[Biblemat] S) FILLING IN THE POTHOLES IN THE "ROMAN'S ROAD"

[J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com]

Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here.  Here is a study from my
recent files.  Use to the glory of God.

FILLING IN THE POTHOLES IN THE "ROMAN'S ROAD"

     Several evangelical and denominational churches pass
around a tract called "The Roman's Road To Salvation."  They say that by 
following the steps therein one attains salva-
tion.  However, there are a number of things they leave out,
or add and provide no Scriptures to justify the addition.  If we
look at the pathway to salvation as a road, which is suitable,
Jesus used such an example in His preaching (Matt. 7:13,14).
We need to know that the road is complete and free from pot-
holes, like additions and subtractions from God's Word.  If
one were to fall into these potholes, he would end up spend-
ing eternity in hell.  With this grave point seen, we must real-
ize that God's Word is to be viewed as a whole.  The Psalm-
ist wrote, "The entirety of Your Word is truth.  And every one
of Your righteous judgments endures forever" (Psa. 119:160).
When we consider this, it must be understood that we need
to take all that God's Word says on a matter.  Let us consider
and fix the "Roman Road" so that it will lead one to salvation.

     The "Roman's Road" does have some truth.  The tract
points out that we have all sinned.  This is true!  Paul made
it clear in Rom. 3:23, "For all have sinned and come short of
the glory of God."  God sees us as sinners because we sinned and violated His 
law.  "Whosoever committeth sin 
transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the
law" (1 Jno. 3:4).  The tract also points out that because we
are sinners, we are deserving of death.  Paul writes, "The
wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life throu-
gh Jesus Christ our Lord" (Rom. 6:23).  The tract shows that
God provided a way in which our sins could be forgiven.  "But God commendeth 
His love towards us, in that while we
were yet sinners, Christ died for us" (Rom. 5:8).  But this is
the point where the tract departs from God's Plan.  The things following, if 
they are not completely without Scriptural
base, they at the very least are a perversion of God's Divine
Word.

     A major pothole in the "Roman's Road" is what is left out
in regard to salvation.  The tract quotes Rom. 10:9,10, "That
if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in 
thine heart that God raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.  For with the 
heart man believeth
unto righteousness and with the mouth confession is made
unto salvation."  While these passages are true, the tract
seems to make them the only responsibility.  This is false!
The Word of God speaks of other requirements to being sav-
ed, in addition to faith and confession.  Jesus said repent-
ance was necessary for salvation.  "I tell you Nay; but except
ye repent ye shall all likewise perish" (Lk. 13:3).  The apostle
Peter said, "Repent therefore and be converted that, your sins may be blotted 
out" (Acts 3:19).  Paul, in speaking to
those on Mars Hill, said, "And the times of this ignorance God
winked at; but now commandeth all men everywhere to re-
pent" (Acts 17:30).  Repentance is required for one's salvat-
ion!  Further, Jesus included baptism as a requirement for one to be saved.  
Jesus said, "He that believeth and is baptiz-ed shall be saved; but he that 
believeth not shall be damned"
(Mk. 16:16).  Peter told those on the day of Pentecost to be
"baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of
sins" (Acts 2:38).  Peter also wrote, "the like figure whereunto
baptism doth now save us (not the putting away of the filth of
the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God)
by the resurrection of Jesus Christ" (1 Pet. 3:21).  Another
huge pothole in the "Roman's Road" is what is perverted and
not clearly explained.  The tract quotes Rom. 10:13, "For who-
soever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved."
This is a true statement!  In order for one to be saved, he
must "call on the name of the Lord."  Yet, the "Roman's Road" does not 
explain what it means to call on the name of
the Lord.  The tract leaves the impression that calling on the
name of the Lord is to cry out the name of Jesus into the air.
This is not true!  The apostle Paul wrote this passage.  There
shold be no dispute that he knew what it meant to "call on the
name of the Lord."  In Acts 22 Paul recounts his conversion.
In his speech he speaks of what was told to him that he might
become a child of God.  "And now why tarriest thou?  Arise
and be baptized and wash away thy sins, calling on the name
of the Lord" (Acts 22:16).  To the apostle Paul, calling on the
name of the Lord included arising and being baptized, in other words obeying 
the gospel.  It was not a recitation of the
name of Jesus into the air!

     Lastly, another eternally fatal pothole is what the "Roman's Road" adds 
without showing it from God's Word.
Near the end of the tract the reader is requested to recite the
"sinner's prayer."  In the prayer the reader is to request that
his sins be forgiven and "accept Jesus as his personal Savior."  Yet not one 
Scripture is give for such a prayer.  There is a reason for this: it is not in 
God's Word!  God's Word commands the alien sinner to be baptized for his sins
to be forgiven (Acts 2:38; 22:16).  Further, there is not a pass-
age in the Bible that commands anyone to "accept Jesus as
his personal Savior."  How ignorant can one be, to hang one's
soul's salvation upon something that is not even found in the
Bible?  Why not obey what God's Word says, rather than say-
ing a "sinner's prayer"?

     We ought to consider very carefully what God's Word says about 
salvation.  "Work out your own salvation with fear
and trembling" (Phil. 2:12).  If we have a hope to live with the
Lord, let us walk the "narrow way" (Matt. 7:13).  Rather than
the "Roman's Road" which is filled with potholes that lead
straight to eternal death.    ----- Kurt G. Jones in Truth Maga-
zine, Vol. 51, No. 1, Jan. 2007.


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