Jacqui: 0:14

Greetings listeners. Have you ever felt unsure about how to explain the message of salvation to someone, or even wondered how the Bible lays it out for yourself? What if I told you there's a simple, step-by-step path to understanding and sharing the gospel, all found in one book of the Bible. It's called the Romans Road, and today we'll walk this road together to see how the book of Romans guides us to the heart of God's salvation plan. Whether you're new to the faith, looking for clarity or want to help someone else understand what it means to follow Jesus, this episode is for you. Let's get started. Well, welcome everyone. I'm your host, jackie Adewole, and this is the Bible Basics Podcast, where, weekly, we break down the basics of the Bible into understandable, bite-sized chunks, understandable, bite-sized chunks. Let's begin by answering a simple question what is the Romans Road? The Romans Road is a collection of verses from the book of Romans that outline the core truths of the gospel message, that is, the good news that God has provided a way of salvation for people through the gift of his son to the world. You can think of it like a spiritual roadmap. The first step on the road is showing us our biggest problem sin. The next step is the penalty death, meaning eternal separation from God. Then is the provision Jesus, and ends by leading us to the promise eternal life. Why is it useful? Well, Romans wrote, makes it easy to see God's salvation plan in a step-by-step way. Easy-to-see God's salvation plan in a step-by-step way. It's perfect for explaining the gospel to someone else or even for reflecting on your own faith. Now let's walk the Roman's road together. There are four key steps, each grounded in specific verses.

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Step one the problem sin. We are all sinners who need salvation, and the scriptures are Romans, chapter 3, verse 10, and Romans, chapter 3, verse 23. We begin with a foundational truth. Romans 3:23 declares, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. This verse makes it clear Sin affects everyone. Every single one of us has fallen short of God's perfect standard. But if we look earlier in the chapter Romans, chapter 3, verse 10, adds even more clarity there is no one righteous, not even one. The word righteous means being in right standing with God. This verse reminds us that none of us on our own can meet God's standard of righteousness. Sin isn't just about breaking rules. It's about our very nature and our inability to live up to God's perfection Together. These verses emphasize that all of humanity has strayed from God's design. This is the first step on the Roman's road.

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Sin brings death, and the scriptures are Romans, chapter 5, verse 12, and Romans, chapter 6, verse 23a. The consequence of sin is severe. Romans, chapter 6, verse 23a, warns us For the wages of sin is death. This isn't just about physical death. It's about eternal separation from God, the source of life and goodness. To understand why, we turn to Romans, chapter 5, verse 12. Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned, sin's effects aren't isolated to individual actions the one man being referred to is Adam. Since Adam's rebellion, death has infected humanity like a disease. This is the hard truth. Sin leads to death and we cannot save ourselves. But here's where the hope begins to break through. Romans, chapter 6, verse 23, doesn't end with death. But here's where the hope begins to break through. Romans, chapter 6, verse 23, doesn't end with death. It continues with the pivotal but Step three the provision God's love through Jesus, chapter 5, verse 8, and chapter 6, verse 23b. But the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus, our Lord. This glorious truth.

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The second half of Romans, chapter 6, verse 23, reveals God's provision. Verse 23 reveals God's provision. God doesn't leave us in our helpless condition. He offers us a gift eternal life, freely available through Jesus Christ. Why would God do this? Romans 5: 8 answers. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this. While we were still sinners, christ died for us. Think about that. God didn't wait for us to clean up our act or prove ourselves worthy. While we were still in rebellion, christ took our place, bearing the penalty we deserved. This step reminds us that salvation isn't something we can earn. It's a gift rooted in God's incredible love for us.

Jacqui: 7:25

And step four the promise eternal life. Romans, chapter 10, verses 9 and 10, and chapter 10, verse 13. The fourth step on the Romans road reminds us of God's promise Eternal life is available to anyone who responds to his call. Romans, chapter 10, verse 13, proclaims this incredible truth Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. This promise is inclusive, open to everyone. No one is beyond God's reach or love. But how do we call on the name of the Lord?

