1. Welcome to Baptist Board, a friendly forum to discuss the Baptist Faith in a friendly surrounding.

    Your voice is missing! You will need to register to get access to all the features that our community has to offer.

    We hope to see you as a part of our community soon and God Bless!

Featured Roman Road to Salvation

Discussion in 'Baptist Theology & Bible Study' started by rlvaughn, Apr 26, 2019.

  1. rlvaughn

    rlvaughn Well-Known Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    Mar 20, 2001
    Messages:
    10,544
    Likes Received:
    1,558
    Faith:
    Baptist
    Aka, the Romans Road to Salvation

    In a response to Iconoclast in the Call for a little more honesty thread, JonC wrote:
    I had been thinking that could be a good topic for a new thread, so I’m going ahead to start one.

    First, what is the “Roman Road?” The Roman Road to salvation is a method of evangelizing that focuses on verses from the book of Romans about sin, death, and calling on the Lord. This “Printable” version of a Roman Road by Kathy Howard uses five verses or locations in Romans. She writes, “But how do we share that in a way that people will recognize their need and respond to Jesus? One very simple way is what Christians call the ‘Roman Road.’ It’s a short list of verses from the book of Romans that show our need for salvation and how Jesus fills that need. I have seen variations of this list that includes 4 to 8 verses. My list below includes 5, very easy to memorize verses.” Got Questions has “What is the Romans Road to salvation” which uses about five stops along the road.

    Evangelism With The Romans Road by Paul Fritz at Sermon Central uses six locations in the book of Romans and concludes with an exhortation to prayer. He says, “If you have never really accepted Jesus as your personal Savior, would you do it right now? Do not delay or put it off. If you would like to receive Christ by faith, pray this simple prayer in your heart:”
    Fritz concludes by pronouncing salvation on and giving assurance to the person who prays this prayer, “If you prayed that prayer, God heard you and saved you. I personally want to welcome you to the family of God.”

    No Bible believer that I know of has any objections to the verses in Romans or their usefulness in teaching truths about sin, death, and salvation. One primary objection is the way these verses are used, reducing salvation to a method, or proven steps to follow to get the right response rather than the conviction of the gospel and the Holy Spirit. In principle the “repeat after me” prayer method subtly (or maybe not so subtly) changes the biblical exhortations of repent and believe the gospel into “pray this prayer.” Some are careful to say something like “if you sincerely prayed this prayer,” but note the quote above from Paul Fritz above does not even bother with that distinction. When the Philippian jailer asked Paul and Silas, “What must I do to be saved” they responded with “believe on the Lord Jesus Christ” rather than “pray this prayer.” Perhaps I have missed it, but I have not noticed any New Testament reference that sounds like that.

    Again, no Bible believer objects to any of the verses in the book of Romans, but as Reformed wrote in the other thread, many of us (both Calvinist and non-Calvinist Baptists) will “shy away from any evangelistic formula that culminates with, ‘Now bow your head and repeat this prayer’.” In my opinion, much of the way the Roman Road is followed – based on my experience – reduces evangelism to a repetitive method more akin to the door-to-door salesmanship than the New Testament preaching of the gospel.
     
    #1 rlvaughn, Apr 26, 2019
    Last edited: Apr 26, 2019
    • Like Like x 1
    • Winner Winner x 1
  2. Revmitchell

    Revmitchell Well-Known Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    Feb 18, 2006
    Messages:
    52,013
    Likes Received:
    3,649
    Faith:
    Baptist
    Further the Romans road used by itself does not paint a complete picture of what a gospel presentation should be. Unbelievers need to know that Christianity is not just fire insurance but a walk and a desire for our Lord and Savior. We need to want the gift giver as much or more than the gift.
     
    • Like Like x 1
    • Agree Agree x 1
  3. JonC

    JonC Moderator
    Moderator

    Joined:
    Aug 28, 2001
    Messages:
    33,450
    Likes Received:
    3,563
    Faith:
    Baptist
    I think the issue is a lack of discipleship (and maybe a lack of explanation on what it means to believe and confess in Romans 10:9-10).

