Romans Aints To Saints Part 2 Series

Series: Never seen before in 2024

Thesis: To see or experience something we have never seen before in 2024 requires us to do something we have never done before – So what is that “One Thing” you need to do that you have not done before? Maybe it is to read and study the Bible in 2024! Maybe believe the truth of God over the lies of this world!

Maybe it’s to get to know the Story of God!

The Bible is the Story of God “The Creator” and his interactions with mankind his most favorite creation!

In the book “Unleash the power of storytelling” by Rob Biesenbach he notes how important it is in the age of information overload to see and rediscover the power of stories. He notes that storytelling is arguably the most powerful form of communication at our disposal. I add and God uses the Bible to tell His Story to us and to teach us how to live a life that is valued for eternity.

He notes this about a great story:

1. It will win hearts – captivate, inspire and motivate people!

2. It will change minds – convince people to come around to the authors or tellers’ way of thinking.

3. It will get results – great stories persuade people to act in a way that transforms them and others.

The reality check is this is what “God’s Story” does every single day all over the world and has been doing over the course of history. The Bible tells God’s Story!

It’s a story filled with emotion!

It’s a story that connects us to the main character of the story!

It’s the story that humanizes God to us!

It’s a story that raises the stakes in the game of life and death!

It’s a story that shows who God is and does not just tell of Him but proves He is who He said He is!

Final thought from the book I want to make is this: “In its simplest form, a story is a character in pursuit of a goal in the face of some challenge or obstacle. How the character tries to resolve that challenge drives the narrative.”

Highlight Hand out and graphic by The Bible Project!

The book of Romans is known for the famous “Romans Road” to salvation – to life by the Spirit off God – to the One who can take an “aint” and make them a “saint.”:

I. The “Romans Road” is a simple way of presenting the gospel using verses from the book of Romans.

a. Romans was written by the Apostle Paul during his 3rd missionary journey about 23 years after the events of the gospels – Jesus’ death and resurrection. This letter is written to the Christians he had heard about but never met Paul. So Paul wanted to give them a complete description of the fundamentals and foundations of Christianity: sinful nature of all men in the eyes of God, justification by faith in Jesus Christ, freedom from sin, and victory in Christ, judgment, spiritual growth, and godly living.

1. Knowing these truths is as crucial today as it was back in Paul’s day and at the birth of the Church.

a. We still battle the same fallen world – same sins by the way!

b. We also need to be rooted in the message of the Gospel – the message of Jesus and His grace.

b. The Roman Road track spells out the deceptions that people may believe which keep them from accepting Jesus as their Lord and Savior.

i. “I’m a “good person” do I really need salvation?”

1. In my many years of talking to people, I think 9 out of 10 people categorize themselves as “good” people and don’t understand their need for salvation. But Scripture is clear:

a. For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. (Romans 3:23)

b. As the Scriptures say, “No one is righteous—not even one. (Romans 3:10)

c. When Adam sinned, sin entered the world. Adam’s sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned. (Romans 5:12)

ii. “I’m not a really bad person, is my sin really that bad?”

1. Almost everyone considers themselves to be “relatively” better (less bad, less sinful, and less depraved) than others and so forgive themselves for their “relatively” minor sins. But Scripture says:

a. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6:23)

iii. “I’m too bad to be saved, how can there be any hope for me?”

1. Those, who don’t consider themselves better than others, often consider themselves to have missed the mark, with so many sins stacked up on their side of the scale, that there’s no hope for them. But Scripture says: