Reading: Popular Plans of Salvation

Popular Plans of Salvation

There are several well-known methods used to communicate the message of salvation clearly and effectively. Each provides a biblical framework for explaining how someone can come to faith in Christ.

1. The Romans Road: A Step-by-Step Guide to Salvation

The Romans Road is a clear and structured way to share the message of salvation using verses from the Book of Romans. This method systematically walks a person through the key theological points of the gospel, showing the need for salvation, God’s provision through Christ, and the response of faith.

Step 1: The Reality of Sin

📖 Romans 3:23 – “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
This verse establishes that every person is a sinner, meaning we have all fallen short of God's perfect standard. It highlights the universal human condition—no one is righteous on their own, and all are in need of redemption.

Step 2: The Consequence of Sin

📖 Romans 6:23 – “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Sin has a consequence—spiritual death, which means separation from God. However, this verse also introduces hope: though sin leads to death, God offers the free gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ. This contrast between the wages (earned penalty) and the gift (unearned grace) is key to understanding salvation.

Step 3: God’s Love and Provision

📖 Romans 5:8 – “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
God did not wait for us to become worthy of salvation. While humanity was still lost in sin, Christ took the punishment we deserved. His sacrificial death on the cross is the ultimate display of God's love and grace.

Step 4: The Response of Faith

📖 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.”
Salvation is not earned through good works or religious rituals but received through faith in Jesus Christ. This verse emphasizes two key actions:

1. Confessing with the mouth – Acknowledging Jesus as Lord, which means surrendering to His authority.
2. Believing in the heart – Trusting that God raised Him from the dead, affirming His victory over sin and death.

Step 5: The Assurance of Salvation

📖 Romans 10:13 – “For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
God’s promise of salvation is for all who genuinely call upon Him. This verse reassures believers that salvation is secure when they place their faith in Christ.

Using the Romans Road in Ministry

Faith officiants can use the Romans Road as a simple yet powerful tool for evangelism. It provides a step-by-step guide to explaining the gospel in personal conversations, sermons, faith-based ceremonies, and discipleship settings.

Practical Applications:
✔️ Use it in one-on-one evangelism when sharing the gospel with someone who has questions about salvation.
✔️ Incorporate it into faith ceremonies such as baptisms and professions of faith to explain the meaning of salvation.
✔️ Teach it in discipleship programs to equip believers with a clear method for sharing their faith.
✔️ Encourage people to memorize these verses so they are always ready to share the gospel.

The Romans Road provides a clear and biblical foundation for leading others to Christ, making it an essential tool for any faith officiant.

2. The Four Spiritual Laws: A Simple Guide to Sharing the Gospel

The Four Spiritual Laws, developed by Campus Crusade for Christ (now known as Cru), provide a structured and easy-to-understand way to explain the gospel message. This method presents God’s plan for humanity, the problem of sin, Christ’s redemptive work, and the response needed to receive salvation. It is widely used in personal evangelism, faith-based counseling, and ministry outreach.

Law 1: God Loves You and Has a Wonderful Plan for Your Life

📖 John 3:16 – "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."

The foundation of the gospel is God's love. He created humanity to have a relationship with Him and desires that all people experience His love and purpose. The key message here is that God’s plan for each person is good and leads to eternal life. However, something separates us from fully experiencing this relationship.

Law 2: Sin Separates Us from God

📖 Romans 3:23 – "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."

Though God loves us, there is a barrier between humanity and God—sin. Sin is disobedience to God, and it creates a separation between us and Him. This separation means we cannot experience the fullness of His love and purpose.

📖 Romans 6:23 – "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."

This verse further explains the consequence of sin: spiritual death, which is eternal separation from God. However, the good news is that God has provided a solution to this problem.

Law 3: Jesus Christ is the Only Way to Bridge the Gap

📖 John 14:6 – "Jesus answered, 'I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.'"

Many people try to reach God through good deeds, religion, or moral living, but none of these efforts can bridge the gap created by sin. Jesus Christ is the only way to restore our relationship with God. Through His death on the cross and resurrection, Jesus paid the penalty for sin, offering salvation to all who believe in Him.

📖 Romans 5:8 – "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."

