Steps into the Light with Jesus

Encourage Someone Today
HOME

Steps into the Light with Jesus
...on “The Romans Road”

WE BEGIN WITH THE STEPS OF A SINNER ON “THE ROMANS ROAD.”
All the persons in the world can take these steps if they but know of them
—and are willing to turn their lives over to the Lord Jesus.

DAY 1—The first step any of us must take is to admit, “I am a sinner.”

Romans 3:21-23 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets; even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God...

FATHER, I need no convincing to know I am a sinner. In all probability, I am a worse sinner than I even know. I have no hope of cleansing my own soul. In this condition 1 come before You, with the hope that You will receive me. Oh, God of grace, take me in!

Scripture that has put all of us under the same sweeping sentence—Gal 3:22; Isa 64:6; Eccl 7:20

DAY 2—Now, we acknowledge that Christ Jesus died for our sins.

Romans 5:8 But God commendeth His love toward us (He gave us the favorable attention of His love), in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Isaiah 53:6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all.

DEAR LORD, Thank You for taking my sin on Yourself and dying for me. I do not deserve it. But in my need, I open my heart to receive Your love, and Your sacrifice for me. The chains that bound me are falling off I am beginning to know Your love at work in me.

In John’s Gospel more is revealed of the Lord’s love for us—Jn 3:16,17; Jn 10:9

DAY 3—Then we take note of the penalty sin demands,only to be met by God’s grace.

Romans 5:12 Wherefore, as by one man (Adam) sin (the sin) entered into the world, and (the) death by (the) sin and so (the) death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned... Rom 6:23 For the wages (the due recompense) of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

GRACIOUS LORD, what love! What love! What love! In the face of our sin—MY sin—You extend the great gift of eternal life. It is more than my weak mind can comprehend. But, my heart is opening to receive it.

God has made manifest His love toward Us—I Jn 4:9; Eph 2:4-8

DAY 4—Clearly and simply, we learn to call upon the Name of the Lord for our salvation.

Romans 10:11-13 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on Him shall not be ashamed (frustrated or disappointed). For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon Him. For whosoever shall call upon the Name of the Lord shall be saved.

DEAR LORD, I see that You are rich unto all who call upon You. My sin is great. It will take all the wealth of Your grace to make me whole. ButI believe You are doing this very thing. So, right now, I call upon You to bring Your salvation into my life. Oh, I worship You!

Peter’s Word on Pentecost from Joel confirmed the above Word from Paul—Ac 2:16-21

WE NOW BEGIN A DISCOVERY OF ROMANS 6. If we receive Christ’s death as the sacrifice for our sin, it means we receive His death as our death to The Sin brought on by Adam. We let this become real in us—as real as His resurrection is becoming.

DAY 5—By what Jesus Christ did on the cross, we are free from the bondage of
The Sin.

Romans 6:1,2 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin (continue to embrace The Sin), that grace may abound? God forbid (let that not be so). How shall we, that are dead to sin (we, who died to The Sin), live any longer therein?

Galatians 6:14 But God forbid (let it never be) that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.

LORD, I am beginning to see that receiving You as my Savior means that I accept Your death as my own. Oh, teach me to glory in the cross by which You died! Let the work of the cross have its effect in me as I relate to the world. I want to relate more and more to You and Your Kingdom.

This becomes a matter of our affections being made right—Col 3:1-3

DAY 6—When we confess our trust in Christ’s sacrificial death by being baptized, we are set free to walk in a new kind of life.

Romans 6:3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into His death? Therefore we are buried with Him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father even so we also should walk in newness of life.

LORD, make Calvary real to me. How little I’ve known of what took place when You died there. Help me come to a better understanding. I want to walk in light and life as a new creation. I renounce the old. I am opening myself to the new.

We are admonished to put to death our old ways—Col 3:4-11

DAY 7—When we confess our trust in Christ’s death for us on the cross by being baptized, we are set free to walk as new creations.

Romans 6:5-7 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of His death, (if we have become closely entwined with Him in His death) we shall be also in the likeness of His resurrection: knowing this, that our old man is crucified with Him, that the body of (the) sin might be destroyed (rendered powerless), that henceforth we should not serve sin (be no more in bondage to the sin). For he that is dead is freed from sin (has been cleared from the guilt of the sin).

GREAT LORD, what grace that You would bring me into so close an association with You! That is what is setting me free. This gracious work is coming into all of my life. My relationship with others is changing! My desires are toward right things! Hallelujah!