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Romans 10: 9 gives us a clear answer. 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. This step emphasizes two essential elements confession and belief. Confession means openly declaring that Jesus is Lord, acknowledging his authority over your life and that you are a sinner. And belief involves trusting that God raised him from the dead, affirming his victory over sin and death. This step is the turning point. When we respond to God's love through faith and commitment, salvation becomes a reality. And commitment salvation becomes a reality. It's not about earning our way to God, but accepting his invitation and trusting in the power of Jesus.

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Now that we've walked the road, how can we use it in real life? Here are three suggestions. First, share it with others. Write down these verses, highlight them in your Bible or even memorize them so you're ready when the opportunity arises. Practice explaining the steps to a friend or family member to grow your confidence. Second, pray through the verses. Spend time reflecting on each step. For example, you might thank God for his gift of salvation when reading Romans 6:23, or ask him to deepen your faith as you meditate on Romans 10:9 and 10. And third, live it out.

Jacqui: 10:08

The Roman's road isn't just about head knowledge. It's about transformation. How does understanding these truths shape your decisions, your relationships and your worship? Finally, let's touch on three questions people often have. First, do I need to know the whole Bible to be saved? Absolutely not. The Romans Road highlights the essentials of the gospel who God is, what sin is and what Jesus has done for us. Salvation isn't about knowing every detail of Scripture or having perfect understanding. It's about placing your faith in Jesus and trusting Him as your Savior.

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Second question what if I don't feel good enough for salvation? This is such a common struggle, but here's the truth None of us are good enough. That's exactly the point of Romans 5.8. Quote. But God demonstrates his love for us in this. While we were still sinners, christ died for us Unquote. God didn't wait for us to become perfect or clean up our lives. His love for us is so great that Jesus died for us at our worst. It's not about being good enough. It's about receiving God's love and grace.

Jacqui: 11:48

And the third question I accepted Christ in the past, but straight away. Do I need to do it again? This is a heartfelt question that many people wrestle with. The simple answer is this If you've truly accepted Jesus as your Savior, you don't need to start over. You need to come back to Him. Salvation is a one-time event, but our walk with Jesus is a daily journey. Romans, chapter 8, verses 38 and 39, reassure us. Quote. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus, our Lord. Unquote. Even if you've strayed, god's love hasn't left you. What's needed isn't getting saved again, but repentance, turning back to him and recommitting to walk in his ways.

Jacqui: 13:12

Now that we've thoroughly walked through Romans Road, I want to take a moment to speak directly to anyone who hasn't yet accepted Christ as their Savior. If you're listening and feel a tug on your heart, know this God is inviting you to take the most important step of your life. Salvation is about trusting Jesus, turning from sin and receiving the gift of eternal life he offers. You don't have to have it all figured out and you don't have to be perfect None of us are. All you need is to take that step of faith. If you're ready to confess and you believe, I invite you to pray this simple prayer with me. Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner and that I fall short of your glory. Thank you for dying on the cross for my sins and rising again so that I can have eternal life. Today I place my trust in you, I confess you as Lord of my life life and I ask you to guide me from this day forward. Thank you for saving me. Amen. If you prayed that prayer, welcome to the family of God.

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I encourage you to tell someone, maybe a trusted friend or a pastor, and start growing in your faith by reading the Bible and connecting with a local church. Road is a simple yet powerful guide to understanding the gospel or the good news about God's plan to save us. It describes the problem sin, the penalty, death, meaning eternal separation from God, the provision Jesus Christ and the promise promise eternal life. The amazing truth is that God offers salvation as a free gift through Jesus. Whether this is your first time hearing it or you've walked this road before, it's always worth revisiting the foundation of our faith. The good news that God loves us, offers us His grace and made a way for us to be with Him forever. Thanks for joining me today and, as always, keep reading, keep seeking and keep growing in your faith so that we spread God's word further. Please share, like, follow, comment and subscribe.