Is leading someone in a 'sinner's prayer' scriptural?

[Openly Curious]

In the privacy of my home, I said "so this is what you want from me Lord? To believe that He is Your Son?" The impact of that leaves no doubt of my salvation.

In Acts, there is a good example of one on one leading to the Lord. A prayer was not involved, but it could have been just as easily. Note verse 37, which shows clearly what it takes to be saved: belief.

Acts 8

26

[MannaMInistry]

Many years ago while searching for the Lord, I had repeated the sinner

Edited January 28, 2010 by MannaMInistry

[turtletwo]

Hmmm. That is a thought provoking scripture in Acts 2:38.... Because it does say to repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall recieve the gift of the Holy Ghost...

So does anyone care to take a stab at this? I am really a bit perplexed by that last post. Because does "the remission of sins" not mean the same thing as Salvation? And why is baptism clumped together with repenting?

I believe repentance to be a change of mind and direction, the thawing of a heart that is either icy or indifferent to God by yielding to Him. As well as a fervent desire to live the rest of your days for Him, instead of your selfish self. It's a surrender and commitment...somewhat like accepting a wedding proposal and then 'fusing together into a oneness (like marriage) with Christ' ... in that wonderful moment. He is the Bridegroom. His church the Bride. ( But I know the scripture also speaks of the Holy Spirit living within.)

Repentance is mentioned a lot in God's Word. But is left out of some sinner's prayers today! I made sure this didn't happen, though (when I explained the gospel in the letter to dad and also in the prayer with him over the phone.) Afterall, that was part of the problem. My dad being such a nice guy, he just didn't understand or view himself that way. Thinks of sinners as rapists, etc.

I don't mean to get hung up on terms, as I know in the end it is the state of your heart that God looks upon. But I am just not fond of the term "accepting" Christ... because it almost makes it sound like we are doing HIM some sort of a favor. Like, "Hey God. I actually accept you! Isn't that so generous of me?" When it is really the other way around, of course.I don't mean that as critical. I do realize that people are actually meaning that they have decided to invite Jesus in. Even "finding" Him seems sort of backwards. In reality, He finds us...He draws us to Himself.

Repentance is a word today that the "average ( secular) Joe" isn't even familiar with. But I believe it's where you must each recognize that you are a sinner, lost and bound for Hell (until you recieve Christ's Sacrifice and turn away from being the master of your own life to letting Him sit on the throne of your heart. Confessing your selfishness and personally asking Jesus to become your Lord & Savior. Grace is recieving the free gift of eternal life and becoming a new creation in Christ. While repentance is our response of being convicted that each one of us personally played a role in nailing Him to that cross. But Jesus does the saving!

I also don't understand the "gift of the Holy Spirit" part in Acts 2:38. Does that mean what I always believed as being the instant indwelling of the Holy Spirit ( which all Christians have at the moment of becoming born again? ) Or does the "gift" of the Holy Ghost mean not the actual Person of the Holy Spirit? Is it something entirely different? Is "gift' a key word? But if so, how is He... a Person, described as a gift?

I also don't quite know what to do with the "water" part? Is it really referring to all people must be water baptized to become Christians?

Because now I am even more confused...I'm trying to help my dad with advanced cancer get saved. So I don't want to start questioning my own Salvation...Now, of all times!

For the record, I've done all three (repenting, water immersion baptism & speaking in tongues...in my times alone with God in prayer. But they did not come together all as one event, as some might interpret this verse! But they were separated by time periods.

What troubles me the most is that my dad (in his medical condition) is physically unable to be water baptized! And are we even sure this 'baptism' mentioned is one of water? Also, isn't adding baptism on to repentance like adding good works as requirements to get to Heaven? Christ's Atonement was well summed up by the very words He uttered, "It is finished."

I sure hope there will be further discussion of all this, now that it has been brought up! I have always staked my soul on the scripture about how we humans are "saved by grace, through faith. Not of works (isn't baptism a sort of work?) lest any man should boast"...

This did get somewhat offtrack from my original post question, in one sense. But in another, it ties in now (as I myself am disturbed spiritually now after my confusion over Acts 2:38 and some of the other points that the last replier to this topic made!...)

I just want to make sure I am explaining things correctly to dad and anyone I witness to. I want total peace over my own Salvation too. For example: I was not personally baptized strictly in the Name of Jesus, but rather in the Name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Isn't that scriptural? It was a water baptism (immersion) in an Assembly of God, about a year or less after my Salvation.

Please don't let this thread go dead though, okay? As to the first topic... Because I still am concerned about my leading dad in a sinner's prayer.

But if you wish to weigh in on the new questions triggered by my confusion over Acts 2:38, that would be a bonus. By the way, thanks for everyone's caring input so far. God bless you all.

