Featured The Sinners Prayer

I like this question.

The biggest difference between the sinners prayer,
"we know that God heareth not sinners" John 9:31,

"The LORD is far from the wicked:
but he heareth the prayer of the righteous" Proverbs 15:29

and true salvation is that the
"heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked:
who can know it?" Jeremiah 17:9

and "you must be born again" John 3:3.

There is One Way of salvation.

Repent and believe the GOSPEL.

 

I sure would not want to be the person to have to tell God that He can’t accept a prayer because it didn’t meet MY standards for the salvation of another.

I think that there are eloquent prayers that bounce off the ceiling and clumsy prayers that Archangels carry to the throne and present personally (and visa versa).

 

I agree, but “Jesus is Lord” wouldn’t hurt. [Romans 10:9-10]

 

Praise the Lord.

I need to propose this as being a saved soul that The Lord, "heard".

116:13 "I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the LORD."

16 "O LORD, truly I am thy servant; I am thy servant, and the son of thine handmaid: thou hast loosed my bonds."

Has the "heart" of these, in the scenarios below, been convicted of sin, under the preaching of the Word and Granted the Gift, from God, of Repentance concerning the guilt of their personal sin (and Given Faith at the same time, to Trust in The Gospel of Jesus Christ)?

Acts 2:37; “Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?”

Hebrews 4:12; "For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it pierces even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It judges the thoughts and intentions of the heart."

I Peter 1:23; "Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth forever."

Romans 1:16; "I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jew, then to the Greek.

Acts 11:18; "When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life."

II Timothy 2:25; "In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;"

Acts 20:21; "Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ."

Hebrews 6:1; "Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,"

Or are the above instances more along the lines of:

 

We need to take God's Business and Eternal Life seriously, for the individual souls we influence.

"Prayer", or a person's "heart" that "is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked" are not the MEANS of Salvation.

There may be an "Awakening" as defined below, that is short of heartfelt, Holy Spirit, "Conviction".

True Holy Spirit "Conviction" is a prerequisite, under the preaching of the Word, for the lost soul to have a genuine need for salvation.

Have these folks been preached "sin"? Was it effectual, by The Holy Spirit?

Were they, Biblically speaking, "pricked in the heart", to Work "Conviction" in their heart, which may be implied as the operation of the Spirit in all "true salvation", or was their heart still "deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked"?

There is a great concern involved with the prospect of deceiving lost souls, who are utterly blind and susceptible to being lied to. Satan is a liar.

Chapter 10 - The Preparatory Work of the Holy Spirit in Salvation

INTRODUCTION

"Commonly there is a work preparatory to regeneration that takes place in the sinner’s heart. Because salvation is a moral as well as a legal work this is to be expected. Those who are to eternally enjoy the benefits of faith in Christ are first made to see their need of Him. The self-righteous spirit of man must be broken up that the Saviour may receive all the glory in salvation.

"Before beginning this topic let us be cautioned to remember that the Holy Spirit is a sovereign agent in salvation. He works as He pleases, and one person's experience must not be made a pattern for others. Some spend months under conviction, while others are soon brought to full assurance (Acts 8:26-39; 16:25-34). Some, like Paul, find the Lord who were not seeking Him (Romans 10:20). Some seem to be allowed to view the depths of their depravity before they find peace; while others are led more fully into a knowledge of their sinfulness after salvation. Let us rejoice that as God alone knows our heart, so He alone knows how best to deal with each of His people.

"Being careful to keep the aforementioned facts in mind, let us study some of the preparatory works of the Spirit in salvation.

"I. AWAKENING.

"No one can overestimate the danger that unsaved men are in (John 3:1.8, Hebrews 10: 31), yet the Bible portrays them as asleep, blind, dead, and unconscious. Death, sin, judgment, and eternity are not realities to the unregenerate (Isaiah 28: 15). Men slumber on the brink of Hell.
In awakening, the sinner, God's Spirit impresses upon the mind the reality of eternity and judgment. The sinner becomes aware that he is in danger of God's wrath. Spiritual matters become important. Not everyone who is awakened is then saved. Some are lulled back to sleep by an empty profession of religion or the pull of the world. (Acts 24: 25).

"II. ILLUMINATION.

"While only the regenerate are "renewed in knowledge" (Colossians 3:10) yet the unsaved can receive a degree of enlightenment. When a sinner is under conviction he may be ignorant of the nature of faith, but he sees clearly the danger of sin and the seriousness of eternity. For the first time his soul becomes important. Does not all this require a degree of illumination?
Even the natural man can be made to fear Hell and be concerned for his eternal welfare. This is of course different from the light of regeneration that enables a man to love God. This illumination then is simply a stirring up of man's natural mind to see the danger of sin and judgment.

"III. CONVICTION.

"While "awakening" deals primarily with danger, yet "conviction" is the work of God whereby the cause of our danger is revealed. In conviction, a man is convinced and reproved concerning his sinful condition. This alone can give the sinner a desire to know Christ.