God did not wait for us to become righteous before offering salvation. Jesus willingly took the punishment for sin on Himself, demonstrating God’s love for humanity.

Law 4: We Must Personally Receive Jesus Christ as Our Savior

📖 Revelation 3:20 – "Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me."

Salvation is not automatic. It requires a personal response. Every person must make a decision to receive Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior by faith.

📖 John 1:12 – "Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God."

Faith officiants can use this law to emphasize that salvation is not just about knowing facts about Jesus—it is about entering into a personal relationship with Him.

To receive Christ, one must:
✔ Confess their need for Him (repentance)
✔ Believe in Jesus Christ’s sacrifice and resurrection
✔ Invite Him into their life through prayer

Using the Four Spiritual Laws in Ministry

Faith officiants can use the Four Spiritual Laws in several ways:
✔ Personal Evangelism – Sharing these principles with individuals seeking to understand Christianity.
✔ Faith-Based Counseling – Guiding people who are questioning their faith or struggling with sin.
✔ Faith Ceremonies – Incorporating these truths in professions of faith, baptism services, or altar calls.
✔ Discipleship Training – Teaching new believers how to confidently share the gospel with others.

A simple way to invite someone to respond to the gospel is through a prayer of commitment:

"Lord Jesus, I acknowledge that I am a sinner in need of Your grace. I believe that You died on the cross for my sins and rose again. I invite You into my life as my Savior and Lord. Help me to follow You and live according to Your will. Amen."

3. The Bridge Illustration: A Visual Representation of the Gospel

The Bridge Illustration is a simple yet powerful way to explain the gospel message. It visually demonstrates the separation between God and humanity due to sin and how Jesus Christ serves as the bridge that restores the relationship. This method is particularly effective for faith officiants in personal evangelism, discipleship, and faith ceremonies.

Step 1: The Gap Between Humanity and God

📖 Romans 6:23 – “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

The illustration begins with two sides:

• On one side is God, representing holiness, love, and eternal life.
• On the other side is Humanity, separated from God because of sin.

Between these two sides is a great chasm—sin, which creates a barrier that humanity cannot cross on its own. No amount of good works, religious rituals, or moral living can bridge this gap. The wages of sin is spiritual death, meaning eternal separation from God.

✎ Visual Representation: Draw two cliffs, labeling one "God" and the other "Humanity," with a deep chasm labeled "Sin" in between.

Step 2: God’s Love and the Provision of Jesus Christ

📖 John 3:16 – "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."

Even though sin separates us from God, He provided a solution—Jesus Christ. Jesus, who lived a perfect life, took the punishment for our sins by dying on the cross. His death and resurrection created a bridge that allows humanity to be reconciled with God.

✎ Visual Representation: Draw a cross spanning the gap between "Humanity" and "God," showing that Jesus is the bridge.

Step 3: Salvation is a Gift, Received by Faith

📖 Ephesians 2:8-9 – "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast."

Salvation is not something we can earn. It is a gift from God, freely given to those who place their faith in Jesus Christ. We must make a personal decision to walk across the bridge by trusting in Christ as our Savior.

✔ Faith officiants can emphasize that just knowing about the bridge is not enough—one must choose to cross it by accepting Jesus personally.

✎ Visual Representation: Write "FAITH" on the cross to signify that it is through faith in Christ that we can cross the gap.

Step 4: Invitation to Respond

Faith officiants can use this illustration as a tool for leading people to respond to the gospel. They can ask:

• "Where do you see yourself in this picture? Are you still on the side of sin, or have you crossed the bridge?"
• "Would you like to receive the gift of salvation and walk across the bridge today?"

Simple Prayer of Commitment:
"Lord Jesus, I recognize that my sin has separated me from You. I believe that You died for my sins and rose again. I place my faith in You as my Savior and Lord. Thank You for bridging the gap and giving me eternal life. Amen."

Using the Bridge Illustration in Ministry

Faith officiants can use the Bridge Illustration in:
✔ Personal evangelism – One-on-one conversations with seekers or new believers.
✔ Faith ceremonies – Baptism classes, profession of faith moments, or counseling sessions.
✔ Sermons and Bible studies – Teaching congregations or small groups about salvation.
✔ Discipleship training – Equipping others to share the gospel clearly and visually.