What Is The Romans Road to Salvation?
Someone long ago compiled what is essentially a road map through numerous gospel truths by cherry-picking verses from Romans and calling it the Romans Road. Paul writes that "all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God" and that "the wages of sin is death" in Romans 3.
While Romans 9 begins with some unpleasant news, it turns around and tells us that "whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved" (vers 10). Paul presents the gospel in the book of Romans, and the Romans Road is essentially a collection of important texts that summarize and explain the gospel straightforwardly.
It is an excellent resource for studying, remembering, putting into practice, and eventually spreading the gospel. This "journey" through the gospel message is taken directly from the book of Romans. It helps believers to recall key passages that emphasize the gospel's core aspects or to refer to them when sitting with someone who needs to hear the gospel.
Who Created The Romans Road to Salvation?
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The Romans' Road to Salvation originated through revivalist preaching. Nobody knows who first came up with the idea; rather, it evolved over time as different preachers used Romans as a basis for their own methodical interpretations.
Many people and organizations have utilized the Romans Road strategy to spread the gospel throughout the ages, changing it to fit different languages and cultures. In the middle of the twentieth century, the Romans Road became a regular tool after leaders like Charles Finney and Dwight Moody transformed evangelism (and church services).
Separation from indulgences and other legalistic Catholic teachings was a goal of Martin Luther and the Reformation that followed. As a response, Luther formulated the five solas, which stand alone as essential Christian principles: Christ alone, faith alone, Scripture alone, and to God's glory.
Romans Road to Salvation verses emphasize how the Gospel provided atonement and pardon, which the Western Church later began to center on. The apostle Paul argues in Romans against those who claim that the Gospel permits sinful behavior due to grace.
Over the course of seven chapters, culminating in the sublime Romans 8, Paul skillfully addresses this. The Evangelicals used sermons and pamphlets to disseminate the Romans Road paradigm they had constructed.
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Everything You Need to Know About The Book of Romans
The Book of Romans, authored by the apostle Paul, is a foundational text for understanding Christian doctrine. Written in AD 57 from the Greek city of Corinth, this letter was addressed to the church in Rome, a congregation Paul had not yet visited.
Despite his absence, Paul’s reputation preceded him, and his letter reflected his deep desire to connect personally with the Roman believers. Paul took care to acknowledge twenty-six individuals by name, highlighting his desire to forge personal connections and make his message impactful.
During this time, Emperor Nero, who had recently assumed the throne at just 16 years of age, ruled Rome. The Christian community there enjoyed a period of peace before Nero's notorious persecution began.
From Corinth—a city known for its cultural diversity and moral complexities—Paul wrote his letter, using his surroundings as a backdrop to articulate the reality of humanity’s sin and the transformative power of divine grace.
The Book of Romans stands out as one of Scripture's most comprehensive expositions of Christian theology. Paul starts by addressing the universal nature of human sin, emphasizing that all have fallen short of God's glory.
Yet, through faith in Jesus Christ, believers receive justification and redemption. Salvation marks the beginning of a lifelong journey of sanctification, as Christians are called to grow in holiness and obedience.
The central theme of Romans is the revelation of God’s righteousness through the gospel. As Paul wrote in Romans 1:16–17, the gospel is the power of God for salvation to all who believe, revealing righteousness through faith.
The letter presents a structured approach to understanding righteousness: addressing humanity's lack of it due to sin (chapters 1–3), its acquisition through faith (chapters 4–5), and its manifestation in a transformed life (chapters 6–8). It also examines God’s plan for the salvation of the Jewish people (chapters 9–11) and provides actionable insights on practicing faith (chapters 12–16).
For contemporary audiences, Romans emphasizes aligning beliefs with daily actions. Its layout—11 chapters on foundational teachings followed by 5 on practical application—urges Christians to not only grasp their faith intellectually but to live it authentically. Are your actions consistent with your faith? Romans inspires believers to let these teachings influence their everyday lives.
The 5 Steps of the Romans Road to Salvation
Source: Photo by Mason Wildfang on Unsplash
The Romans Road verses outline a clear path to understanding and accepting the Gospel through key passages in the Book of Romans. Each step highlights an essential truth about humanity, God’s grace, and salvation.
1. Acknowledge Your Sin
- Romans 3:23 – "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."
- This verse reminds us that sin is universal. Every person has sinned, falling short of God's perfect standard. Recognizing our sinful nature is the first step toward understanding our need for salvation.
2. Understand the Consequences of Sin
- Romans 6:23 – "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."
- Sin has consequences, and the ultimate penalty is spiritual death—eternal separation from God. However, this verse offers hope: God’s gift of eternal life is available through Jesus Christ.
3. Know God’s Love and Provision
- Romans 5:8 – "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."
- Even in our sinful state, God’s love remains steadfast. Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross paid the price for our sins, offering a way to be reconciled with God.
4. Respond with Faith and Confession
- Romans 10:9-10 – "If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved."
