In the Bible, in the New Testament, and in the book of Romans, the apostle Paul gives us the dynamics of Salvation. The following scriptures taken from Romans are called the Roman Road because they clearly delineate the path to the born again experience.
As a preface, let me first say that being born again is essential for every individual who desires forgiveness of sin, fellowship with God, and wants to live forever.
Jesus first announced the need to be born again in the Gospel of John. There in Chapter 3, verse 3 it says:
Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
And in verse 5 is added:
Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
So to see, to perceive and understand the workings of the kingdom of God, one must be born again. To enter the kingdom also requires a new birth. The old you cannot "see" the kingdom, much less enter it, unless you are born again.
So how does this take place? What is the protocol of the new birth? This is where the Roman Road comes in.
In Romans 1:16 Paul declares his position concerning the Gospel, or Good News of Jesus Christ:
For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
The Gospel will get you saved, or born again. And it is for the Jew and the Gentile (Greek) alike. As a matter of fact, the Bible also declares in Acts 4:12:
Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
The message of Jesus is good for anybody under heaven!
And that is because everybody under heaven needs to be born again!
See what the next Roman Road Scripture is:
3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Yes sir, yes ma'am, you are a sinner. And there is no way in the world you can reach God on your own merits. You are not on good terms with God.
Next, Romans 5:1 says: Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
To settle the matter with God you must be born again for by the new birth you are justified by God. That is, you are declared righteous, and righteousness is imputed to you when you acknowledge your sinfulness and recognize your need of a Savior. The death of Jesus the Son of God on the Cross makes it possible for God to be just in wiping your sinful slate clean without you having to pay the penalty for it. Jesus paid the penalty for sin, which is death, for you!
So when you place your trust in Jesus you are justified and become at peace with God. Good news indeed. -PJF-
(Continued next week.)
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