Treasures along the Romans Road

Grandparents must get the story straight when spreading the message of salvation to their grandchildren. The gospel has specific content, which is why tracts, books, and other resources are often helpful in explaining what’s so good about the “good news.”

One memorable help that promotes accuracy while leaving room for natural dialogue is the Romans Road to Salvation. In its most common form, the Romans Road consists of five verses from the apostle Paul’s letter to the church in Rome. These verses serve as a memorable, biblical framework for clearly proclaiming why sinners of all ages need the salvation secured by Jesus in His life, death, and resurrection. Those same verses are also filled with broader implications for grandparents’ relationships with their beloved grandchildren.

The Romans Road verses are offered with a short explanation in the more common context of evangelism. Following that are further implications of the verses that encourage Christian grandparents to be powerful influencers for Christ in the lives of their grandchildren.

Romans 3:23

“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”

EXPLANATION: This verse teaches that every person is a sinner, and every person has broken the Ten Commandments. James 2:10 says that “whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point … has become guilty of all.”

In addition, humans inherited a sinful heart from their “first parents,” Adam and Eve. As the late R. C. Sproul often said, “We are not sinners because we sin. We sin because we are sinners.”

IMPLICATIONS: Being a sinner separates people from having a relationship with a Holy God. Therefore, everyone needs a sin solution.

In Grandparenting with Grace: Living the Gospel with the Next Generation, author and pastor Larry E. McCall explains how grandparenting is shaped by grandparents accepting that their grandchildren need saving. (See p. 29.) This motivates grandparents to pray for God’s saving work in their grandchildren’s lives, graciously talk to them about their sins, and “encourage their family’s involvement in a Christ-centered, Bible-believing, grace-saturated church.”

Verses such as Romans 3:23 also remind grandparents of the need to clarify the gospel message in their own minds, so they can accurately and understandably share it with young children.

Romans 5:8

“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

EXPLANATION: Although in one’s natural, sinful condition a person is spiritually dead and unable to save himself, Paul reveals in this verse that God planned and accomplished the salvation of sinners who receive the gift of faith (Ephesians 2:8-9) in Jesus’ sinless life, His death in the place of sinners, and His resurrection.

IMPLICATIONS: Paul’s words serve as a reminder to Christian grandparents that God is a planner. Like God’s love, grandparents’ love for their grandchildren requires intentionality and sacrifice. While modern American culture suggests that seniors have earned the right to spend their time and money on themselves, McCall warns that adopting a materialistic “golden years” approach will prevent grandparents from making a meaningful impact for Christ in their grandchildren’s lives.

Romans 6:23

“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

EXPLANATION: While it is true that sin brought physical death into the world (Genesis 2:17), here the Bible is referring to spiritual death, which means being separated from the love of God forever. In contrast, the ultimate gift from God is eternal life, which comes through faith in Jesus Christ.

IMPLICATIONS: Nothing brings a sense of urgency like the possibility of death. In a hospital, “Code Blue” signifies a life-threatening emergency requiring immediate attention.

Romans 6:23 is Code Blue for grandparents, urging them to use every opportunity to speak gospel truth to their grandchildren and pray for and with them. McCall suggests grandparents learn to ask meaningful, open-ended questions that can lead to significant conversations.

The verse is also a reminder that eternal life is a gift that comes through faith; it is not earned by being a good girl or boy.

“Realizing that our grandchildren are sinners means that we won’t give them the impression that they can make life work if they just try hard enough to live good lives while staying away from bad influences,” McCall says.

Romans 8:1

“Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”

EXPLANATION: There is no greater news than this most wonderful and succinct statement of the gospel in Scripture. Although even believers will continue to fall short of the obedience needed to escape the wrath of God, the sinner who comes to Christ is no longer condemned; a believer’s righteousness is guaranteed for all eternity.

IMPLICATIONS: Grandparents can proclaim the ultimate promise of Romans 8:1 to their grandchildren. They can also prove its truthfulness as they suffer with faith through the trials and doubts that old age can bring.

Believing young ones are privileged to witness their grandparents cling to Christ’s finished work. In the process, they learn to humbly and confidently repent when they inevitably stumble into sin.

Romans 10:9

“If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”

EXPLANATION: Salvation is not about doing anything; it is about simply believing. It is important to affirm the fundamental truths of the gospel with our minds and hearts: Jesus is indeed the Son of God who died and rose again; God accepts His sacrifice on behalf of the believing sinner. Words express our heartfelt faith, though imperfectly. If our faith does not manifest itself in speech and life, then it is not real faith. It is not believing in the heart.

IMPLICATIONS: In Romans 10:9, grandparents are commissioned with an overarching purpose that goes beyond making their grandchildren happy.

“In God’s gracious providence, the torch of faith that was carried by those who preceded us has now been placed in our hands,” McCall writes. “The Lord is calling on us grandparents to be diligent – to be intentional – in showing our grandchildren the greatness and grace of our glorious Lord.”

Practically speaking, McCall says that being purposeful requires entering our grandchildren’s worlds and inviting them into ours, all with the intention of leaving them “not just a legacy of money or things, but of faith, love, and dependence on Jesus.”