The “Romans Road” is a common method of sharing the gospel in evangelical circles.  Though the Romans Road, as it is typically presented, is generally regarded as sound and effective, it is actually a chief example of the shallow, misleading evangelism which counterfeits and opposes a true witness of the authentic Gospel of Christ.  

The typical Romans Road road brings people through a list of verses from the Book of Romans, emphasizing that all have sinned and come short of the glory of God, the wages of sin is death, Jesus died for our sins and rose again from the dead, and now you can call on Jesus to be saved.  Then there will typically be “a sinner’s prayer” for one to repeat at the end of the Roman’s Road.  After the prayer is repeated by the one being led down this road, they will then typically be assured of their salvation by the one doing the presentation or by the tract containing the presentation.  

What is wrong with this?  The one thing consistently wrong with a Romans Road presentation is how it cheapens and trivializes the gospel, making salvation in Christ to seem to boil down down to a “1, 2, 3 (or 4 or 5) point then repeat after me” sinner’s prayer based on assent to a handful of points which the one being pressed to give assent to quite likely does not even come close to grasping the significance of.

Just about any Romans Road presentation will include Romans 3:23: “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.”  

What is so bad about that?  It is typically communicated in the Romans Road presentation as man being under God’s condemnation over a technicality rather than the way man’s sin is actually presented when the Book of Romans is actually read through.  Even in its more immediate context, Romans 3:23 is a statement that neither Jew nor Gentile is above God’s appointed means of redemption in Jesus Christ nor is anyone able to successfully work around this.  

When portrayed as man being condemned on a technicality, the presentation will inevitably portray salvation in Jesus Christ to also be a technicality whereby one is supposedly saved from God’s wrath.  Key concepts of the authentic Gospel such as man’s deep enmity with God’s authority, Christ’s proper claim to reign over each individual, and man’s need to practically identify with Christ in His death to sin and resurrection unto the Father are thus glossed over.  Yet the Bible, especially the Book of Romans as a complete epistle, deals very carefully and thoroughly with these truths.  

When people are practically told that their problem with God is based upon a technicality, it further robs God of the glory which He is properly due from man and falsely portrays Jesus as a quick fix to man’s sin problem.  Imagine a dying person being given the impression that they are dying because of one little problem which can be fixed by taking one pill.  This is what the quoting of Romans 3:23 is communicating to people about their dire condition before God, and their impending doom, when it is briefly cited as the initial landmark on the “Romans Road.”

Man’s dire condition and impending doom are actually spoken of in expansive and intricate detail well before the actual Book of Romans ever even arrives at Romans 3:23.  You have to actually read the book of Romans up to that point (as well as beyond that point) to have reasonable comprehension of that.  

Yet shallow evangelists who care more about padding their stats and making people feel good rather than actually helping people to come to fruitful repentance by giving God the glory He is properly due, so they obtain a real interest in the real Jesus which is founded upon solid rock rather than sand, these don’t take sufficient time to explain reality to people so that they will actually be brought out of spiritual death and into newness of life in Christ.  The shallow evangelists fail by not even attempting to sufficiently confront man’s sin and informing him of his dire condition before the Holy King of Heaven.

John 7:6-7: “Then Jesus said unto them, My time is not yet come: but your time is alway ready.   The world cannot hate you; but me it hateth, because I testify of it, that the works thereof are evil.”

Luke 13:23-24: “Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved?  And he said unto them, Strive to enter in at the strait gate (that is, the narrow or constricted gate): for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.” 

Luke 11:52: “ Woe unto you, lawyers!  for ye have taken away the key of knowledge (and the key of knowledge is the fear of God defined by the Law of God): ye entered not in yourselves, and them that were entering in ye hindered.”

The next stop in the typical Romans Road presentation might be a Scripture like Romans 5:8: “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

That is an amazing, glorious truth!  Yet lifted from its context within the Book of Romans, and from its context in the Bible as a whole, and rather put in the context of a quick stop on the Romans Road whereby it is presented as a solution to man’s already implied technical problem before God, it cheapens the redemption which Christ accomplished on the cross.  It thus makes Christ’s death seem to have man’s safety from God’s justice as its goal.  In the context of the Romans Road presentation, this gives people the impression that Christ died to strip the force of God’s Law from being binding upon those who “accept Him” (that is, those who say the prayer at the end of the Romans Road presentation).  This amounts to casting pearls before swine.  Such casting of pearls inevitably happens when Christ’s atoning death, and the true conditions of anyone partaking in His atonement, are removed from the narrow way of obedient faith in Him (the faith of Abraham- which the Book of Romans talks about a lot– more on that later).  

A living faith before the true God which is of the nature of the Biblical patriarch Abraham’s faith  inherently uses God’s Law as its guide.  It uses the law lawfully as a guide to pleasing God rather than as a means of attempting to obtain justification or of providing one’s own atonement (like the Jews who reject Jesus Christ have done in their abuse of the law).

Later on in Romans, we read in Romans 8:1-8: “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus (my note- many foolishly stop there- that is dishonest- the train of thought is by no means over) who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.  For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.  For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.  For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.  For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.  Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.  So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.”

The Spirit here is speaking of God’s Holy Spirit which inspired God’s written Word and is contrary to man’s flesh.  Those who would have an interest in Christ’s atonement must die to their own carnality and suffer to pursue the holy values of heaven by walking in the light of the instructions of God’s written Word.  The unreasonable, inexcusable, monstrous treason, rebellion, and anarchy involved in not doing this is getting at why God’s wrath is actually against sinners and why hell is proper for sinners.  The authentic Gospel of Christ calls for the commitment to the flesh, and the idols which such commitment causes to be pursued, to be cast down and for God to be glorified- according to His Supreme authority and Majesty as the Almighty Eternal Creator that He is.  Christ didn’t die to remove man’s inherent obligation to God’s authority and throne.  He thus didn’t die to free us from the moral obligations of God’s law.  The concept that He did is really just repackaged Satanism.  

We must properly acknowledge our departure, our treason and rebellion against God’s throne, and return in repentance.  Otherwise, our condemnation remains.  The typical Romans Road presentation however won’t adequately communicate this to people (if it doesn’t altogether twist Scripture to say the very opposite even).  

The whole Book of Romans, and the whole counsel of Scripture, have to be given their voice lest people be given the impression that Jesus will save them while they continue to go their own way in sin.

Matthew 1:18-21: “Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.  Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily.  But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.  And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins.”

Mark 8:29-38: “And he saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?  And Peter answereth and saith unto him, Thou art the Christ.  And he charged them that they should tell no man of him.  And he began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders, and of the chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.  And he spoke that saying openly.  And Peter took him, and began to rebuke him.  But when he had turned about and looked on his disciples, he rebuked Peter, saying, Get thee behind me, Satan: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but the things that be of men.  And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.  For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it (He is obviously talking about salvation).  For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?  Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?  Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”

The next stop in a Romans Road presentation is likely to be Romans 6:23: “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

You just have to read Romans up to the point of Romans 6:23 to understand that this verse is given in the context of commanding us to reckon ourselves dead to sin and alive to God with Jesus Christ in order to walk in the righteous requirements of His Word and not be servants of sin.  The gift of God, His grace in Jesus Christ, has provided that freedom for us and demands we obey and walk in that freedom.  

Christ’s atonement for sin on the cross, and the offer of reconciliation to the Father through His resurrection life, provide deliverance from both the guilt and condemnation of sin.  Sin’s condemnation of spiritual death, resulting in the second death of the lake of fire, remains for those who remain committed to sin and refuse Jesus Christ for everything He is (remember how the Passover Lamb had to be wholly eaten- an Israelite couldn’t keep the Passover acceptably if they selectively picked and chose which parts of the Passover Lamb they ate).  

Just look at the verses leading up to Romans 6:23.  It is not speaking of some transaction where one just assents to a few points and/or says a prayer so that their sins supposedly go away and they get delivered from God’s condemnation.  

Romans 6:14-23: “For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law (this is speaking of the condemnation of the law), but under grace (remember that Paul is writing to authentic Christians).  What then?  shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace?  God forbid.  Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?  But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you (my note- the true Gospel calls people to repentance and offers remission of sins in Christ’s name to the end of making disciples of His of all nations who keep whatsoever He commands- the first and last chapters of Roman also make this exceedingly clear).  Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.  I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity (that is, lawless deed unto lawless deed); even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.  For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness.  What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed (my note- there is no true conversion to Christ whereby one partakes of the grace of God apart from one being made ashamed of their sins which they have previously committed, having their heart and mind alienated from sin)?  for the end of those things is death.  But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.  For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord (and note that term- yes, that’s Lordship salvation).”

Note what is actually communicated when Romans 6:23 is read in its true Biblical context.  It is key information related to instruction about abstaining from sin and the necessity of doing so in order to walk by a living, saving faith in Jesus.

