"The Sinner's
Prayer"
In tracts, in
books, and on the internet I find different versions of the Sinner’s Prayer. The idea behind this
prayer is that we can pray our way to salvation. It is taught that if a person sincerely recites
this prayer, sins are forgiven and they become a Christian on the spot. This is taught on the
radio, on the television and in churches, and you can go just about anywhere in the world and find
someone teaching the sinner’s prayer.
Few people
question it. It seems that the world just accepts it, without any thought. Many Bible believers
accept it as part of their faith.
But where is it
in the Bible? I have never seen a scripture quoted with the prayer, citing where it can be found in
the Bible. I have used concordances and my bible software to search for it as well. I have never
found it in the Bible. I have never found a single conversion in the New Testament where the prayer
was used.
Why then do so
many professing to follow the Bible for their faith teach the sinner’s prayer? I suspect that some
have embraced it because someone, they trusted and respected, taught them to accept
it.
In Acts 17, we
find bible believers questioning the apostle Paul’s preaching. They went to the scriptures to see
if he was telling the truth. Was Paul offended? No. The scriptures called these Bible believers
noble, because they checked the scriptures. Everyone needs to examine the scriptures, and compare
it to what they are taught.
What Bible
examples do we have of conversions? How did people become Christians in New Testament times? Let us
look at the table below, to see how they did.
| Preached To |
Believed |
Repented |
Confessed |
Baptized |
Result Indicated |
Pentecost
Acts 2:14-41 |
"They were
pierced to the heart"
Acts 2:37 |
"Repent"
Acts 2:38 |
|
"Be Baptized" Acts
2:38-41 |
"Remission Of
Sins"
Acts 2:38-47 |
| Solomon's
Porch Acts
3:11-4:4 |
"believed"
Acts 4:4 |
"repent
ye"
Acts 3:19 |
|
|
|
| Samaritans Acts
8:4-5 |
"they
believed"
Acts 8:12 |
|
|
"they were
baptized"
Acts 8:12-13 |
|
| Ethiopian Acts
8:30-35 |
"If thou
believest"
Acts 8:37 |
|
"I believe that Jesus
Christ is the Son of God"
Acts 8:36-37 |
"he baptized
him"
Acts 8:38-39 |
"he went on his way
rejoicing"
Acts 8:39 |
Saul
Acts 9:17-18; 22:5-16
26:12-18 |
|
|
|
"baptized"
Acts 9:18
|
"be baptized, and
wash away thy sins"
Acts 22:16 |
| Cornelius Acts
10:34-44, 11:1,18 |
"believeth in
him"
Acts 10:43 |
"repentance unto
life"
Acts 11:18
|
|
"commanded them to be
baptized"
Acts 10:48
|
"remission of
sins"
Acts 10:43 |
| Lydia Acts
16:13-14 |
|
|
|
"was
baptized"
Acts 16:15 |
|
| Jailer Acts
16:30-32 |
"Believe on the Lord
Jesus Christ"
Acts 8:31 |
"washed their
stripes"
Acts 16:33
|
|
"was
baptized"
Acts 16:33 |
"Rejoiced"
Acts 16:34 |
Crispus and the
Corinthians
Acts 18:7-8 |
"believed on the
Lord"
Acts 18:8
|
|
|
"were
baptized"
Acts 18:8
|
|
The sinner's prayer is
nowhere to be found. What we find is that:
-
The people were
preached to -"How then shall they
call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have
not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?" (Romans 10:14
KJV)
-
The people believed
the Gospel -"But without faith it is
impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that
he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." (Hebrews 11:6
KJV)
-
The people repented
of their sins -"I tell you, Nay:
but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish." (Luke 13:3
KJV)
-
The people confessed
their faith -"For with the heart man
believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation."
(Romans 10:10 KJV)
-
And the people were
baptized -"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. For if we
have been planted together in the likeness of 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 sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For
he that is dead is freed from sin." (Romans 6:3-7 KJV)
This is how
people were saved in New Testament times. The Gospel that saved then, can save today. Have you
obeyed the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ?
"Though he
were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; And being made perfect,
he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;" (Hebrews 5:8-9
KJV)
R. Marín
©1998, 1999 R. Marín. Permission
granted to use this article in any manner, as long as:
1) the content is not changed and 2) the name of the author is
left on the article.
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