Convert
a Friend – The Romans Approach
by Joel Stephen Williams
Since 1972 in home Bible studies I have primarily used the book of Romans to study with other people. I simply take a pen, a blank piece of paper, and that person’s Bible and teach that person part of Romans. There are several advantages to using the Romans method.
First, it is not necessary to flip
around all over the Bible hunting for a verse here and a verse there. You will
not embarrass prospective converts if they do not know the location of the
books of the Bible very well. Once you get to Romans, you can stay there for
the whole study.
Second, teaching someone the gospel by
way of Romans is like an expository sermon. You are studying the Bible the way
it was written. The Bible was not written as a collection of one-liners like Webster’s Dictionary. With the Romans
method, one is studying themes as they were developed by an inspired apostle.
Third, Paul’s presentation of the gospel
in the first half of Romans is so clear that the message rings through loud and
clear. Paul had never been to Rome. While he was somewhat familiar with the
church there and knew some of the Christians in Rome, Paul did not start the
church in Rome. He was not trying to “put out fires” there, as he was having to
do at places like Corinth. Paul did not have to deal with a long list of
problems in Rome in these chapters. Although he touched on some of the issues
common to the church of his day that would be relevant to those in Rome, the
chief focus of his epistle to the Romans was the story of salvation in Jesus
Christ. That makes the first few chapters of Romans a great place to go to
teach a non-Christian about God’s eternal plan for saving mankind.
Here, then, is a brief outline from Romans by which you can teach another person. In my studies I typically only use the verses that are in bold font unless a question is asked that requires another reading.
Here, then, is a brief outline from Romans by which you can teach another person. In my studies I typically only use the verses that are in bold font unless a question is asked that requires another reading.
- The problem of mankind’s sin (Romans 3:10, 23; 6:23a).
- We are lost and unable to save
ourselves (Romans 5:6).
- Christ paid our sin debt. He
received our wages of sin on the cross. He purchased salvation with his
blood (Romans 3:24–25;
5:6-10; 6:23b). God was being both loving (by forgiving and saving us) and
holy/just/righteous (by atoning for sin — in the Lamb of God, Jesus, who
was the substitute for us on the cross). See the chart below on God’s attributes
and corresponding actions which are “united” in the cross.
- We receive the salvation Jesus
accomplished by way of faith. It (salvation) is a gift, not something we
have earned (Romans 4:2–8).
- Salvation is by, through, and “in”
Christ (Romans 3:24; 5:1, 9–10).
- We are united with Christ by making
our faith active when we repent and obey, including confession and baptism.
We are baptized “into” Christ, and salvation is “in” him (Romans 6:3–6; 10:9–10). See the chart below on being “separated” versus being “in” Christ.
- After baptism we should live a
faithful Christian life of obedience to his will (Romans 6:8–4).
Please
save this information and pursue an opportunity to study with your friends. If
they accept this good news (Rom. 1:16; 10:9–10) about Jesus, close the study
with the question: “Then are you ready to go to the church building right now
and be baptized into Christ?”
“separated” from
or “without”
Christ — “into” — “in” Christ
Eph. 2:12 Rom. 6:3 Eph. 1:3
This article, now slightly lengthened, was
originally published in the author's church bulletin well over a quarter of a century ago and republished in Bulletin Digest (October 1993): 6.