"A form of words, though e'er so sound, Can never save a soul; The Holy Ghost must give the wound, And make the wounded whole."

"A. The areas of conviction - In John 16:8-11, we find three areas wherein men are convicted.
"1. Of sin - God convicts men of great sins they have committed (Acts 2:36-37), of original sin, of failure in duties, and of the sin of unbelief.
"2. Of righteousness - Men are convicted of the righteousness of Christ, and of their need of His righteousness (Matthew 5:6).
"3. Of judgment to come - Judgment often has reference to rule. Men are convinced that just as Satan will be vanquished, so Christ is the coming King, and that resistance is folly. The powers of evil have no chance for victory, but all will ultimately stand before God.

"B. The need for conviction.

"1. Without conviction men would not be ready to admit their total defilement, nor to come to Christ as helpless beggars. "Christ is all" (Colossians 3:11) in salvation, and God would have the redeemed to understand this. Conviction, therefore, prepares the soul for faith in Christ.
"2. Conviction is preparatory to repentance. Godly sorrow (II Corinthians 7:10) precedes repentance which is a permanent change of heart and minds about sin.

"C. The means of conviction. While conviction is a work of God's Spirit, He is pleased to use certain truths in this work. Just as He often uses the truth of God’s wrath to awaken sinners so in conviction He uses:

"1. The law (Romans 3:19-20; 7:7-13). Men commonly judge themselves by their neighbors' actions, but in conviction, they see that it is God’s glory they fall short of (Romans 3:23).
"2. The goodness of God (Romans 2:4). Many have testified that it was a view of God's goodness that convinced them of their sin.

"D. The earmarks of true conviction.

"1. Real conviction causes a man to accept his guilt (Psalms 51:4, Luke 18:9-14).
"2. Real conviction destroys self-righteousness (Luke 18:9-14, Isaiah 64:6).
"3. Real conviction sees sin as being against God (Psalms 51:4, Luke l5:18.
"4. Real conviction leads one to Christ, rather than to worldly despair (II Corinthians 7: 10).

"Conviction may not be pleasant work, but it is a necessary one. To see ourselves as we are is a prerequisite to seeing Christ. In the first four beatitudes (Matthew 5:3-6) our Lord explains that only those who have experienced such conviction are truly blessed."

 

"Prayer" is not the MEANS of Salvation.

God already knows that.

"Prayer", or a person's "heart" that "is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked" are not the MEANS of Salvation.

 

I put up John R. Rice's "sinners prayer" because I think it is the best and classic example of what we think of as a sinners prayer. I am old enough to have been "soul winning" and I have seen aggressive tactics that are misused and I have seen this prayer misused. But I have the book on hand still because I like it, frankly, and I believe that if you come to Christ there is a time when you come to Christ. And before you come to Christ you "made a decision" to do so. I think Calvinists believe that too. Below is a popular song making the rounds in Reformed churches. I have chosen the SovereignGrace version to illustrate my point:


Notice the words. There is action on the part of the individual. That does not make your salvation synergistic.

Silverhair and I go round and around on these forums but I see nothing wrong with the statement above. I thought I read somewhere that the guy who wrote that song had come under Moravian influence but I'm not sure. But I do know there is an aspect of "invitation" and "action" on the part of the sinner involved.

 

From "The Gospel of Christ" website:
Where Is The Sinner's Prayer Found In The Bible?
It is found nowhere in the Bible.

Every year millions of people are being told to say the sinner's prayer and they will be saved. Is the sinner's prayer a biblical way of salvation? If so, where is it found in the Bible? Although multitudes of people say the sinner's prayer as a means of salvation, the shocking truth is
THE SINNER'S PRAYER is not even found in the Bible one time! The sinner's prayer usually goes something like this:

"Heavenly Father, I know that I am a sinner and that I deserve to go to hell. I believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross for my sins. I do now receive him as my Lord and personal Savior. I promise to serve you to the best of my ability. Please save me. In Jesus' name, Amen."

A person can search his Bible from Genesis 1:1 through Revelation 22:21 and never find this prayer or any variation of it mentioned anywhere in Scripture. Why then do so many people believe the sinner's prayer saves? People believe this is a way of salvation because they have put their trust in men and not God. The sinner's prayer originated in America and was especially popularized by Baptist preacher Billy Graham (as well as Billy Sunday and Bill Bright). Over the last half century Billy Graham and denominational preachers like him, have taught multiplied millions of people a way of salvation that is not even found in the Bible! Remember, the Bible says "there is a way that seems right to a man, but the end thereof is the way of death" (Proverbs 16:25).

Although the sinner's prayer is not found anywhere in Scripture, there are a couple of passages people use to justify it. Some religious leaders believe Acts 2:21 warrants a person saying a sinner's prayer for salvation. The Apostle Peter said, "whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved" (Acts 2:21). Is this passage teaching that we must say the sinner's prayer to be saved? Certainly not. There is a big difference in Scripture between calling on God for salvation and a prayer to God. If we will use the Scriptures correctly we can see exactly what it means to "call" on God. A divine commentary on how to call on the name of the Lord is given in Acts 22:16. Saul is told, "And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord." According to the Scripture, to call on the name of the Lord means that we get up and obey God's teaching concerning baptism. This is the exact same thing the people who called on God in Acts 2 were told to do - and what they did (Acts 2:37-38, 41).

