Galatians 1:13-24 is this week’s text, Paul writes of his transformation. In his faithful response to the Divine call he has been transformed, creatively resurrected into newness of life.
As I’ve tossed around ideas about salvation, redemption and transformation I keep coming back to the “Romans Road.” It was the plan to salvation we used when I was growing up. For many years it was the only way I understood salvation to work, and if you missed one step on the road you’d find yourself in Hell after death.
This Sunday I’ll lead our discussion in what salvation means for us, what I think Paul was communicating and how as a community we can be transformed by the writings of Paul, the teachings of Resurrected Jesus and the provocative work of the Holy Spirit.
But for now here’s “Romans Road,” I took this off a website promoting this way of understanding the text so these words aren’t my own. As you read it, pay special attention to the italicized text, it’s hilarious what they read into the scripture.
Romans 3:23, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” – Admit that you are a sinner.
Romans 6:23a, “…The wages of sin is death…” – Understand that you deserve death for your sin.
Romans 6:23b, “…But the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” – Ask God to forgive you and save you.
Romans 5:8, “God demonstrates God’s own love for us, in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us!” – Give your life to God. Its not religion it’s a relationship!
Romans 10:13, “Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved!”- Call out to God in the name of Jesus!
Romans 10:9-10, “…If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Jesus from the dead, you shall be saved; for with the heart man believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.”
As you process what these texts are actually saying, I’ll leave you with a quote from Richard Rhor O.F.M, “Divine forgiveness is always in spite of our inadequacy–never because of our perfect realizations, repentance, or response. Such grounding, unconditional, and absolute acceptance from God could still change most peoples’ lives! To help people accept that they are already radically accepted is the only real task of Christianity.“