the morning.
Exodus 12:23 (KJV) For the LORD will pass through to smite the Egyptians; and when he seeth the blood upon the lintel, and on the two side posts, the LORD will pass over the door, and will not suffer the destroyer to come in unto your houses to smite you.
Leviticus 16:15 (KJV) Then shall he kill the goat of the sin offering, that is for the people, and bring his blood within the vail, and do with that blood as he did with the blood of the bullock, and sprinkle it upon the mercy seat, and before the mercy seat:
Leviticus 16:16 (KJV) And he shall make an atonement for the holy place, because of the uncleanness of the children of Israel, and because of their transgressions in all their sins: and so shall he do for the tabernacle of the congregation, that remaineth among them in the midst of their uncleanness.
Leviticus 16:17 (KJV) And there shall be no man in the tabernacle of the congregation when he goeth in to make an atonement in the holy place, until he come out, and have made an atonement for himself, and for his household, and for all the congregation of Israel.
Leviticus 16:18 (KJV) And he shall go out unto the altar that is before the LORD, and make an atonement for it; and shall take of the blood of the bullock, and of the blood of the goat, and put it upon the horns of the altar round about.
Leviticus 16:19 (KJV) And he shall sprinkle of the blood upon it with his finger seven times, and cleanse it, and hallow it from the uncleanness of the children of Israel.
Hebrews 9:12 (KJV) Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.
There is safety and refuge in God's Messiah - Who is this Messiah?
He was born of a virgin
Isaiah 7:14 (KJV) Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
He was born in Bethlehem
Micah 5:2 (KJV) But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting
Slain for our sins
Isaiah 53:5 (KJV) But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
Isaiah 53:6 (KJV) All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
He was resurrected
Psalms 16:10 (KJV) For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.
Once we have taken our Jewish friend down the Jerusalem Road, we can then introduce him or her to Jesus Christ and walk them down the Romans Road showing that Jesus did meet the requirements that were presented on the Jerusalem Road.
I encourage you to commit all these verses to memory, it is something that I am also doing.
1 Peter 3:15 says..
"But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:"
Folks, we are living in the last days of the last days, there are places in this world where you can be put to death for owning a Bible. As we are told in scripture, we need to be ready always to share the gospel in good times and in bad.
What would happen if our one source of God's Word was taken from us?
This is something that I often think of and when I do, a cold feeling goes down my spine. Can you imagine what it would be like if we did not have access to God's Word?
Say it can't happen here? Think again.
Daily the USA is pushing laws and regulations that are blatantly against our Christian faith and spit in the face of God.
Folks the time is coming where a KJV Bible will be a prized possession.
I encourage you to start committing scripture to memory. If something happens and you do not have access to scripture, you will have it committed to memory and in your heart where you can recall it always and it can never be taken away.
Finally I leave you with the great commission, the very words that our Lord and Savior gave to each and every one of us.
Matthew 28:19-20 (KJV) Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
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