“Anyone who calls on the Lord will be saved.” But before people can ask the Lord for help, they must believe in him; and before they can believe in him, they must hear about him; and for them to hear about the Lord, someone must tell them… Romans 10:13-14 (NCV)
We have the greatest news. We know how to fix the problem of spending an eternity separated from God. Our personal story is not enough to fix the problem of sin in their life. We need to share with them the path to salvation. Below are two different methods to share salvation with those who want to accept the gift of salvation.
The Romans Road
The Problem – All men are sinners when measured against a holy God. Romans 3:23 – For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
The Predicament – There is nothing a person can do to earn or merit forgiveness and a right standing before a holy God. Romans 4:4-5 – Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt. But to him who does not work but believes on him who justifies the ungodly his faith is accounted for righteousness.
The Penalty – Sin demands a penalty, and that penalty is physical death (where the soul is separated from the body) and spiritual death (where the soul is eternally separated from God). Romans 5:12 – Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men because all sinned.
The Provision – God loves us so much that He provided Jesus Christ, His Son, to take our place on the cross and pay the penalty for our sins. Romans 5:8 – But God demonstrates His own love toward us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us.
The Pardon – God, in grace, is freely giving eternal life to every person who receives forgiveness for their sins through Jesus Christ. Romans 6:23 – For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
The Process – People must turn to the risen Lord Jesus Christ in faith, trusting Him alone, apart from any human merit, to deliver them from their sins and bring them into a relationship with God. 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. 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.