God's Navigation System To Eternal Life
Introduction
Romans 3:23
If the world were to take a look at the people in this sanctuary today, they would, in all probability declare that you are good righteous people. They would say that because you have come to church and because you strive to live moral lives in this world, that you are the stuff that good people are made of. You devote a measure of time to the Lord, and the world does not; you read the Bible and the people of the world generally do not; you police your lives pretty carefully and the people of the world know that they allow too much in theirs. You give of your time, energies, talents and monies to the Lord and the world gives Him nothing. So, you would be considered as righteous, Godly people if anyone is.
There is only one thing wrong with what has been stated: We are not being measured by the world's standard. We are being measured by God's standard - Jesus Christ. If we have him we have everything. If we do not have him we have nothing. Now, it seems to me that the pertinent question for a person to ask is this: How can I have Him? How can I not only measure up to what the world thinks a Christian is, but how do I measure up to what God says about it. How do I get there from here?
There is a well-worn pathway that is simple to find and simple for people to follow. God has not made it difficult; but rather He has made it so easy that many people simply can't grasp it. They reason that something as wonderful as Heaven MUST cost us something. There must be something we must perform in order to get there. It just simply can't be FREE. The human mind rejects this idea because it cannot understand or accept the GRACE of God in dealing with Human beings. So, today, I want to invite you to go with me as we follow God's Navigational System. We will find that no landmark has been missed and that every turn is the correct one.
There are several stopping off places as we follow God Navigation System to Eternal Life. Each one tells us something a little bit different, and each with its own unique information, all combine to give us to give us an accurate road map of the road to Salvation.
I. The First Landmark on the Roman Road
This first landmark deals with our lostness.
Note Romans 3:23. There are some basics we discover at this point in our navigation.
A. Sin's Universality
Note the word "all," which comes from the Greek word, “pas.” This speaks of totality, whole and all! Everyone, all, the totality of the human race has sinned against God.
B. Sin's Eventuality
Now, note that we all "come short of God's Glory." What God is saying here is that we come up short of God’s standard, will and law. He is then saying that ALL of mankind must be redeemed from this sinful state we are in.
In verses 24-25 there are four important terms. (1) Justified, (2) Grace, (3), Redemption, and (4) Propitiation.
II. The Second Landmark on the Roman Road
Our next landmark deals with our penalty for unredeemed sin. Note Romans 6:23.
Two Important Words
Wages – “worked for” Gift – “given freely”
The unredeemed of the world are actually working for death. For all their deeds, the wages paid is DEATH! Those who are saved have committed their lives to Christ, are given a gift – the gift of ETERNAL LIFE!
The gift of God in Christ is the conduit through which flows all blessings to the saved. Jesus Christ is the instrument God used to bring Salvation to us. Note the word, “THROUGH.” This denotes an instrument. It also means remaining in a given state or relationship - eternal security.
III. The Third Landmark on the Roman Road
Look at Romans 5:8. We need to spend a few moments at this landmark thinking about some of the important aspects of our trip.
At this landmark on the Roman Road we learn that God loves sinners! Everything He did in Jesus was and is for them. While we were in our sinful state, God allowed Jesus to die for us. Look at the Greek word, “huper.” That is the word, “for,” which means, “in the place of.” Jesus took your place and mine even while we were sinners. This verse tell us that God “commendeth” His love for us even while we were sinners. “Commendeth,” means to “set forth.”
Jesus was “set forth,” for our sins! Romans 5:9 gives us more insight. This tells us that all the actions of Christ were carried out to save us from wrath.
IV. The Fourth Landmark on the Roman Road
Romans 10:9-10, 13, brings us to a point of response to the great offer of salvation, forgiveness and redemption that God has made available through Christ. How do we make the right decision?
A. Confess
First, we must “confess.” The Greek word, “homologeo” speaks of acknowledgement. We must agree with what God says about our sin. God is the one who set the standard. We join in a “covenant” with God that He is right to call our actions sin.
B. Commit
Second, we must “commit.” The Greek word, “pisteuo” means to believe in and to trust. We have to trust who Christ is, what Christ did and what Christ promises to those who will confess and believe.
C. Crucial Components
Third, we have to note two crucial components of believing. We must believe in our hearts, and we must confess with our mouth. Is upward, inward and outward. There are no “secret” believers. To know Jesus, you must be willing to confess and commit to Him openly!
V. The Fifth Landmark on the Roman Road
The journey on the Roman Road is finished when we stop off at the place of our security as described in Romans 8:38-39. We can say four things about our security in Christ.
- (1) What God has done is DONE.
- (2) Nothing can be added or taken away.
- (3) Nothing can threaten it. And,
- (4) Nothing can UNDO it.
Conclusion
And so, we have come all the way down THE ROMAN ROAD. It is a WELL-WORN PATHWAY. Many have traveled it an reached the right destination. Many others have ignored it and tried to establish their own way. They found that they are LOST, undone and hell-bound. Some finally got on the right road; some did not. And therein is the difference in Heaven and Hell.