Roman Road - A Deeper Dive
scripture: Selections from Romans Chapters 1-10
message summary
This week, we welcomed Matt Wilder of Hands and Feet Piano Ministry. Matt has led worship for us before, and his soaring melodies and spoken word aim to glorify God and reach the world for Jesus. Matt brought the message Roman Road, a musical presentation of selections from the Book of Romans.
You can find a link to the full video of this week’s message below. Here are some of the key points:
God’s wrath - The opening chapter of the Book of Romans discusses the revelation of God's wrath against ungodliness and unrighteousness. It describes how people have suppressed the truth about God and exchanged the glory of God for idols, leading to dishonorable passions and a depraved mind.
Judgment and hypocrisy - Chapter two addresses those who judge others while practicing the same sins themselves. It also highlights the hypocrisy of those who claim to follow the law but dishonor God through their actions.
All are guilty of sin - The next chapter establishes that all people are under sin and fall short of God's glory. It emphasizes that no one is righteous by works of the law, but rather, righteousness comes through faith in Jesus Christ, who atoned for humanity's sin through his blood.
Faith over works - Chapter four of the Book of Romans uses the example of Abraham to illustrate that righteousness is credited through faith, not works. It contrasts the concepts of earning wages and receiving a gift, emphasizing that salvation is a gift of grace received by faith, not earned by works.
Enslaved by sin no more - Chapters six through eight address the deliverance from sin through Jesus Christ. There is no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus. Paul emphasizes the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, the assurance of sonship and heirship with Christ, and the unbreakable love of God in Christ.
Preach the Gospel - The presentation closes with words from chapter 10 highlighting that righteousness comes through faith in Christ, not by works of the law. We are reminded of the necessity of preaching the gospel so that people can believe and call on the name of the Lord for salvation.
Salvation explained
The Roman Road to Salvation has long been an accepted and effective way to share the Gospel. Scripture from the Book of Romans provides a clear, step-by-step explanation of the Christian gospel message. It emphasizes humanity's universal need for salvation due to sin, the consequences of sin, God's provision of salvation through Jesus Christ, the necessary human response of faith and confession, and the assurance of salvation for all who believe.
For those seeking to understand Christian teachings on salvation, the Roman Road offers a concise summary of the path to reconciliation with God, highlighting the central tenets of faith, grace, and redemption through Jesus Christ.
Here are some of the verses commonly included in the Roman Road (all are from the NIV translation):
Romans 3:23 - "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."
Romans 6:23 - “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Romans 5:8 - “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Romans 10:9-10 - “If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.”
Romans 10:13 - “for, ‘Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’”