- Salvation comes through faith in Jesus and His resurrection. By confessing Jesus as Lord and truly believing in His power to save, we can receive God’s forgiveness.
5. Receive the Assurance of Salvation
- Romans 10:13 – "For 'whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.'"
- This verse offers assurance that salvation is available to everyone who seeks it. Calling upon the Lord with genuine faith guarantees eternal life in Him.
Criticism for The Romans Road to Salvation
The Romans Road to Salvation is a popular evangelistic method that simplifies Paul’s theological insights in the Book of Romans into a linear presentation.
While it has been effective in leading many to faith, critics have identified significant issues with this approach, suggesting that it distorts Paul’s message and misses key theological emphases. We’ll reference two articles, from Andrew Perriman and Ryan Hawkins, moving forward.
1. Oversimplification of Paul’s Argument
The Romans Road, according to Andrew Perriman, simplifies a complicated political and historical story into a message of individual redemption. The verses, he says, distort Paul's larger theological purpose when taken out of context. For example:
- Romans 3:23 highlights the universal problem of sin, but in its context, Paul is addressing Jewish failure to uphold the law, not just personal shortcomings.
- Romans 6:23 emphasizes the wages of sin as death but is framed within Paul’s discussion of God’s impending judgment on both Jews and Gentiles.
Perriman asserts that the Romans Road cuts Paul’s argument from its political and historical roots, turning it into a narrow, individualistic narrative that loses the broader eschatological implications.
2. Misplacement of Focus on Eternal Life
The Romans Road, as Ryan Hawkins notes, places an emphasis on everlasting life as the main gift of salvation. Although Romans 6:23 makes reference to everlasting life, it shouldn't be the sole emphasis. Otherwise, the gospel in Romans would be reduced to just a means to an end—immortality—rather than its core aim.
Being in Christ, rather than living eternally, is the point of salvation. By emphasizing everlasting life, Hawkins brings attention to the possibility that the Romans Road may draw in individuals who are driven less by love for Christ and more by dread of dying.
3. Neglect of the Bigger Story
One critique of the Romans Road is that it focuses only on personal salvation, ignoring the larger themes in Paul’s message. Paul talks not only about individual salvation but also about God's promises to Israel, judgment on the world, and Jesus being Lord of all nations.
As Perriman points out, reducing the message to just personal faith leaves out important historical and community aspects of Paul’s original teachings.
4. Risk of Misleading Evangelism
Both Perriman and Hawkins suggest that the Romans Road contributes to a shallow, transactional view of evangelism. By focusing on individual salvation and eternal life, it diminishes the radical implications of the gospel.
Evangelism, according to Perriman, should proclaim Jesus as the risen Lord over all nations, challenging societal norms and structures. Hawkins, similarly, argues that evangelism must emphasize Christ’s glory and personhood as the centerpiece of the gospel, not just the promise of life after death.
5. Lack of Depth and Discipleship
There are many who think the Romans Road doesn't promote a profound, transformative faith. Since many are more concerned with the benefits of salvation than they are with developing a personal relationship with Christ, Hawkins draws a connection between this and the large number of individuals who give up on their faith.
To be a true disciple, one must love Christ and follow His guidance; this method, which emphasizes transaction rather than transformation, will not bring forth this.
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Community Views on The Romans Road
It’s important to also look beyond what critics and academics have to say on the topic and understand the points of view of everyday Christians navigating their religious lives as they see best according to Scripture. Here is what a few of them had to say about The Romans Road on the subreddit r/Christianity:
“If you can't give the Gospel message without jumbling it all up, the 'Romans Road' is better than not having any clue how to tell someone what the Gospel is.
My issue with it is that Paul wrote Romans in an excellent rhetorical flow for his audience, the only real "break" being between what we have demarcated as Chapters 11 & 12. 'Romans Road' leaves a thousand questions and misconceptions that the epistle itself does not…” – 3kindsofsalt
“I don't know about your reasons, but I don't think it's a very good model for evangelism because the gospel is found just as much in the Gospels as it is in the Book of Romans.” –ELeeMacFall
“I wouldn't use it, no, because people (Christian and non-Christian) in the West tend to have the idea that sin is doing bad things. But doing wrong things isn't sin, but sins; in other words, the bad things we do aren't the problem, but the symptom of the real problem.
(...)
Additionally, the Romans Road is such an abbreviated version of the Gospel that I think Paul would be frankly horrified to see it used this way. It's like condensing Moby Dick into a one-line sentence like "A mad sea-captain hunts a white whale." It doesn't even follow Paul's train of argument, but rather passes over the logical structure that Paul sets forth and instead imposes its own order.
So, in short, I think you can do better than use the Romans Road.” – oilyforehead
Conclusion
The Romans Road has served and continues to serve as a very popular evangelistic tool that many to guide their lives. However, it is not without its critics, especially due to its simplistic nature. This article sheds light on what its teachings are, how it came to be, but also its limitations, in order to give believers all the necessary information to decide whether they wish to follow this roadmap or would prefer to dive deeper into the gospel.
