Salvation: The Roman Road or The Jerusalem Road

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user

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The Roman Road Plan of Salvation is used by virtually ALL denominations today. Those who use the Roman Road Plan of Salvation will tell a lost person, who sincerely recites the words of one of the various versions of the "Sinner's Prayer", that they are ready to go to Heaven, right then and there, POOF, just like that!

The following is how most people are taught to use the Roman Road Plan of Salvation: They will tell a person it is very easy to be saved (which is a true statement). Then, they will walk them through the following steps:

Step 1. They'll tell the person to realize they are a sinner. "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;" (Romans 3:23), which is very true.

Step 2. Then, they'll tell them to realize that a price must be paid for their sin. "...and without shedding of blood is no remission." (Hebrews 9:22) "Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:" (Romans 5:12), still, all very true.

Step 3. Next, they'll tell them to realize that a price had to paid for their sin AND that the price has already been paid by Jesus Christ! "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." (Romans 6:23) "But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8), again, all very true.

Step 4. Then, they'll tell the person to ask Jesus to come into their heart and save their soul, and to accept His sacrifice as the punishment for their sin. "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." (Romans 10:9), here's where things "begin to go South" (so to speak).

Step 5. At this point, they'll ask the person if they would like to accept Jesus Christ as their personal Savior right then. If so, they will ask the person to repeat after them the words of one of the versions of the "The Sinner's Prayer". And, they are saved at that very moment! Right then and there. POOF! Just like that!

There are some essential things missing in the Roman Road Plan of Salvation.


Consider the following...

The Jerusalem Road Plan of Salvation was presented by Peter, under the inspiration of the Spirit of God, on the Day of Pentecost in Acts Chapter 2, following Jesus' death, burial, resurrection and ascension. Upon being specifically asked what sinners must do, here's what God inspired Peter to say, as recorded in Acts 2:38: "Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." A gift is not something earned. But, Peter didn’t stop there. In the very next verse (verse 39) he said, "For the promise is to you, your children, to those that are afar off, even as many as the Lord OUR GOD shall call". So, my question is, "Has God stopped calling?" ABSOLUTELY NOT!

Step 1. Repentance of sins

Jesus said in Luke 13:3 "... except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish." And He COMMANDED in Luke 24:47 that REPENTANCE AND REMISSION OF SINS should be preached in HIS NAME among ALL nations, BEGINNING at Jerusalem.

Step 2. Water Baptism in the precious name of Jesus...

Jesus told Nicodemus in John 3:1-8 that unless a person is "born again" of water AND of the Spirit, they cannot enter into the Kingdom of God. And, He said in Mark 16:16 "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned." The Greek word that was translated into English as "baptize" means to fully wet, immerse, submerge, plunge into, dip or bury.

Step 3. Receiving the Holy Spirit (the Bible way)

Jesus told Nicodemus this in John Chapter 3...

Verse 3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

Verse 5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

Verse 8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.


According to Jesus, Himself, although you cannot see the wind, or know where it came from or where it is going, there is a "sound" heard when it is present, likewise, there is a "sound" heard when everyone is born of the Spirit. So, my question is "What is the sound to which Jesus referred?"...

1) the 120 in the upper room in Acts 2:1-4, .... they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

2) the household of Cornelius in Acts 10:44-48, ... While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God.

3) the 12 disciples of John in Acts 19:1-6, ... And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.


"Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed?" (Acts 19:2)

God bless!
 

Enoch111

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He said in Mark 16:16 "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned."
So are you saying that without water baptism there is no salvation? Sounds that way, but that is not what the Gospel says. This verse and Acts 2:38 must be properly interpreted IN THE LIGHT OF ALL GOSPEL TRUTH.
 

user

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Just curious.... Does anything come before "repentance?"

Repentance always comes first. Many think the "natural" realm we live in is all there is to it, and that being a Christian is just a matter of their profession of faith. However, the Spiritual realm runs parallel. And, as a result, far too many simply fail to recognize, or benefit, from it.


The Natural Realm - Gospel Message:
1.) Death,
2.) Burial and
3.) Resurrection of Jesus Christ.