P.S. Sorry I have so many questions in this post. And it's length! For those of you who read it all the way through, you are patient indeed. ( Well, if it makes you feel any better, it took me forever to type this two fingered...I am like that poky little puppy in the kid's book. )

[Fez]

Turtle, don't make this too difficult for yourself I guess I have found a kindred spirit in one who sometimes thinks too much

My answer to all of the above is very simple, so it might not seem like it is the right one, but I believe for you, right now, it is.

Just love Jesus with all your heart and soul. Pray for your dad without ceasing. Pray with your dad, alongside your dad, and for him when you are away from him. But mainly just love Jesus, worship him and talk to him constantly.

And no, one does not have to be baptized to be saved, it is just an affirmation of ones faith, and an entirely personal choice. And the the Greek definition does allude to complete immersion in water yes.

But ask yourself this. If baptism was necessary for salvation (and it is not!), but even if it was, and your dad, who had accepted Jesus as his Lord and Saviour could not be baptized because of his health, do you think Jesus would judge him? Of course not, because He loves us, and we live under His grace.

Carry on praying ceaselessly, and love Jesus, and let the rest take care of itself, you have enough on your mind at the moment not to worry about the small stuff as well.

Blessings, and may the healing love of Jesus surround your father as he fights this illness

[MannaMInistry]

The word save, saved, salvation and Savior in the Greek meaning is deliver, deliverance and deliverer. Lets look at what Paul wrote to Timothy about salvation...

1 Timothy 2:4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

2 Timothy 3:15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

Paul was writing to Timothy that God's will all men be saved and come to the knowledge of truth.

The holy scriptures can make you wise to what is salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

2 Thessalonians 2:10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. [11] And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: [12] That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

In the end times Paul wrote that people would not be saved not because they did not love God, but because they did not love truth! The biggest enemy of truth is lies, and he has a cousin called tradition. Tradition knows the bible and is very popular among men of all classes and denominations.

Tradition teaches that baptism is works and we are not saved by being baptized.

The scriptures can make us wise unto salvation. Oh but you have to love truth. Read on!

Mark 16:16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

1 Peter 3:21 The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:

Notice we have two scriptures clearly telling us in baptism we are saved and it can save us.

I have yet to find a scripture saying baptism is works.

Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: [9] Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Acts 19:4 Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. [5] When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

In Acts 19:4 Paul had started the church in Ephesus and stayed over two years there.

Paul wrote to the Ephesians about grace and we know grace is a free gift of God. Faith is how we respond to this gift and without faith you can

[Fez]

Blessings manna, and just some friendly advice that I think a few more on the boards might echo. When you post, try and keep them in bite sized chuncks, I know from experience that most people don't read long posts (some do), and then your message gets lost in translation, or the intention misread

Blessings in our Lord and His grace!

[turtletwo]

Fez, Thanks for your kind post. You are right that God is Merciful and realizes my dad can't get baptized! Not to mention, he is not in his clearest state of mind anymore. You know, the whole Alzheimer thing (dementia) is really making life difficult for him in comprehending things.

That most recent post was even too complicated for me, being a generation younger than my dad. I can't fully grasp all of those things being explained by MannaMInistry. Although I must say there do seem to be a lot of scriptures being given ( to back up the beliefs.)

But unless a person has normal health, indepth Bible studies just aren't possible. I have to take things slow. Because I am so physically ill myself and unable to read for long, I can't exactly look up all those verses online! It is overload on my brain.

Obviously, they don't know me and therefore have no idea how sick dad and I both are and the limitations that go with that... He is undergoing chemo and I have been fighting this disease for several years straight now. Lately, my # 1 priority has obviously become my dad having a late stage cancer. We are both very weak.

Believe me, I don't mean to sound ungrateful to Manna for trying to help me understand. It was a lot of typing and effort. It's just that so much of it went over my head that I'm have mindfog now and a strong headache coming on too. I couldn't even complete reading it all. So I guess I will just go lay down awhile. I only got 2 hours or so of sleep all night. Major insomnia lately!

Please, brothers and sisters...just pray the Lord works with the seeds of His Word I planted and that they will not come back void. He could even send another Christian down my dad's path who has the health and energy I so lack. And of course has himself scripturally grounded...with the sound doctrine to explain the true gospel. And fix anything I maybe blotched. I really tried!

Anyway, thanks for everyone's prayers for my family and I...spirit, soul and body. We are all really quite a mess at present and desperately need the Lord's intervention!

Also, is anyone here at Worthy familiar with the site MannaMInistry is trying to link me to? I am not feeling well enough to go there myself. But I'm curious if anybody knows of this site or would mind checking it out for me?

[MannaMInistry]

Ok try this Non-denominational Bible Study. Nothing to read, it is on video that is FREE to watch online. Choose lessons #6, #7, #8 and each lesson is one hour long and are the ones that will benefit you the most. Watch these videos in your spare time as you desire.

http://biblestudies.yolasite.com/

I pray for you and your dad.

God bless.

[Guest]

Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:

And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this? John 11:25-26

[Guest]

Praying!

Hallelujah!