1st Corinthians 1:1-4, “Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures.”

       We are saved by believing the Gospel, that is, Christ died, was buried and rose three days later.

I am in the habit of viewing the “How To Be Saved” section of professed Christian websites that I visit, to see if they're straying from the Biblical Gospel (many are sadly). I have often used the “Romans Road” plan of salvation, but am very concerned that many religious websites are not mentioning the resurrection of Jesus Christ at all.

The “Romans Road” simply uses Scripture references from the Book of Romans to lead a sinner to the Lord. The Biblical Gospel according to 1st Corinthians 15:1-4 is that Christ DIED, was BURIED and RESURRECTED three days later. To be complete and Biblical, any Gospel presentation must include all three elements.

Here's an Independent Fundamental Baptist website that I visited today and their FALSE plan of salvation...

All you have to know are 4 things.

1] Man is a sinner. Romans 3:10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

2] There is a price on sin, eternal death. Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; Romans 5:12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

3] Jesus paid that price on the cross. Romans 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

4] By faith in Christ we can be saved. Romans 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

That is not the Gospel. You also need to know that Jesus was buried for three days (thus officiating His death) and that Christ was resurrected by the Spirit of God. Jesus didn't just die. Even unsaved heathens mostly believe that a man named Jesus once lived and died. It is critically important that a sinner believe that Christ was also buried (dead) and arose three days later. If Christ is not risen, then how can He save? The resurrection cannot be left out or else it is a false plan of salvation.

To correct the problem with the 4th statement I quoted earlier, I'd add the following Scriptures to the “Romans Road” ...

Romans 6:4, "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."

Romans 10:9, "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved."

It is very easy for us as Christians to fall prey to a wrong gospel presentation. It is quite easy for believers to get caught up into the false garbage being taught in religious books by Joel Osteen, Rick Warren, Max Lucado and dozens of others. They say to “accept Jesus into your heart” and to “make Jesus Lord of your life” and to “give your life to Jesus”; but none of these are the Biblical Gospel message. A person can invite Christ into their life, make a commitment to follow Jesus, surrender to God, forsake sinful bad habits; and yet, never be saved at all.

The “Romans Road” is helpful to new converts who want to become Soul-Winners (and everyone should indeed want to reach souls for Christ with the Gospel). Since all the Scriptures are contained within the Book of Romans (Romans 3:10,23; Romans 6:23; Romans 5:12; Romans 5:8; Romans 10:9-10; Romans 10:13), it is easier to remember and not difficult to flip to various pages while a person is listening to you present the Gospel. I recommend using paper clips to have your pages ready for witnessing if you do use other Books like Ephesians 2:8-9 and Acts 4:10-12. Flipping around in your Bible to find Scriptures may give a person a chance to say, “I need to leave.”

My intent is not to criticize anybody; but rather, to uphold the purity of the Gospel according to the Word of God as taught in 1st Corinthians 15:1-4. May we all take great lengths to avoid adding or subtracting from the Gospel message “that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures.”