The Spiritual Realm Parallel - Gospel Message:
1.) Repentance (dying out to sin, self and the world)
2.) Baptism in the Precious Name of Jesus for the remission of sin, and
3.) Being born again .. the infilling of the Holy Ghost "the Bible way", and rising to walk in the newness of life in Christ.


Although, some will confess this parallel of the Gospel message, they don't go any further than that into the (Spiritual Realm) parallel.

God is awesome!

Thank you,
God bless!
 
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user

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So are you saying that without water baptism there is no salvation? Sounds that way, but that is not what the Gospel says. This verse and Acts 2:38 must be properly interpreted IN THE LIGHT OF ALL GOSPEL TRUTH.

Jesus, who knew no sin, walked from Nazareth to Bethabara (probably about 50-60 miles) to be baptized by John the Baptist. When John the Baptist told Jesus that it needed to be the other way around (him being baptized by Jesus), Jesus told him that it was necessary to fulfill all righteousness (Matthew 3:13-17).

THE GREAT COMMISSION GIVEN:
"Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:"

THE GREAT COMMISSION IN ACTION:
Acts 2:38 "Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the NAME of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost."

The Gospel Message is the:
1.) Death,
2.) Burial and
3.) Resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Obeying Peter and ALL the Apostles present (with him) that day in Acts 2:38, is to:
1.) Repent (dying out to sin, self and the world)
2.) Baptism in the Precious Name of Jesus for the remission of sin, and
3.) Being born again .. the infilling of the Holy Ghost "the Bible way", and rising to walk in the newness of life in Christ.

Baptism is full immersion into the water because it is a symbolic burial...

Romans 6
3] Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
4] Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
5] For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
6] Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.

Hope this helps,
God bless!
 

historyb

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The Roman Road Plan of Salvation is used by virtually ALL denominations today.

We don't of course we are a Traditional Church. I don't believe in all that Roman road evangelical way to get saved stuff
 
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amadeus

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"Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost" Acts 2:38

If is being "baptized" in his name, simply means being immersed in His name without any dipping in H2O, how would that change things? The following verse speaks of two or three in his name is surely not speaking of immersion in H2O, is it?

"For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." Matt 18:20
 
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user

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"Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost" Acts 2:38

If is being "baptized" in his name, simply means being immersed in His name without any dipping in H2O, how would that change things? The following verse speaks of two or three in his name is surely not speaking of immersion in H2O, is it?

"For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." Matt 18:20

That's a really good question, Amadeus.

Let's have a look at what the word of God is saying to us...

Act 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized(G907) every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

G907
βαπτίζω
baptizō
Thayer Definition:
1) to dip repeatedly, to immerse, to submerge (of vessels sunk)
2) to cleanse by dipping or submerging, to wash, to make clean with water, to wash one’s self, bathe
3) to overwhelm


Strong's Definition:
baptizō
bap-tid'-zo
From a derivative of G911; to make whelmed (that is, fully wet); used only (in the New Testament) of ceremonial ablution, especially (technically) of the ordinance of Christian baptism: - baptist, baptize, wash.


Colossians 3:17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

Again, good question.
God bless!
 
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amadeus

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That's a really good question, Amadeus.

Let's have a look at what the word of God is saying to us...

Act 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized(G907) every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

G907
βαπτίζω
baptizō
Thayer Definition:
1) to dip repeatedly, to immerse, to submerge (of vessels sunk)
2) to cleanse by dipping or submerging, to wash, to make clean with water, to wash one’s self, bathe
3) to overwhelm


Strong's Definition:
baptizō
bap-tid'-zo
From a derivative of G911; to make whelmed (that is, fully wet); used only (in the New Testament) of ceremonial ablution, especially (technically) of the ordinance of Christian baptism: - baptist, baptize, wash.


Colossians 3:17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

Again, good question.
God bless!
Thank you for your kind response. I have been baptized in water more than one time over the years by immersion [UPC] as well as being sprinkling [RCC] so I doubt that another one is needed.

My own view of what is needful and why is somewhat different but I appreciate hearing yours. It sounds like what they taught when I was in UPC and other oneness groups [1976-1987]. I still visit the local UPC periodically as I am more comfortable with them than any place else I have found in the area. Besides of which the maintenance man for my apartment complex attends there and he is a good Christian young man.
 
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user

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I am fully aware of the importance of Christian baptism. But baptism does not wash away sins.

