For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16 NLT

I have felt led this week to share the gospel message and I am following Paul’s path in Romans. I pray that if you don’t know God through Jesus that you may travel the road with me and believe. I pray that if you are a Christian, it will encourage you to share the gospel message with others.

I wonder if Paul watched a Roman road being built as he thought about his letter to the Roman church. A Roman road was a masterpiece of engineering built over 2,000 years ago. Several are still intact today! A Roman road started with a wide trench, the first layer was packed soil, the second a layer of large stones, the third a layer of crushed stone or concrete, the fourth a layer of finer concrete or a sand mix, the fifth a layer of fitted stone blocks or gravel chambered for drainage.

Paul begins his “road” by telling us that we are all sinners, everyone of us. For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Romans 3:23

Second, Paul tells us that there is joy for those whose sins are forgiven. Yes, what joy for those whose record the LORD has cleared of sin. Romans 4:8

Third, Paul says that when we believe, have faith in all that Jesus has done for us we are made right with God. Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. Romans 5:1

Paul’s fourth layer is that we are no longer condemned. We belong to Jesus and are freed from sin and death by the Spirit. So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you for the power of sin that leads to death. Romans 8:1-2

Paul’s fifth layer is that through our faith and heart-felt confession that Jesus is Lord and that God raised Him from the dead we are saved! If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him form the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is openly declaring your faith that you are saved. Romans 10:9-10

For “Everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved.” Romans 10:13, Acts 2:21 NLT

I thank God for each of you! And I thank you for joining me this week as we travel the Roman road and reaffirm our own faith, accept the salvation offered through God’s gift of His Son, or share the message of salvation with others.

Blessings and joy, peace and love!