The Romans Road
Let me first state that it would be impossible for you or me to "earn" or work towards heaven. Our righteousness is as filthy rags in the sight of a holy God(Is.64:6). For example, Titus 3:5 makes it clear that it is "not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us..". And yet this beautiful truth Is concluded with "by the washing and regeneration, AND renewing of the Holy Ghost." We must be washed. We must be cleansed. We must renew the Holy Ghost within our Souls if we are experience the "he saved us" part. Titus 3:8 continues in thought by admonishing the 'believer' to "be careful to maintain good works", saying that it is "necessary" to do so (3:14). But for now, if you will permit, I would like to go over the "Romans Road" with you; but not in the "Christian" sense, if you get my drift(Eph.4:14).
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But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us - Romans 5:8
Rom. 3:23- "All have sinned". The Romans Road generally begins at the basic point of the free gift of Salvation by the blood of Christ and comes to the first conclusion within the ABC's of salvation... "A"- Admit that you are a sinner. (from 3:23) Then "B", or, "Believe that Jesus died for you." As I stated in the above paragraph, Justification is free. I would agree to that statement, but the way in which we receive this "free gift" has been twisted. Romans chapter 5 is an excellent essay on death through the first Adam, and life through the second Adam, Christ. The chapter expounds upon grace, and the atoning work of "one man"(5:12, 5:15, 5:17,18,19). This chapter ends with the "law" as being the knowledge of our transgressions (Rom. 5:20, 7:7), Therefore, as it is concluded here, that for the unregenerated man, "sin reigns unto death", but that through the blood of Christ grace may reign "through righteousness" unto eternal life (5:21). But please do not stop there just because someone wrote "chapter 6" in the text for navigational purposes. Continue Pauls' wonderful flowing train of thought into Rom. 6:1-4 as it reads "What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death (see Gal. 2:20)? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life." Enough said. I think this passage of scripture spoke for itself. I do recommend that you read through verse 11, but for the sake of the topic at hand, I rest my case on Romans 5:8.
"For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" -Rom. 6:23
This verse tells us that the "pay", or, "honest hire" of our sinful life is death. But that the "gift"(Strong's greek #5486, see bottom of page) of God is eternal life. Again, however, this verse is taken out of its intended context. Please note 6:22, which tells that we are made "free from sin", telling us that we are to be made "servants of God", and directly informs us that the end of holiness is everlasting life.
"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." ~Rom. 10:9-10
Note that even within this passage where the "freeness" of the gift of salvation is made to be clear, it still nonetheless informs us that in accepting Christ as savior we must also accept him as Lord, for, as it states, salvation of the soul takes place when the heart (the mind, will, and emotions) believe unto righteousness.
Strong's #5486: charisma (pronounced khar'-is-mah)
from 5483; a (divine) gratuity, i.e. deliverance (from danger or passion); (specially), a (spiritual) endowment, i.e. (subjectively) religious qualification, or (objectively) miraculous faculty:--(free) gift.
from 5483; a (divine) gratuity, i.e. deliverance (from danger or passion); (specially), a (spiritual) endowment, i.e. (subjectively) religious qualification, or (objectively) miraculous faculty:--(free) gift.