Aka, the Romans Road to Salvation
In a response to Iconoclast in the Call for a little more honesty thread, JonC wrote:
First, what is the “Roman Road?” The Roman Road to salvation is a method of evangelizing that focuses on verses from the book of Romans about sin, death, and calling on the Lord. This “Printable” version of a Roman Road by Kathy Howard uses five verses or locations in Romans. She writes, “But how do we share that in a way that people will recognize their need and respond to Jesus? One very simple way is what Christians call the ‘Roman Road.’ It’s a short list of verses from the book of Romans that show our need for salvation and how Jesus fills that need. I have seen variations of this list that includes 4 to 8 verses. My list below includes 5, very easy to memorize verses.” Got Questions has “What is the Romans Road to salvation” which uses about five stops along the road.
Evangelism With The Romans Road by Paul Fritz at Sermon Central uses six locations in the book of Romans and concludes with an exhortation to prayer. He says, “If you have never really accepted Jesus as your personal Savior, would you do it right now? Do not delay or put it off. If you would like to receive Christ by faith, pray this simple prayer in your heart:”
No Bible believer that I know of has any objections to the verses in Romans or their usefulness in teaching truths about sin, death, and salvation. One primary objection is the way these verses are used, reducing salvation to a method, or proven steps to follow to get the right response rather than the conviction of the gospel and the Holy Spirit. In principle the “repeat after me” prayer method subtly (or maybe not so subtly) changes the biblical exhortations of repent and believe the gospel into “pray this prayer.” Some are careful to say something like “if you sincerely prayed this prayer,” but note the quote above from Paul Fritz above does not even bother with that distinction. When the Philippian jailer asked Paul and Silas, “What must I do to be saved” they responded with “believe on the Lord Jesus Christ” rather than “pray this prayer.” Perhaps I have missed it, but I have not noticed any New Testament reference that sounds like that.
Again, no Bible believer objects to any of the verses in the book of Romans, but as Reformed wrote in the other thread, many of us (both Calvinist and non-Calvinist Baptists) will “shy away from any evangelistic formula that culminates with, ‘Now bow your head and repeat this prayer’.” In my opinion, much of the way the Roman Road is followed – based on my experience – reduces evangelism to a repetitive method more akin to the door-to-door salesmanship than the New Testament preaching of the gospel.
In a response to Iconoclast in the Call for a little more honesty thread, JonC wrote:
I had been thinking that could be a good topic for a new thread, so I’m going ahead to start one.
First, what is the “Roman Road?” The Roman Road to salvation is a method of evangelizing that focuses on verses from the book of Romans about sin, death, and calling on the Lord. This “Printable” version of a Roman Road by Kathy Howard uses five verses or locations in Romans. She writes, “But how do we share that in a way that people will recognize their need and respond to Jesus? One very simple way is what Christians call the ‘Roman Road.’ It’s a short list of verses from the book of Romans that show our need for salvation and how Jesus fills that need. I have seen variations of this list that includes 4 to 8 verses. My list below includes 5, very easy to memorize verses.” Got Questions has “What is the Romans Road to salvation” which uses about five stops along the road.
Evangelism With The Romans Road by Paul Fritz at Sermon Central uses six locations in the book of Romans and concludes with an exhortation to prayer. He says, “If you have never really accepted Jesus as your personal Savior, would you do it right now? Do not delay or put it off. If you would like to receive Christ by faith, pray this simple prayer in your heart:”
Fritz concludes by pronouncing salvation on and giving assurance to the person who prays this prayer, “If you prayed that prayer, God heard you and saved you. I personally want to welcome you to the family of God.”
No Bible believer that I know of has any objections to the verses in Romans or their usefulness in teaching truths about sin, death, and salvation. One primary objection is the way these verses are used, reducing salvation to a method, or proven steps to follow to get the right response rather than the conviction of the gospel and the Holy Spirit. In principle the “repeat after me” prayer method subtly (or maybe not so subtly) changes the biblical exhortations of repent and believe the gospel into “pray this prayer.” Some are careful to say something like “if you sincerely prayed this prayer,” but note the quote above from Paul Fritz above does not even bother with that distinction. When the Philippian jailer asked Paul and Silas, “What must I do to be saved” they responded with “believe on the Lord Jesus Christ” rather than “pray this prayer.” Perhaps I have missed it, but I have not noticed any New Testament reference that sounds like that.
Again, no Bible believer objects to any of the verses in the book of Romans, but as Reformed wrote in the other thread, many of us (both Calvinist and non-Calvinist Baptists) will “shy away from any evangelistic formula that culminates with, ‘Now bow your head and repeat this prayer’.” In my opinion, much of the way the Roman Road is followed – based on my experience – reduces evangelism to a repetitive method more akin to the door-to-door salesmanship than the New Testament preaching of the gospel.
Last edited:
