James 1:2-4 | Consider it Joy! (NIV)

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, a whenever you face trials of many

kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let

perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking

anything.

Hebrews 11:6 | Pleasing God (NIV)

And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him

must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

Psalm 100 | The Whole Psalm! (NIV)

Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness; come

before him with joyful songs. Know that the Lord is God. It is he who made us, and

we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with

thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.

For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues

through all generations.

Colossians 3:17 | Living a Life of Thanks (NIV)

And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord

Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Romans Road Map – A fantastic tool for learning, retaining, practicing, and then

sharing the gospel.

Stop #1 | Romans 3:23 (NKJV)

“…for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God…”

The word “gospel” literally means good news! The reason it’s good news is that there is bad news. Why would anyone ever believe they need to hear the gospel or believe the gospel unless they understood their need for the gospel? That’s where this passage comes in. Romans 3:23 is a foundational reminder that we are all sinners. No one is righteous (Romans 3:10-12), no one is good, and no one keeps the Ten Commandments perfectly. God is holy, and every single human being who has ever lived does not perfectly live up to God’s standard. Whether you’ve sinned once, or are serving a life sentence in prison for murder, whoever fails to keep the whole law in one point is accountable for all of it according to God’s standard (James 2:10).

Sin is a reality that needs to be presented if we are going to understand the gospel. Everybody is a sinner. Being a sinner separates us from having a relationship with a holy God. We need a solution.

Stop #2 | Romans 5:8 (NKJV)

“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners,

Christ died for us.” The second stop on the Romans Road emphasizes the unconditional love of God towards the sinner whom He is willing to save. We were unlovable, but He loved us. We were hopeless, but He gives hope. We couldn’t save ourselves, but Christ could. In our spiritually dead and sinful condition (Ephesians 2:1), God chose to show mercy, love, and kindness to us. This passage brings Christ into the forefront and provides an opportunity to integrate Him into the good news. If it wasn’t for God sending His Son to deal with sin, we couldn’t be saved from the penalty of sin. That is where the new stop on our journey comes in.

Stop #3 | Romans 6:23 (NKJV)

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

Lord.” After stops 1 and 2, a person might readily accept that everyone is a sinner, that God loves us, and that Jesus died for us. But stop number 3 takes us deeper into the bad news, before highlighting more of the good news. Upon hearing that “the wages of sin is death,” someone might ask, what does that mean? This stop provides you with the opportunity to highlight God’s wrath towards sin, His dealings with the unrighteous, and the reality of a literal heaven and a literal hell (Romans 1:18-32; Matthew 13:42; Revelation 21:8). The earned payment for sin — all sin — is death. Much like a human court system has a standard of law that if not kept leads to punishment, God has a law and there is punishment for not keeping it. More than that, as human beings who readily admit that we are sinners, we must also admit that we cannot keep God’s law faithfully. Therefore, we all are condemned in God’s court and deserve the wages for our sin: death. But Romans 6:23 also includes good news! In contrast to our inability to keep the law of God and our wages earned by sin, God gives the gracious gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ. This aspect of the gospel provides you with the opportunity to know and share what Jesus did on the cross. He died in the sinner’s place. He paid the penalty for sin so the sinner wouldn’t have to. He gave His life so you could live. By “eternal life,” the Bible means that you don’t need to die and end up in hell forever. You don’t have to experience the judgment of God upon sin for all eternity. You can live in heaven with Him for all eternity after this life ends. The Bible teaches that everyone will die (everyone knows this is true) and that after death in this life comes a moment of judgment (Hebrews 9:27). That moment of judgment does not need to end badly. God has given us a gift. His name is Jesus Christ.

Stop #4 | Romans 8:1 (NKJV)

“There is, therefore, now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus…” This is really good news! If you are “in Christ,” that means you’ve put your faith in Him, believing that He died for you and rose again from the dead on the third day (1 Corinthians 15:4). Anyone in Christ is not going to be condemned for their sin and will not go to hell. If that’s you, then you don’t need to walk around feeling guilty or shameful over your sin once you’ve believed in Christ because your sin is washed away (1 John 1:7).

Stop #5 | Romans 10:9 (NAS)

“…if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God

raised Him from the dead, you will be save.” The final stop is where the rubber meets the road. Do you believe that Jesus is Lord? Do you believe He was the Son of God who died for your sin and rose from the dead? Are you willing to confess your sin, accepting the bad news that you are spiritually bankrupt without God’s help? Are you willing to accept the good news that God has made a way for you to have a relationship with Him and be saved from the penalty of sin, which is His wrath? Through faith in Jesus Christ, God’s power can change you. You don’t have to live a life of brokenness and bondage, you don’t have to be hopeless. Jesus can set you free. Jesus can give you hope. The question is often asked, how do I know if I’m saved? The simple answer is that if you have truly believed in Jesus Christ and put your faith in Him, God will transform you. The old ways of sin that you used to relish are going to fade, and the new life you live in Christ will dominate your passions (2 Corinthians 5:17). In a world looking for solutions to the brokenness of human sin, the gospel declares that Jesus is the answer.

Romans 10:17 | Faith Comes by Hearing (NIV)

Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard

through the word about Christ.

Psalm 139:23-24 | Search My Heart (NIV)

Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if

there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

Psalm 103:8-10 | What our Sins Deserve (NIV)

The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love.

He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever; he does not treat us

as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities.

Lamentations 3:22-23 | New Mercies every Morning (NIV)

Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never

fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

Joshua 1:8-9 | Be Strong & Courageous (NKJV)

This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it

day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For

then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor

be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 | Rejoice Always (NIV)

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s

will for you in Christ Jesus.

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me

All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the LORD Forever.

Psalm 23:1-6 NKJV