    I have never experienced the "say a prayer and you are saved" presentation, but given the opposition to using those passages as a guide I accept others have.

    I think it goes back to "making disciples" rather than converts.
     
  4. church mouse guy

    church mouse guy Well-Known Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    May 23, 2002
    Messages:
    22,050
    Likes Received:
    1,857
    Faith:
    Baptist
    Thanks!

    Canadian Calvin Smith, formerly with Creation Ministries International and now with Answers in Genesis Canada, preaches the Roman Road very well. However, he ties it to Young Earth Creationism. In the old days, they used to pass out tracts downtown Indianapolis and the Roman Road was a staple of street corner tracts.

    The Lost Path to the Roman Road - creation.com

     
  5. kyredneck

    kyredneck Well-Known Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    Jul 28, 2009
    Messages:
    19,579
    Likes Received:
    2,893
    Faith:
    Baptist
    The Savior's invitation:

    28 Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
    29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
    30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. Mt 11
     
    • Like Like x 1
    • Agree Agree x 1
  6. JonC

    JonC Moderator
    Moderator

    Joined:
    Aug 28, 2001
    Messages:
    33,450
    Likes Received:
    3,563
    Faith:
    Baptist
    Yet some want to make it heavy.
     
    • Agree Agree x 1
  7. Revmitchell

    Revmitchell Well-Known Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    Feb 18, 2006
    Messages:
    52,013
    Likes Received:
    3,649
    Faith:
    Baptist
    If we take care of what I posted above then it is likely we do not need to lead them in a prayer. Their call to God will come from their own heart with little to no aid from us.
     
    #7 Revmitchell, Apr 26, 2019
    Last edited: Apr 26, 2019
  8. church mouse guy

    church mouse guy Well-Known Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    May 23, 2002
    Messages:
    22,050
    Likes Received:
    1,857
    Faith:
    Baptist
    Americans are no longer people who have a background of Christianity. Therefore, Americans must be considered as heathen who have no idea about anything Christian. Everything must be explained in detail to them. Americans believe in evolution, the primary force of destruction of Western civilization and culture, and evolution contradicts Genesis. If Genesis is false, then the rest of Scripture is false also by any rule of logic.
     
  9. kyredneck

    kyredneck Well-Known Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    Jul 28, 2009
    Messages:
    19,579
    Likes Received:
    2,893
    Faith:
    Baptist
    Yes. The Puritanical/Pharisaical 'Lordship Salvation' teaching immediately comes to mind.
     
    • Agree Agree x 2
  10. JonC

    JonC Moderator
    Moderator

    Joined:
    Aug 28, 2001
    Messages:
    33,450
    Likes Received:
    3,563
    Faith:
    Baptist
    I've found most who say "yea, but it is not that simple" or that you are saved and then led into a fuller knowledge to that salvation depend on the "human wisdom" to which the gospel appears as foolishness.
     
    • Agree Agree x 1
  11. tyndale1946

    tyndale1946 Well-Known Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    Aug 30, 2001
    Messages:
    11,001
    Likes Received:
    2,396
    Faith:
    Baptist
    Show them what you are by your walk!... Our Christian sermon is how we treat each other and our fellow man... Walk the walk and talk the talk... If we can't talk to each other in a civilized manner on here how can we talk to others?... Jesus did quote a lot of scripture but he was also a Man of action... We nit pick each other on our different beliefs but we need to be up and about our Fathers business... I can tell some one what Jesus taught and open passage and scripture and show them what the Bible says and what I believe but the one thing that is going to draw anyone into any church... IS WHAT I DO!... My belief or any others on here should match their walk... Either that or I'm a Christian in name only!... Our passion should be compassion!... I've had my say... Brother Glen:)
     
    • Like Like x 1
    • Winner Winner x 1
  12. 37818

    37818 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Sep 23, 2018
    Messages:
    16,048
    Likes Received:
    1,241
    Faith:
    Baptist
  13. church mouse guy

    church mouse guy Well-Known Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    May 23, 2002
    Messages:
    22,050
    Likes Received:
    1,857
    Faith:
    Baptist
    No, no, that is not what I was saying. What I was saying is that the American people are total Greeks nowadays and haven't a clue about anything to do with Christianity. So you have to preach to them as Paul preached to the heathen Greeks.

