“A Simple Explanation of Salvation”
A, B, C’s to a Right Relationship with God
from the Book of Romans – “The Roman’s Road”
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“If you were to die tonight and God were to say to you, why should I let you into my Heaven, what reason would you give Him?”
A – All Have Sinned
Biblical Fact: Everybody has sinned against God – No One is Perfect, and because of this, we do not deserve to go to heaven!
Romans 3:23
23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God…
Admitting that we are not perfect can be a hard thing to do…none of us like to admit we have done wrong or do wrong things. Our pride hates it! The fact is: We are all sinners. We know we have sinned because we have guilt. Guilt is an amazing phenomenon. If there were no God and He was not Holy, we would not naturally have guilt, but universal guilt is inbred in every human in the world. Sin causes everybody to have guilt. We can’t grow out of it, but we can harden our heart to it, and if we do not repent and acknowledge God, He will deliver us over to a more reprobate mind (Rom. 1). The greater sensitivity our heart has toward God, the more we want to have fellowship with God. Sin keeps us from a deeper fellowship with God.
The beginning step to having a right relationship with God is admitting that we have sinned against God and are in need of forgiveness.
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• Have we ever lied?
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• Have we ever stolen anything?
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• Have we had impure thoughts or done things that make us feel guilty?
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• Have we tried to cover up wrong things we have done?
When we are willing to admit it, it does not take much to realize that we have “sinned” against God! We need forgiveness. How does one receive forgiveness and eternal life from Almighty God?
The Gospel
“Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures.” 1 Cor.15:3,4
(This is understood to be the earliest and clearest summary statement of “The Gospel” which was used extensively in the early New Testament Church. See 1 Cor. 15:1-4) A “gospel” other than this is not Biblical and should be avoided at all costs.
B – Believe on Christ to redeem us from our sins – this is the way that sinful humanity can have a Bridge to God and eternal life with Him.
Biblical Fact: We do not wait until we are “good” to come to God for forgiveness of sins, Christ died for us “while we were still sinners”.
Before we were good, Christ came to Redeem Us.
Romans 5:6-9
6 For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die—
8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God.
Acts 16:31
…31“Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved”…
If we could become better and more “attractive” to God for His salvation by pulling ourselves together with our own human energy and earthly works, then we would want to take credit for at least some of a favorable relationship with God! That can never be the case! Titus 3:5,6 confirms that it is nothing that we can do to gain favor with God in order for Him to “save” us. So, we must come to God by faith, trusting in His Grace alone for His Salvation provided by Jesus Christ on the cross. While we were still sinners, Christ died for us!
Titus 3
5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
“Good works” follow and confirm our redemptive salvation – “Good works” do not cause us to become right with God, they reveal our right relationship with God!
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“How can a Holy God bring me, a sinful person, into His Holy Heaven to live with Him forever – and Him still be Holy?”
The Bridge Illustration using Romans 6:23
Romans 6:23
23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
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“Why did Jesus Christ die on the cross?”
There is a great chasm between mankind and God, because of sin. Jesus Christ, through His death on the Cross, became The Bridge to salvation for mankind, bearing the punishment of our sin. Those who believe on Him for their eternal salvation can once again have the proper relationship restored again with God.
C – Confess to God that you have sinned against Him and are unable to save yourself.
Call on the Name of the Lord for Salvation (Believe in Jesus Christ’s supernatural sacrifice for you), through Christ’s Blood and authority over sin, through His death on the Cross.
Confess Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior (Rom. 10:9-10).
Biblical Fact: Those who call on the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation from sin’s demise, believing in their heart in faith that Christ can redeem them, repenting of their sins and confessing Jesus as their Lord – these will be saved, according to the Scripture. These “believers” are “born again” into the family of God by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Romans 10:9-10, 13
9 … 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. 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved… 13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
John 3:3
3 Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is
born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
God hears the prayer of faith, trusting in Christ’s shed Blood on the Cross, for salvation and cleansing from one’s sin. Call on the Lord in prayer, to save you from your sin. Ask Jesus Christ to come into your heart and cleanse you with His precious blood. The prayer of faith will be heard, and you will be born into the family of God by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Peter’s Teaching on the Profoundness of Christ’s Resurrection
Peter’s message at Pentecost (Acts 2:22-36) reviewed the importance of Christ’s death and resurrection (as emphasized in Romans 10:9 and the summary statement of “the Gospel” in 1 Cor. 15:3,4). Because many have been taught about truth of the resurrection of Christ, sometimes we overlook the awesomeness of this event. Look, with refreshed eyes and hearts, at the words Peter preached (from your own Bible) in Acts 2:22-36, emphasizing the resurrection of Christ, and realize again just how profound it is for Jesus to rise from the dead – and be proclaimed “The Messiah”…the One Promised to Deliver us from sin! It is “this Jesus, whom God has made both Lord and The Christ (The Messiah)” that we “confess with our mouth as Lord, and believe in our heart that God has raised Him from the dead”! (Romans 10:9,10) God will hear the prayer of a sincere heart who cries out to Him in faith. The following is a prayer that one may find helpful in calling out to the Lord for Salvation.
Prayer for Salvation:
“Dear Heavenly Father, I know that I have sinned against You. I have done things that are wrong in your sight! I know that You sent Your Son, Jesus Christ, to die on the Cross for my sins. I do believe, that Jesus died for me, that He was buried and that He rose again on the third day, to show that He was all-powerful over sin and death. I now, by faith, repent of my sins and invite Jesus Christ to come into my life as my Savior. I ask for the cleansing of His precious blood that He shed on the cross, to wash away my guilt and sin before God’s Holy Presence. I confess Jesus Christ as my Savior and my Lord. By Your Grace, I choose to receive your free gift of eternal life and ask that Your Holy Spirit change me to be Your Child and fill me with His Presence. Thank You, Heavenly Father, for Your Mercy and Salvation, which gives me this supernatural opportunity to be born again into Your Heavenly Family.
In Jesus’ Name, AMEN!”