THE ROMAN ROAD - LESSON 15

TAKE A QUIZ

Faith alone will save my soul! Yes No

Often I find a tract in a public place that encourages one to “follow the Roman Road” to salvation. The gist of all such tracts is that the Book of Romans teaches that justification is by grace alone through faith alone. These tracts are a good example of building a doctrine on the fallacy of a partial truth.

The plan of salvation can certainly be taught from the book of Romans. However, the “Roman Road” is longer than what is usually presented in these tracts. When all the facts are considered no one can properly conclude that salvation is by faith alone apart from obedience to the Gospel.

ROMANS 1:5

5 through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations,

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COMMENTARY

Paul was appointed to be an apostle “for,” “unto,” or “in order to” the obedience of faith (“obedience to the faith” in the KJV). The aim or end of his preaching was the obedience of the Gentiles to the things he preached (cf. 1:14–15). The very epistle which is supposed to teach salvation by faith alone apart from obedience begins with a declaration of the necessity of obedience to the faith or the Gospel (cf. 1:16).

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ROMANS 16:25, 26

25 Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages 26 but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith—

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COMMENTARY

Paul ends the letter just as he began it affirming that God’s eternal plan of salvation, the Gospel, has as its object and desired end the obedience of faith. Whatever one says about salvation by faith cannot exclude this truth.

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ROMANS 1:16, 17

16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”

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COMMENTARY

What Paul called “the faith” in verse 5, he now calls “the Gospel.” This Gospel is “the power of God unto salvation.” There is no other power revealed. It alone effects justication by faith. This is what Paul preached and this is what men were to obey.

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ROMANS 10:8–17

8 But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); 9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. 11 For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. 13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” 14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? 15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” 16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” 17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

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COMMENTARY

What does it mean to “call on the name of the Lord to be saved”? Most believe it means “pray the sinner’s prayer” or “ask Jesus to come into your heart by faith.” However, that is not what Paul says that it means. The process of calling on the name of the Lord involves (1) the word of faith, (2) hearing the word, (3) believing the word and (4) obeying the word. Paul specifically identifies one aspect of that obedience, the good confession. If “the only condition is that we believe on Him and what He has done for us,” then why does Paul say, “If thou shalt confess”? Isn’t making the good confession obedience? Can one be saved and not confess Christ (Matthew 10:32–33)?

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ROMANS 4:1–5

4 What then shall we say was gained by Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh? 2 For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. 3 For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.” 4 Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due. 5 And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness,

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COMMENTARY

Abraham is the archetype of one who has called upon the name of the Lord to be saved. He was a sinner (Genesis 12:13; 16:1–4; 20:2; 26:7), but his faith was reckoned for righteousness. He was obedient, but he was not justified by works as a matter of debt (Galatians 3:10-12). Rather, he was justified by faith as a matter of grace (Genesis 15:6). His obedience did not nullify God’s grace (Hebrews 11:8–10; James 2:21-24).

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ROMANS 4:22–5:1

22 That is why his faith was “counted to him as righteousness.”23 But the words “it was counted to him” were not written for his sake alone, 24 but for ours also. It will be counted to us who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, 25 who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification. 22 That is why his faith was “counted to him as righteousness.”23 But the words “it was counted to him” were not written for his sake alone, 24 but for ours also. It will be counted to us who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, 25 who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.

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COMMENTARY

All are justified by faith as Abraham was. Yet, it is evident it was not by faith alone without obedience. If our faith is as his was, we will be righteous as he was. We now know what kind of faith justifies. It is not faith alone, but faith which worketh by love; faith that obeys the Gospel (Galatians 5:6; II Thessalonians 1:6–10; James 2:24).

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ROMANS 3:23–28

23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins.26 It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. 27 Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By a law of works? No, but by the law of faith. 28 For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law.

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COMMENTARY

Sin is a universal problem (cf. 3:9). [It may be necessary to note for your student that while all men sin all men are not born sinners, neither do they have to sin. A review of the context will bear out that he does not have infants in view and that sin is a choice (cf. 3:10-18; 7:9)]. Nevertheless, all accountable human beings stand in need of the remission of sins. It is the Gospel that addresses this universal need of mankind. The central element in the Gospel plan is the death of Jesus. By dieing on the cross jesius became the propitiation for our sins (“a conciliatory sacrifice”) which appeases God’s just wrath toward sinners (I John 2:2; Matthew 20:28; 26:28; Ephesians 1:7; Colossians 1:14; I Timothy 2:5–6). We obtain this redemption “in Christ,” that is, through a relationship with Christ (Romans 8:1; 12:5; II Corinthians 5:17). The question is how do we enter into Christ? Upon what condition or conditions does God pardon mans sins? Martin Luther in his translation of v. 28 inserted the word “only” after the word “faith.” This is how most folks have heard it preached, and this is what they believe about: “a man is justified by faith only.” However, that is not what the text says. The obedience of faith is not excluded; it is the “works of the Law of Moses” which are excluded. God does not require sinless perfection as the grounds of justification, but He does require the obedience of faith.

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ROMANS 6:3, 4

3 Do you not know that all of uswho have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.

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COMMENTARY

How does one enter into Christ? The penetent believer is “baptized into Christ.” This is when and where the old man is cruicified and the new man is raised to walk in newness of life. Many want to make this a symbol of what has already occurred “at faith;” however, the language does not allow such a view. Paul says they were dead, they became dead when they were baptized into death and we were raised up to walk in newness of life. If the spiriaully alive man was crucified with Christ, what was raised up in the likeness of His resurrection?

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ROMANS 6:16–18

16 Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? 17 But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, 18 and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness.

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COMMENTARY

Obedience is “unto righteousness,” that is, it is the end or goal obtained. Likewise, sin produces death. This righteousness or justification occurred when we obeyed the Gospel from the heart (Acts 15:7–11; I Peter 1:18–23). This is the obedience of faith (cf. Romans 1:5, 16– 17).

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ROMANS 2:4-10

4 Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? 5 But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God's righteous judgment will be revealed. 6 He will render to each one according to his works: 7 to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life;8 but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury. 9 There will be tribulation and distress for every human being who does evil, the Jew first and also the Greek,10 but glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good, the Jew first and also the Greek.

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COMMENTARY

Will you repent and obey the truth? The hope of heaven is sure only to those who work good, obey the truth, and call upon the name of the Lord.

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Completed!

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