Acts 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Acts 22:16 And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.

This is about OBEDIENCE to His Word. Jesus spoke to the church through the gifts of the Spirit that are in operation, saying, in part...

"... Just as I ordained and told the leper to go to the priest and give thanks unto God for their healing, so as they went they were healed as they obeyed my word. If you will obey the principles that I have placed in effect, so to you shall have success."

God bless!
 
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Ernest T. Bass

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In Acts 15, the Apostles came together to discuss if circumcision was necessary to be saved as some false teachers claimed it was. Those false teachers were trying to make the law of Moses the final arbiter as to salvation and not the NT gospel of Christ.

Of course the Apostles determined that circumcision was not necessary to being saved. During this meeting Peter said "Brethren, ye know that a good while ago God made choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel, and believe. And God, who knoweth the heart, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Spirit, even as he did unto us; and he made no distinction between us and them, Now therefore why make ye trial of God, that ye should put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?cleansing their hearts by faith. But we believe that we shall be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, in like manner as they." Acts of the Apostles 11:7-11.

Some of Peter's points here are:
--- God made no distinction between Jew and Gentile meaning the OT law was gone, no longer in effect. (Ephesians 2:14-15) (Acts of the apostles 10:9-16)
--- requiring the OT law requirement of circumcision was akin to putting a yoke upon the necks of the disciples (Galatians 5:1)
--- "we shall be saved" the OT law of Moses did not justify, it required perfect, strict law keeping in order to be justified which those Jews could not do.
--- "in like manner as they" - Peter shows Jew and Gentile are saved in a "like manner" way. The NT gospel plan of salvation is the same for all men, Jew and Gentile (Romans 1:16).

The salvation of the Jews in Acts 2 and Gentiles in Acts 10 did not involve faith only or a sinner's prayer. Both Jew and Gentile had a role in their own salvation (save yourselves - Acts of the Apostles 2:40) by being obedient to the command of God in submitting to water baptism in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, (Acts of the Apostles 2:38 cf Acts of the Apostles 10:47-48).

In Luke's account of the great commission, Luke wrote "and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name unto all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem." (Luke 24:47). All nations (Jew and Gentile) would be saved by "repentance and remission of sins" and this salvation would "begin from Jerusalem". This was fulfilled in Acts 2 when Peter was in Jerusalem and preached "repent and be baptized for remission of sins". This same message was preached to all nations, both Jews and Gentiles.
Paul preached the same message (Galatians 1:23), Saul had made havoc of the faith of the church at Jerusalem, which included Acts 2:38, a faith that Paul now preacheth.

In Acts 1 and 2, baptism with the Holy Spirit was promised only to the Apostles and the Holy Spirit fell just upon the Apostles and not all of those who heard Peter's sermon eliminating baptism with the Holy Spirit as the 'like manner' way Jew and Gentile are saved. There is "one baptism" (Ephesians 4:5) in effect today. That one baptism is water baptism for remission of sins that was commanded to both Jew and Gentile and refusal to obey the commands of God leves one lost in his sins.

John 3:5-------------Spirit++++++++++++++++++water>>>>>>>>>>>in the kingdom
1 Cor 12:13---------SPirit++++++++++++++++++baptized>>>>>>>>>in the body
Titus 3:5-----------Holy Ghost++++++++++++++laver of water>>>>>>>saved
 

CNKW3

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I want to add to the post above mentioning circumcision.
Today, the church is “the Israel of God”; is it not? Gal 6:16; 1 pet 2:9
The spiritual nation of God.
To be a part of physical Israel you had to be circumcised. Correct?
The beauty and harmony of the Bible shows us that to be a part of “spiritual Israel” or the church you also have to be circumcised. With the circumcision “made without hands”.
Let’s let Paul explain it...
Colossians 2:11-13 In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands,
Here it’s. Paul is explaining to this church that they had been circumcised. Not physically but spiritually.

in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:
He calls it...”the circumcision of Christ”.
What does this circumcision do? Removes the sins of the flesh.
Well, what is the “circumcision of Christ”? The thought continues...

Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.
It is BAPTISM, the same one beautifully described in Romans 6.
The thought continues....