However, as it is typically presented in the Romans Road (as an isolated verse, given in the midst of other isolated verses used in a misleading way), the citation of Romans 6:23 makes it sound like receiving Christ and being saved by the gospel is just a quick transaction which occurs by the means of assent to a handful of points and the reciting of a brief sinner’s prayer.  

Such abuse of God’s Word is truly the Romans Road to the lake of fire.  

A typical Romans Road presentation will then often culminate in Romans 10:13 (or maybe Romans 10:9-13).  

I’ll quote Romans 10:9-13: “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.  For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.  For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.  For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.  For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

Note that phrase “the Lord” again and remember how the Passover Lamb had to be eaten in its entirety.  Jesus Christ is not going to save a soul which is not subject to His Righteous Government.  

The shallow, deceitful evangelists who think they can relieve man of his obligations before his Almighty Maker also typically love to quote from Acts 16:31: “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.”  

The deceitful evangelists say “look, it’s so simple and easy.”  They conveniently gloss over that phrase “the Lord” or they act like that doesn’t involve repentance from sin, righteous restitution, continued obedience in daily taking up one’s cross to be under Jesus’ discipline, receiving instruction from the Bible, and pursuing increased light of the knowledge of God which inevitably comes in this process (this describes of course when one is authentically walking in the narrow way of the Lord Jesus Christ).  

The Philippian jailer whom the words “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house” were directly spoken to, evidently became a disciple of the Biblical Jesus and commanded his household in the ways of the Lord.  That is an essential aspect of walking in the faith of Abraham, whom the Book of Romans gives as the model of faith for Christians in Romans chapter 4 (and I don’t think I’ve ever seen a Romans Road presentation which made a stop to cite, let alone explain, Romans chapter 4).

Genesis 18:17-19: “And the Lord said, Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do; Seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him?  For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord, to do justice and judgment; that the Lord may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.”

Genesis 26:4-5: “And I will make thy seed (God is speaking to Abraham’s son Isaac here) to multiply as the stars of heaven, and will give unto thy seed all these countries; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws.”

If we want to walk by faith in Jesus, like Abraham walked by faith, we need to fear God and not withhold anything from Him- even the thing that matters most to us- like Abraham proved his willingness to offer up Isaac at God’s command in Genesis chapter 22.  

We read in Matthew 7:21-23: “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.  Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name?  and in thy name have cast out devils?  and in thy name done many wonderful works?  And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity (lawlessness).”

Believing in Jesus Christ as Lord means to believe the entire testimony of Him which culminates in His resurrection glory.  That resurrection glory implies His rightful reign over all and His coming return to assume that rightful reign over all of creation.  Believing in Jesus from the heart unto righteousness thus means being subject to Him here and now, being governed by His Word in whatever it commands for us, and esteeming Him as preeminent in all things.  

Colossians 1:17-18: “And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.  And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.”

Look also at how the same is so clearly implied later in Romans (another place I doubt I’ve ever seen a Romans Road presentation go to).

Romans 15:8-13: “Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers: And that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy; as it is written, For this cause I will confess to thee among the Gentiles, and sing unto thy name.  And again he saith, Rejoice, ye Gentiles, with his people.  And again, Praise the Lord, all ye Gentiles; and laud him, all ye people.  And again, Esaias (Isaiah) saith, There shall be a root of Jesse, and he that shall rise to reign over the Gentiles; in him shall the Gentiles trust.  Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost (my note- believing, in both the immediate and larger contexts here, clearly means being under Jesus Christ’s reign so that one has a true hope in His mercy).”

Confessing Jesus then evidently means doing what it takes to properly receive His reign and recognizing His preeminence in all things in accordance with His Word- even unto suffering, tribulation, and death.  

Biblically, confession is not a reference to praying the prayer at the end of some shallow gospel presentation such as a Romans Road presentation.

Note the implication, seen earlier in the Book of Romans, that saving faith in Christ, which results in justification and peace with the Father, brings tribulation.

Romans 5:1-5: “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.  And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.”

Revelation 12:11: “And they overcame him (that is, Satan) by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.”

Acts 14:21-22: “And when they (the Apostles Paul and Barnabas) had preached the gospel to that city (referring to Derbe of Galatia), and had taught many, they returned again to Lystra, and to Iconium, and Antioch, Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.”

Don’t let anyone deceive you that a sinner’s prayer or any quick transaction relieves you from the righteous walk of Christian discipleship nor let anyone deceive you that such is optional for inheriting eternal life.  The “just say this prayer mentality”, and other quick fix mentalities, are key ways in which multitudes come to think they have a realistic hope of eternal life with God when they are in reality on the broad road to the lake of fire.

Aaron’s email is: [email protected]

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