The "Sinners Prayer"

[endure4salvation]

I have been confronted with the idea of leading people in saying what has become a popular part evangelism today--the sinners prayer.

It usually goes something like:

Dear God, I admit that I am a sinner and I deserve hell, but I trust that Jesus died for my sins and I now ask you into my heart. Amen.

Does anybody know where this became popular and where it was first used? Is it in the Bible somewhere? If not, how did people become saved before this occured?

[tsth]

Dear E4S,

I don't believe the Prayer itself is Biblical, but the concept of repentance and surrender to Jesus' Lordship is.

Frankly you have to have a way to explain to someone what it means to surrender, and prayer is part of that submission to Christ's Authority. But in helping someone to understand and speaking to them about praying, we must explain the repentance part. It must be part of our surrender, otherwise we have not understood our sin state and the submission needed for freedom.

I hope I was clear in what I was trying to say. I am in children's ministry, and I explain to them, what you term as the "Sinners Prayer" although I am more extensive in explaining sin and asking forgiveness for that sin. I am not trying to say that you shouldn't speak to someone about how to pray to the Lord, and why. But do I think that automatically "saves" them? Not necessarily, anymore than I would tell someone they could lose their salvation, would I assure someone of their salvation, just because they prayed a prayer. It is the intent of the heart when they spoke to God...........and that is where a change "should" begin by the work of the Power of Jesus Christ. But that is not always the case.

In His Love,

Suzanne

[JesusisGod2]

I believe where this is derived is a mixture of Romans 10:9-10 and 1 John 1:9

"That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth thy Lord Jesus, and shall believe in thine heart that God has raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation."

and

"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and cleanse us of all unrighteousness"

I myself had went to a church speggetti dinner and heard Bob Thomas (Former Chicago Bears kicker) speak and seen something there I didnt have and when I was at my mothers house afterwards, went into her bathroom (great place, huh?) got on my knees and dont even remember what I said except I believed and asked for His forgiveness.

I do believe that a confession of your belief to others is an important step and to tell the truth is hard not to do once you have been forgiven as is the confession of sin to others, but the most important one to confess to is God.

Sinners prayer biblical? I think this is a well intended process by man,

But salvation is an act of God to the sinner, by revealing Himself to the sinner and giving the sinner the faith To believe in Jesus and His redemption and the faith to cry out to the Father for mercy, this is something man just cannot do for another, no matter how many times you get one to say the "sinners prayer".

This is my view anyway, I dont think I said a "sinners prayer" nor was it any man who led me in my words, but it came from the Spirit of God granting me mercy to come to the cross. Today if you hear His voice (not mans).

God bless

Kevin

[jesusislord]

AMEN KEVIN...... '

I know of many lives that have been changed by that same prayer.

many many...

the prayer it self is not in the Bible but the concept is...... JESUS said

Mar 1:15 And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.

paul went on to say AS U SAID.

Rom 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.

Rom 10:10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation

AGAIN AS U SAID........ IN 1 JOHN 1'9

I have been witnessing for many years on the streets in chat rooms where ever i can ...... because i want to do the will of my LORD JESUS CHRIST.

and this is the prayer i usually use....

FATHER , GOD i am a sinner and i ask your forigveness and i repent of all of my sins... I do believe that JESUS was born of a virgin... died on that cross for my sins and rose again three days later to justify them..... JESUS I ASK YOU TO BE MY SAVIOUR AND I MAKE U THE LORD OF MY LIFE . IN JESUS NAME IF PRAY AMEN

BE BLESSED ALL LOVE U

[OneAccord]

I don't know the history of the Sinner's Prayer, but I, too, think the concept is right. We must repent, humble ourselves, and realize that we are sinners in order to recieve all that He has for us.

I also think that for someone to just 'repeat after me' may not be genuine, though it does take humbling for someone to even get to that point, so it's a real step towards full commitment.

I was saved all by myself, after being prompted to pray to Jesus by an unbeliever (long story).

I didn't know anything about a sinner's prayer, I just knew I needed help and I had come to the end of myself. I cried out to Him. He heard me and came. I was given a sense of peace and this feeling like I had a rock to stand on in the midst of a terrible storm.

I began to get intensely curious about Jesus and immediately looked for anything about Him, the Bible, a church, internet fellowship.

A few days later I asked Him into my heart, I became flooded with guilt about the way I had lived my life, for denying Him for 38 years, for all the people I had wronged in my self-indulgent lifestyle. I became acutely aware of my sinfulness.

My repentance was a result of His stirring up my heart once I opened it to Him, not the other way around.

Now, about a year later, the unbelieving friend came to my house to tell me that He had asked Jesus into his heart!

BUT this friend shows no evidence of repentance, does not believe the Bible is the inspired Word of God, and cannot accept that Jesus is the only way, or accept a doctrine of hell and eternal damnation for those who do not recieve Him.

It's sort of like he's half-way saved, but not unto repentance.

I just wrote him a long letter to speak to him about this, because in Jesus' 12-Step program the First Step is to confess that you are a sinner, once you have acknowledged Him.