    Also, American believe in evolution, which makes Genesis a lie. So I agree with Calvin Smith that the Roman Road begins in Genesis.
     
  14. Reformed

    Reformed Well-Known Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    Dec 27, 2012
    Messages:
    4,960
    Likes Received:
    1,694
    Faith:
    Baptist
    Romans 3:23; 6:23; 5:8; 10-9-10 present the Gospel well. I have used those verses many times. The Gospel is not reduced to Romans Road but R.R. is a very effective method.
     
    • Agree Agree x 1
  15. rlvaughn

    rlvaughn Well-Known Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    Mar 20, 2001
    Messages:
    10,544
    Likes Received:
    1,558
    Faith:
    Baptist
    I find that interesting in comparing the added verse from Revelation to the advice of many who use this Roman Road say to stay in one book. Fundamental Baptist pastor Jack Hyles, in his June 1970 sermon “There Remaineth Yet Very Much Land to Be Possessed,” claims to be the originator of the Roman Road. So far I have found nothing to dispute this. In his book Let’s Go Soul Winning: Step-By-Step Lessons in How to Win a Soul to Christ, Hyles writes, “This is important. Use the same book all the way through.” From what I have read, apparently some of his followers became very adamant about the one book advice, and quite critical of those who did not follow it.
     
    • Informative Informative x 1
  16. 37818

    37818 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Sep 23, 2018
    Messages:
    16,048
    Likes Received:
    1,241
    Faith:
    Baptist
    As a Christian I came around to believe in literal 6 days in Genesis 1. Had I been presented with that in 1962, it would have resulted in me not becoming a Christian.
     
  17. 37818

    37818 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Sep 23, 2018
    Messages:
    16,048
    Likes Received:
    1,241
    Faith:
    Baptist
    I was lead to Christ in an independent fundamental Baptist church.
     
  18. church mouse guy

    church mouse guy Well-Known Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    May 23, 2002
    Messages:
    22,050
    Likes Received:
    1,857
    Faith:
    Baptist
    I don't trash the Roman Road approach. However, CMI starts with Matthew 13:44 (KJV) Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field. It ends with Revelation 21:4 (KJV) And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. The verses used from Romans are: “All have sinned … ” (Romans 3:23)
    “ … the wages of sin is death … ” (Romans 6:23a)
    “ … the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ … ” (Romans 6:23b)
    “ … if you confess Jesus as Lord … you shall be saved … ” (Romans 10

    Then CMI (specifically, Calvin Smith) goes back to Creation and the Fall, the Judgement of Noah's Flood, and the Law, trying to explain Christianity to people who no longer know anything about it at all.

    They note that the world is not on the Roman Road and does not understand the Roman World because materialism (evolution) is the dominant worldview for the last two hundred years.

    Matthew 7:14 (KJV) Because strait [is] the gate, and narrow [is] the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

    The Lost Path to the Roman Road - creation.com
     
  19. church mouse guy

    church mouse guy Well-Known Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    May 23, 2002
    Messages:
    22,050
    Likes Received:
    1,857
    Faith:
    Baptist
    Well, 1962 was about the time that science woke up because in the late 1950s they were able to map the bottom of the oceans with the help of sonar from submarines. Now they have even more accurate maps from satellites. That changed geology, although political funding for universities from Washington DC has insured that evolution and its needed deep time have retained a vicious control over what is taught.

    1962? You must be old. :)
     
    • Friendly Friendly x 1
  20. JonC

    JonC Moderator
    Moderator

    Joined:
    Aug 28, 2001
    Messages:
    33,450
    Likes Received:
    3,563
    Faith:
    Baptist
    It is never an issue of reducing the gospel but of communicating the gospel. That is something that those who argue against the "Roman road", that see potholes in those passages, never quite comprehended. The "Roman road" was always intended as a tool for evangelism - never as a replacement for the fuller text of Scripture.
     
    • Agree Agree x 2
Loading...