We are ready to let the world see what Christ has done in us—II Cor 5:17-20

WELCOME TO THE POINT NOW OF KNOWING, RECKONING, AND YIELDING.
These are the three marvelous steps we learn in this Epistle that bring us into an overcoming life.

DAY 8—Jesus, in His death, broke the dominion of the death brought on by Adam’s sin.

Romans 6:8,9 Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him: KNOWING that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more (the) death hath no more dominion over Him.

FATHER, I have begun to see that when I receive Your Son’s death as my death, I receive His life also. I am free from the spiritual death that kept me in bondage all those years! My mind can’t understand all, but, oh, my heart has begun to know! I can see what I never saw! And, oh yes, my understanding is following!

All God’s ways are past finding out for the mind not outside of Christ—Rom 11:33-36

DAY 9—We never cease putting to our account that we both died and were raised with Christ.

Romans 6:10,11 For in that He died He died unto (the) sin once: but in that He liveth He liveth (on and on, continually) unto God. LIKEWISE RECKON ye also yourselves (put it down to your account, daily, without ceasing) to be dead indeed unto (the) sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

DEAR LORD, what a victory this is for me! By my trying, I could never overcome some things I knew were wrong. Now I have found the power of the cross. It is cutting through my lusts, —my anger, —my greed, —my utter selfishness. I am being made new. And it’s all on account of Your amazing grace! I love You.

A person made new in Christ will live for His glory—I Cor 6:20; Gal 2:20; Col 3:17

DAY 10—After the reckoning comes the yielding.

Romans 6:12,13 Let not (the) sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof? Neither yield ye your members as instruments ol unrighteousness unto (the) sin: but YIELD YOURSELVES UNTO GOD, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.

FATHER GOD, I yield myself unto You—all that 1 am and all that I have. Take my life, —my willmy abilities and talent—my possessions. I want all that I am to be useful for You and Your Kingdom.

We are ready for the good and perfect will of God—Rom 12:1,2

WE NOW COME TO A DEAD RECKONING with the sin that held us in bondage. . Just because we have found our freedom from sin by the grace of God is no license to continue sinning.

DAY 11—We are beginning to discover the greatness of God’s grace.

Romans 6:14-16 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the Law, but under grace. What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the Law, but under grace? God forbid (let that not be). Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
DEAR GOD, some sin still tries to come back into my life. I’m dealing with old issues, like anger—resentment—lust—guilt. I want to come on to the place where I live in victory day by day. Oh, Lord, even hour by hour, and moment by moment. My desire is to live in unbroken communion with You. To know this, I am yielding myself to the greatness of Your grace.

We learn from David’s great desire—Ps 27:4-6

DAY 12—We are beginning to discover the greatness of God’s grace.

Romans 6:17,18 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin (bond slaves of the sin), but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine (teaching) which was delivered you. Being then made free from (the) sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.

FATHER, I thank you for the teaching that has come to my heart from theApostle Paul. And I thank You for the teachers today that open his Word. Bless them. Cause them to continue to speak right things with regard to YourKingdom and our part in it. Here are these whose names I call before You. Anoint them.

We have Jesus and the early ministers as our examples—Mt 4:23; Mt 9:35; Ac 15:35; Ac 28:30,31

DAY 13—As we gave ourselves to uncleanness, we now give ourselves to what is right and pure.

Romans 6:19 I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh (I speak on a human level because we all still walk in the flesh): for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.

LORD, I want to be more than just religious. I want to be clean and pure in all my thoughts, actions, and relationships. Let my every conversation be pleasing before You. Let what I say and do draw others to You.

Here is a prayer for us all to pray—Ps 19:13,14

DAY 14—It would be a foolish thing for us to return to the sins that once held us in bondage.

Romans 6:20,21 For when ye were the servants or (the) sin, ye were free from righteousness (there were no restraints upon you). What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? (What good purpose would there be in your returning to Your old ways?) for the end of those things is death.

LORD, I see—Oh, I see!—How foolish were the ways in which I once walked. I have no desire to return. But, LORD, there are people back there who walked with me in the darkness. They are still there. Draw them. Let them see a difference in my life that will cause them to want You as their Savior. And please protect me from ever being drawn back into sin with them.

As new creations we turn from our old ways never to return—Il Cor 4:1-4; Eph 5:12

DAY 15—Through Christ Jesus we are now free from the sin imposed on us from Adam.