And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;
Paul then explains how they had been “quickened”, “forgiven”, by this circumcision made without hands. They had been made alive through baptism, which we see is the “circumcision of Christ”!
Can you be a part of the church/body and be in your sins? No. They must be removed. How is that done? With the circumcision of Christ? Baptism!

So, in conclusion.....
Could you be a part of physical Israel without physical circumcision? No!
Can you be a part of spiritual Israel without the “circumcision of Christ” (baptism) ? NO!
If so, then please explain how.

Isn’t the Bible a wonderful book, in such beautiful harmony from start to finish.
How do people come to the conclusion that baptism is not necessary for salvation with soooo much evidence to the contrary.
 
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bbyrd009

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Satan's Dialectic: "this is that and that is this and these are the facts and you cant dispute them bc i already interpreted them for you, just perfectly" ok then.

I come to the conclusion that what you are defining as baptism--after a literal reading of something written so as to hide wisdom from the wise--is not what the Bible means by baptism at all, even though i got "baptised" that way at least three times myself, by three different Romans. ok? @CNKW3 how ya been? :)
That's interesting.
bc confession-free? or what?
 
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bbyrd009

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We don't of course we are a Traditional Church. I don't believe in all that Roman road evangelical way to get saved stuff
oh, you are totally a roman, wadr.
But pls note "I have not seen such faith in anyone of Israel" too ok.
so prolly i am not saying what you are hearing i guess
We don't of course we are a Traditional Church.
who is "we" here? But "traditional church" = "Roman," yes? "Roman Catholic?"
(including "Protestants" imo)

from your signature,
Vitam in Eucharistia, Christus in eis tibi et pax Christi exsultet in aeternum.

Hail Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death, Amen.

he who has not the Church for his mother, has not God for his Father - Cyprian

logo-cec.jpg
NTHF9Cx.jpg


i mean no offense but pls bro. As Roman as it gets ok
 
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bbyrd009

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"Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost" Acts 2:38

If is being "baptized" in his name, simply means being immersed in His name without any dipping in H2O, how would that change things? The following verse speaks of two or three in his name is surely not speaking of immersion in H2O, is it?

"For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." Matt 18:20
will the real baptism pls stand up!
 
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bbyrd009

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That's a really good question, Amadeus.

Let's have a look at what the word of God is saying to us...

Act 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized(G907) every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

G907
βαπτίζω
baptizō
Thayer Definition:
1) to dip repeatedly, to immerse, to submerge (of vessels sunk)
2) to cleanse by dipping or submerging, to wash, to make clean with water, to wash one’s self, bathe
3) to overwhelm


Strong's Definition:
baptizō
bap-tid'-zo
From a derivative of G911; to make whelmed (that is, fully wet); used only (in the New Testament) of ceremonial ablution, especially (technically) of the ordinance of Christian baptism: - baptist, baptize, wash.


Colossians 3:17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

Again, good question.
God bless!
nice (literal) answer too btw. No SiT there at all, huh, who could possibly even argue, etc

what is the diff in Satan's and the Naive dialectic, if you could say, ty
You can take your unbelief to God himself (if you wish), but he will not go against HIS OWN principles.

This is about OBEDIENCE to His Word. Jesus spoke to the church through the gifts of the Spirit that are in operation, saying, in part...

"... Just as I ordained and told the leper to go to the priest and give thanks unto God for their healing, so as they went they were healed as they obeyed my word. If you will obey the principles that I have placed in effect, so to you shall have success."

God bless!
so in the end it is your way or the highway, right
or, what might possibly sway your belief that "God's Word" is written, and in such a way that you may interpret it so literally, if i may ask, ty. ntmy btw, mark whittington here. nice op, or so i thought anyway. at the time.
 
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bbyrd009

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In Acts 1 and 2, baptism with the Holy Spirit was promised only to the Apostles and the Holy Spirit fell just upon the Apostles and not all of those who heard Peter's sermon eliminating baptism with the Holy Spirit as the 'like manner' way Jew and Gentile are saved. There is "one baptism" (Ephesians 4:5) in effect today. That one baptism is water baptism for remission of sins that was commanded to both Jew and Gentile and refusal to obey the commands of God leves one lost in his sins.
there were 12 (13) apostles though, and this has a spiritual meaning, this 12, 13; and wadr there are three baptisms i guess, not one? Find the Naive dialectic for your own sake imo