Have you ever shared the gospel using the “Romans Road”? It’s an evangelism tool that walks through specific verses in the Book of Romans that tell us about sin and salvation. That was one of the most popular evangelism approaches I knew growing up. I love the Romans Road, but sometimes its presentation can help address someone’s need for forgiveness, but not their purpose. They might grasp the idea of personal sin, but not the storyline of the Bible.
We believe salvation is God’s work from start to finish—the Spirit opens eyes and softens hearts. Still, as evangelists, we want to present the gospel as clearly and compellingly as possible. The way we frame the good news matters, especially in a culture that’s asking new questions about identity, belonging, and meaning.
That’s why, in my first book published more than fifteen years ago now, I started encouraging people to consider not just the Romans Road, but also what I call the Ephesians Road—a path through Ephesians that places the gospel within God’s grand story. My friend Joe Carter has taken this idea and fleshed it out beautifully in a lengthy article, showing how these two “roads” can work together, and I’ve built on his additional insights below.
Let’s take a look.
The Romans Road: Clear and Personal
The Romans Road has been used for generations because it’s simple and powerful. In just four steps, it explains our need for salvation and how Jesus meets it:
- We’ve all sinned. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23).
- Sin leads to death. “The wages of sin is death” (Rom. 6:23).
- Christ died for us. “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom. 5:8).
- We must respond. “If you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart, that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved” (Rom. 10:9).
That’s one way of getting to the heart of the gospel: our sin, God’s grace, and our response. But people today often want to know more—Who am I? Where do I belong? What’s my purpose?
That’s where Ephesians comes in. The Romans Road shows how to be saved; the Ephesians Road shows what you’re saved for.
The Ephesians Road: Cosmic and Communal
Walk someone through the opening chapters of Ephesians and you’ll see a bigger picture unfold:
- God’s Grand Plan (Eph. 1): Before creation, God purposed to unite all things in Christ. Salvation starts with His agenda, not ours.
- God’s Gracious Rescue (Eph. 2:1–9): We were dead, but God made us alive. Salvation is by sheer grace.
- God’s New People (Eph. 2:10–22): We’re created for good works and brought into a new family, one new humanity in Christ.
This is the gospel placed in panoramic view. It’s not only about personal forgiveness; it’s about cosmic restoration. God saves us into a people and for a purpose.
Why Ephesians Connects Today
Our world is filled with people searching for identity and meaning. The Ephesians Road helps answer those deeper questions:
- Who am I? You’re adopted and chosen in Christ.
- Where do I belong? You’re part of a reconciled family.
- What’s my purpose? You’re created for good works and called into God’s mission.
Younger generations, especially, want to be part of something bigger than themselves. This approach shows them how salvation connects to God’s story of making all things new.
Walking Both Roads
When you share the gospel, you don’t have to pick one path over the other. Start with Ephesians to give the big story—God’s plan to unite all things in Christ. Then walk down Romans to show how that plan becomes personal—our sin, Christ’s sacrifice, and our response of faith.
The Romans Road gives clarity.
The Ephesians Road gives context.
Together, they offer a wider frame for the gospel: forgiveness and purpose, grace and belonging, redemption and renewal.
So next time you have opportunities to share the gospel, invite someone not just to walk a road of rescue, but to step into a story that changes everything.