Romans 6:22,23 But now being made free from (the) sin and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

RACIOUS LORD, I praise You—Oh! I praise You!— for setting me free from the bondage I was in. I still sometimes feel grief over my old ways, but I know You have received me. I am Your child. Your Spirit bears witness with my spirit that I am in Your Kingdom. Let Your light and life shine through me to all I see or know.

There will be times when we are put to the test, but God’s grace will prevail in us—I Pet 3:15-18

IN ROMANS 8 we discover the end of the struggle between our carnality and God's Spirit. Because of the grace and persistent love of God, His Spirit wins out and He becomes the ruler of our new life.

DAY 16—The ruling principle of Life in Christ Jesus frees us from ruling principle of The Sin that holds on to The Death.

Romans 8:1,2 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit (not according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit). For the Law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

LORD, I thank You for prevailing in me over the carnality that once ruled me. I see the new law at work—that principle of Life in Christ Jesus. Oh, what a wonderful Life He is working out in me! I want its work only to increase. By Your grace it shall!

We have a new confidence in our life because of Christ Jesus—Phil 1:6; Eph 1:13,14

DAY 17—Now we have a hope of righteousness.

Romans 8:3,4 For what the Law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: that the righteousness of the Law might be fulfilled in us who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit (not according to the flesh but according to God’s Spirit.).

DEAR LORD, I’m tired of the flesh. It has controled me far too long. It has pushed me toward sinful acts that are disgusting. From this day on I want to be under the control of Your Spirit. Take me on, take me on in this! It will be a new way for me. I need Your help!

We are washed, justified and sanctified in the Name of the Lord Jesus—I Cor 5:9-11

DAY 18—Through Christ Jesus we are now free from the sin imposed on us from Adam.

Romans 8:5,6 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

GREAT AND LOVING LORD, I thank You for the peace that has become mine. It is now ruling in my life. Even when the darkness tries to creep in, Your grace prevails for me. I praise You for this.

We are coming to know the rule of God’s peace—Gal 6:14-16; Col 3:15

DAY 19—We have found the futility of carnality.

Romans 8:7,8 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.

FATHER GOD, I certainly have learned that I cannot please You by carnal means. I praise You for drawing me to know Your Spirit. Thank You for teaching me, guiding me, reprimanding me, and loving me.

In Christ, we learn our lives are not to be governed by the ways of the world—Eph 4:17-24

DAY 20—Through Christ Jesus we are now free from the sin imposed on us from Adam.

Romans 8:9,10 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His. And if Christ be in you, the body is dead (has lost its power to rule) because of (the) sin; but the Spirit is life (alive in us) because of righteousness (the new righteousness that has become ours in Christ Jesus).

LORD, 1 thank You for prevailing in me over the carnality that once ruled me. I see now that new law at work—that principle of Life in Christ Jesus. Oh, what a wonderful Life He is working out in me! I want it only to increase. By Your grace it shall!

Our bodies become living temples for the Holy Spirit—I Cor 3:16; I Cor 6:19; II Cor 6:16

DAY 21—God’s Spirit is bringing us new Life.

Romans 8:11,12 But if the Spirit of Him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, He that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken (bring life to) your mortal bodies by His Spirit that dwelleth in you. Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.

LORD, I receive the Life that Your Spirit is bringing to me. He is living in me. He is healing me! He is teaching me to walk in a way pleasing for Your Kingdom. Oh, He is moving through me to touch other lives! I praise You! I have longed for this! Now it is real.

The Light of the Lord is coming upon us—Isa 60:1-3

DAY 22—The Spirit of God and His grace have brought us on to become mature sons in His household.

Romans 8:13,14 For if ye live after the flesh ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify (put to death) the deeds of the body, ye shall live. For as many as are led (governed) by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God (mature sons in God’s household).

FATHER, please continue teaching me to walk as a mature son/daughter in Your household. For too long carnality held me. Now I am learning a new way of life. Oh, GREAT LORD! The greatest thing about this life is that You are the One living in me now!

We have come into a new way of life; we now live under the control of God’s Spirit—Gal 5:17-25

The conflict is over.
From this point on in Romans 8, the reference is to the Spirit.
There is no more reference to the flesh.

Top of Page

Berean Publications
PO Box 38
Elk Park, NC 28622-0038

Visit Us at http://www.maschil.com

© Berean Gospel Fellowship. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Permission to reprint in part or in whole is usually granted.