The Roman Road to Hope and New Life

The first stop on the road to hope is power. There is a power capable of giving you hope. The Bible tells us that God has that power. Romans 1:16 says:

The second stop on the road to hope is change. The release of God's power results in change. The Bible's word for change is repentance. This means allowing God to change the direction of our lives. Romans 2:4 says: "The goodness of God leads you to repentance." Why is change necessary? A universal problem the Bible calls sin makes change necessary for all of us.

Romans 3:23 says: "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." Sin means "missing the mark." It is failing to meet standard for how we ought to live.

The third stop on the road to hope is God's love. Although He is not pleased with us as we are, God loves us and wants to help us. Romans 5:8 says, "But God commended his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Unfortunately, our sin carries the penalty of death, both physical and eternal. Romans 6:23 says, "For the wages of sin is death . . . . "

God is willing to forgive us by accepting Jesus' death on the cross as our substitute. His death paid the penalty of our sin. His resurrection from the dead provides our eternal life. Romans 6:23 goes on to say, ". . . but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."

The fourth stop on the road to hope is your commitment. "If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. . . . For whosoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved" (Romans 10:9, 13). Commitment means to:

Repent-Turn away from sin to follow God's new direction for your life.

Believe-Trust Jesus as your substitute.

Confess-Acknowledge Jesus as the leader over your life.

Call-Ask him for forgiveness, eternal life, and hope.

Read the following prayer and see if it expresses the desire of your heart:

"Dear God, I believe that Jesus is your Son and that he died on the cross and was raised from the dead. Because I have sinned and need forgiveness, I ask Jesus to come into my heart. I am willing to change the direction of my life by acknowledging Jesus as the leader (Lord) and forgiver (Savior) of my life, and by turning away from my sins. Thank you for giving me forgiveness, eternal life, and hope. In Jesus' name, Amen."

Use this prayer if it expresses your feelings, or pray a similar prayer in your own words, committing your life to Jesus and asking Him for His gift of eternal life.

God loves all through life, but that's not the end. You are assured of eternal life and hope because, unlike the world, you can trust God's promise. "For whosoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved" (Romans 10:13). Did you sincerely ask Jesus to forgive you of your sins and to be the leader (Lord) of your life? If so, he will hear that prayer and answer it.

So where is He right now? He is in your heart. What does God's Word promise? You are a member of God's family. "The spirit itself bears witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God" (Romans 8:16). And in spite of difficulties you may face in life, there is nothing that can stop God's love for you. "For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 8:38-39).

What happens now, after you have received this hope from God? You'll want to begin to live a life fully devoted to Jesus (Romans 12:1-2,9-19). You'll want to let someone else know about your decision (Romans 10:14). And you'll want to become part of a church in your community and be baptized (Matthew 28:19-20; Luke 3:21; Romans 6:4). You'll get to know God better through prayer, Bible study, and meeting regularly with other Christians as a member of a local church. Right now, however, the most important thing you can do is contact someone, perhaps someone at a local church near you, to whom you can share this experience. This person will be able to help you get started down your new life in Christ.

For more information or for any questions you might have about this road to hope and faith in Jesus Christ or the step of being baptized and joining a church, please contact us. We'd like to help you get in touch with some folks who will help you understand what it means to become a fully devoted follower of Jesus Christ.

You might start your new life of faith by reading the Bible book written by a man named John, another follower of Jesus.