All this to say that Yes, some version of a sinner's prayer is an important part of a conversion experience and absolutely necessary to recieve Jesus' mercy and forgiveness, but it doesn't necessarily happen at the same time as confessing His Name and believing on Him with your heart. In fact I know a few people who made the 'altar call', spoke the sinner's prayer, but never really converted.

As for it being Biblical, I think that John the Baptist's call to repentance to prepare the way for the Lord is the closest model for the sinner's prayer. The prayer per se is not in the Bible, but the principles behind it most defintely are, Old and New Testament alike. Psalm 51 is a sinner's prayer, if you will.

[godrulz]

Parroting a sinner's prayer after someone will not necessarily save them. I went to Iceland with a short term missions team. The local believers were quick to want to get people to say a prayer and count them as saved. One guy was about to do this so he would not go to hell. The Spirit prompted me to ask if he was willing to cease a particular area of sin we were aware of and love and obey God as Lord. He instantly got cold feet and rightly wanted more time to count the cost. Parroting a prayer without heart repentance and faith could result in 'stillbirths' or innoculate them from the true Gospel.

Having said that, many people are saved saying a sinner's prayer, but a minimum understanding of what they are doing is necessary. Repentance, faith, love, obedience, Lordship, etc. should be considered so the decision involves the person's will, intellect, and not just emotions.

[tsth]

I agree with what has been posted here. I can personally attest to the fact that I heard the Word as a child, and received the Word at age 10. But........it was not until I had been through a life of filth, that I truly comprehended my sin and the need to repent. Then......as an adult, I repented after hearing the Truth preached again, and REALLY came to the point of repentance and longed to take up my cross and follow the Lord Jesus Christ. I was baptised, and then again something happened, I became more aware of the Word and what He was speaking to me. It started becoming clearer and gifts began manifesting themselves clearer. But nothing happened for me until I came to the point of "true repentance", through full understanding.

I believe that as children we receive the Word more readily than adults, just as Jesus implied, and that it is very important for the gospel message to be given to children to receive. But......we sometimes do not come to the point of repentance until we are adults and recognize the filth we have been trodding in and through.

Some of us (but not all) have to be totally caked in mud before we will decide that YES, we do need a bath. I was one of those.

There is a portion of Scripture in Acts 8 that speaks of the people "accepting the Word of God" by the preaching of Phillip. Then the apostles sent Peter and John to them that they might "receive the Holy Spirit".

8:14 Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: 15 Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: 16 (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)

I believe this was the case with me. I received the Word, which is necessary, but I had not received the Holy Spirit.

James 1:21 Therefore put away all filthiness and rank growth of wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word , which is able to save your souls.

If you study much about the ministry of Peter, he preached a gospel of repentance.

Jesus began His ministry with preaching repentance. Matt. 4:17

Peter did the same, Acts 2:38, 3:19, Acts 5:32, 8:32 Paul did the same Acts 17:30, 20:21 Acts 26:19"So then, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the vision from heaven. 20 First to those in Damascus, then to those in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and to the Gentiles also, I preached that they should repent and turn to God and prove their repentance by their deeds.

Luke 24:45 Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. 46 He told them, "This is what is written; The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, 47 and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning in Jerusalem.

There is something very pointed about the preaching of repentance, even within the Scriptures there was a definite difference in the types of preaching and the responses.

That is why I have been speaking of the difference between the preaching of Phillip, Peter and Paul. Look through Acts, and see what happens when repentance is preached, in particular see Pentecost, and then Acts. 17:30, 20:21, 26:19, study Acts. 8:4-25.

(Thanks for letting me get long-winded)

In His Love,

Suzanne

[IslandRose]

(Thanks for letting me get long-winded)

I love it when you get long winded... that's when I learn.. :il:

IR

[Guest shadow2b]

LORD REMEMBER ME WHEN THOU COMEST INTO THY KINGDOM------LUKE.23.vs.42-------

IS THIS A SINNERS PRAYER?????DID the thief "mean" what he said???? was there REpentance???

HE sure didn't have time to get baptized in water did he????? WAS he saved?????

What did JESUS-YESHUA- say to him in vs.43--???????

UNCONDITIONAL LOVE IS; I love you with NO restrictions----I love you IN SPITE OF YOUR FAULTS---

NOT; IF you do this & this & this & this-1-2-3-4---BUT IF you do THIS-or this--or even this--then I

WILL NO LONGER LOVE YOU---- OHHHH??? can you TURN LOVE ON & OFF LIKE A WATER FAUCET???

[traveller]

True Brother. Salvation is a heart thing. When we come to a point where, in our heart, we know that HE is God and we are not. That He is GOOD and we are not. That HE is WORTHY and we are not. That HE IS and we are but dust. There is a revelation of these knowings inside of us. Did the thief on the cross have this revelation? I think he did. I think he was witnessing the goings on and saw the brutality that Jesus was dealt. I think his heart softened and he knew. Can we know these things on our own? I don't think so. When the Holy Spirit woos us, prompts us, then we can yield and submit by acknowledging our Lord, or turn away. But, once the heart knows, it knows. It knows our true worth, which is nothing without Jesus. So, if someone has come to this revelation of himself and of God, and to welcome this, he is saved. In my opinion.