The Gospel: Part 1- The Romans Road?

from Expedition 44 · host Expedition 44

Our Westernized (American church) thinking, heavily influenced by Reformational theology has left most of us confused about what the Gospel (good News) is and how Salvation and Sanctification work in the life of a Believer. We have sought to use ways to communicate God's plan of Salvation and the start of the journey of following Jesus by simple steps or something called the Romans Road. Unfortunately both models have likely caused more problems than Good. Today in part 1 we simply take a look at some of the issues that have arisen through simple Salvation thinking and why they don't really make sense in the lens of scripture.       •       idolatry (allegiance to other spiritual beings) and sin has separated us from our original calling and communion with God  • We  need reconciliation and that was made in Jesus’ sacrifice • We need to respond in faith (allegiance- not just belief or a one-time confession- nephesh, everything we are) • Romans road is problematic in that it rips these verses out of context and it doesn’t fit the thesis of Romans 1:16-17.  • it prioritized “getting saved” and “going to heaven” over our calling to participate in God’s glory • Romans is about reconciliation and the one people of God returning to their original calling through faith(fulness). This was made possible in Jesus’ faithfulness that fulfilled the covenant to Abraham (to bless the nations) in the way Israel could not under the Law.

What this episode covers

Our Westernized (American church) thinking, heavily influenced by Reformational theology has left most of us confused about what the Gospel (good News) is and how Salvation and Sanctification work in the life of a Believer. We have sought to use ways to communicate God's plan of Salvation and the start of the journey of following Jesus by simple steps or something called the Romans Road. Unfortunately both models have likely caused more problems than Good. Today in part 1 we simply take a look at some of the issues that have arisen through simple Salvation thinking and why they don't really make sense in the lens of scripture. • idolatry (allegiance to other spiritual beings) and sin has separated us from our original calling and communion with God • We need reconciliation and that was made in Jesus’ sacrifice • We need to respond in faith (allegiance- not just belief or a one-time confession- nephesh, everything we are) • Romans road is problematic in that it rips these verses out of context and it doesn’t fit the thesis of Romans 1:16-17. • it prioritized “getting saved” and “going to heaven” over our calling to participate in God’s glory • Romans is about reconciliation and the one people of God returning to their original calling through faith(fulness). This was made possible in Jesus’ faithfulness that fulfilled the covenant to Abraham (to bless the nations) in the way Israel could not under the Law.