The “Romans Road” is a popular means of explaining and sharing the Bible’s plan of salvation using several passages from the New Testament book of Romans. It starts with the universality of sin and its consequences. Then it moves on to the atoning, sacrificial death of Jesus on the cross being the means of our salvation. It concludes with a look at the results of that salvation.

The first verse on the Romans Road is Romans 3:23. It tells us that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Not a single person can measure up to God’s holy standard on his or her own.

Romans 3:10-18 references several Old Testament passages as it describes humanity’s sinful, lost condition. We are lacking righteousness, understanding, goodness, and a desire to pursue God. We are full of lies, cursing, bitterness, and violence. We are missing peace and a healthy fear of God.

Then, Romans 6:23 teaches us about the costs of sin. It states that “the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” The punishment that we rightfully deserve is eternal death — physical and spiritual. But, because of God’s grace and mercy, the Romans Road does not end there.

Romans 5:8 declares that “God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Jesus died for all of us, even while we stood in direct opposition to God! In doing so, he paid the price of all of our sins and opened up the only means of redemption and reconciliation with God available to us.

The next verse on the Romans Road is Romans 10:9, which tells us how we should respond to this good news. It says, “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.” In other words, if we want to receive the salvation that is provided by God through Jesus Christ, we simply must believe and accept this free, beautiful gift.

In case the reader misses this important point, Romans 10:13 reiterates this truth — “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Salvation is available to anyone who will trust in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.

The next step on the Romans Road speaks to the blessings we obtain when we receive our salvation. Romans 5:1 promises that we will be “made right with God” and enjoy “peace with God.” We go from being enemies of God to being children of God.

Romans 8:1 instructs us, “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” While we are condemned for our sin prior to coming to Christ, his finished work on the cross removes our much-deserved punishment and places it on him. As a result, we no longer stand condemned. The penalty has been paid in full, and God’s righteous anger and demand for justice have been satisfied.

Finally, we have this promise of God in Romans 8:38-39 — “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.” We are secure in Christ, and we need not fear him withdrawing his love, care, and concern from us.