Another passage that is often cited in support of the sinner's prayer is Luke 18:13. In contrast to the hypocritical Pharisee, the tax collector "beat his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me a sinner!'" Is this text authorizing a sinner's prayer as a means of salvation? This passage is not an example of New Testament salvation because this man was still living under the Old Testament and Christ's law had not gone into effect yet (Hebrews 9:15-17). If this were an example of salvation, it would only be an Old Testament example and would have no bearing on the salvation of men and women today. Thus, neither one of these passages teach that the sinner's prayer is a means of salvation.
Where Is The Sinner's Prayer Found In The Bible? — The Gospel of Christ

The biggest difference is "being made alive with Christ." Hearing the voice of the true Shepherd.

You can pray a prayer without ever hearing Jesus voice...without ever being made alive. The Bible tells us that even the demons believe, so intellectual acknowledgement is not salvation. Salvation is, and has always been by grace alone. God speaks to the dead and they hear Him call their name to "come forth." The cause is God's action. The effect is our action in believing and repenting.
Humans can beat off the emotional appeals of well meaning Christians. They can resist such appeals. But, no human can ever stand against the command of God, when God commands them to arise and come forth. When God acts, at His appointed time, there is no choice...only response.

 

Austin, what exactly do you think the sinners pray is. Read the context Luke 10:10-14.

Luk 18:10 "Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.
Luk 18:11 "The Pharisee stood and was praying this to himself: 'God, I thank You that I am not like other people: swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector.
Luk 18:12 'I fast twice a week; I pay tithes of all that I get.'
Luk 18:13 "But the tax collector, standing some distance away, was even unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven, but was beating his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me, the sinner!'
Luk 18:14 "I tell you, this man went to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted."

Christ is presenting a contrast here. The selfrighteous Pharisee as opposed to the humble tax collector. God looks at the heart rather than listening to the words. That is why demons can acknowledge Christ is Lord and not be saved.

But I have to ask if you read what is in the article you quoted?
"This passage is not an example of New Testament salvation because this man was still living under the Old Testament and Christ's law had not gone into effect yet (Hebrews 9:15-17). If this were an example of salvation, it would only be an Old Testament example and would have no bearing on the salvation of men and women today. Thus, neither one of these passages teach that the sinner's prayer is a means of salvation."

So you think we should be selective about what words of Christ we follow and which we discard as only applying to OT times? That an interesting take on scripture.

 

The Bible teaches that only a saved saint, who's soul has been saved by God, can then pray and be heard by God and call on Him Whom they have believed.

"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? Romans 10:14,

"Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth." John 9:31.

Only a saved saint, who's soul has been saved by God, can be a worshipper of God, and do his will.

"It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life." John 6:63.

The soul that is Born Again, then has The Indwelling Spirit of God that Jesus Christ uses as their Mediator for them to have the Spiritual capacity to have the great gulf bridged, between their soul and God, Who is Spirit.

A soul that is saved has The Holy Spirit to Make Intercession, to God.

"Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered." Romans 8:26.

A soul that is saved has their Savior as their Mediator.

"For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;" I Timothy 2:5.

The soul that is saved already has a Father in Heaven that they are Enabled to come before His Throne and can ask, according to His Will.

"Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him. Matthew 6:8.

 

Did you miss these verses or do you just ignore them?

Rom 10:17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.
Act 16:31 They said, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved,
Rom 10:9 that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved;
Rom 10:10 for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.
Rom 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
Eph 1:13 In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise,

You seem to have put the card before the horse in this one @Alan Gross. The unsaved person can call on God for their salvation and God will respond.
Rom 10:13 for "WHOEVER WILL CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED."

 

Was the New Covenant enacted during Jesus ministry or was Jesus speaking to Old Covenant persons who were living under the Mosaic Law?
Are you and I under the Mosaic Law today?

I am surprised by your ignorance regarding the Covenants of God, Sliverhair.

 

On the contrary. You place the man before God.

 

...to be continued/done DAILY:

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

...a way of life, not a one-time event.

 

When a mortal man tells me how to pray, I'm going to quit praying... Brother Glen

Luke 18: 10 Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.

11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.

12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.

13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.

The problem is I maybe saved but I'm just like other men, a sinner

 

AMEN! I've prayed it many, many times in my life. The older I get the more I pray it.

 

In the old days, the 70's, there was an evangelist who used to come around who had been a Catholic. He said that once, when he was in the hospital, in a ward with other guys, the guy next to him was praying out loud. He was a bold, outgoing person and I remember him saying to the guy "What in the world are you doing? You're talking to God like you know him or something." He had no idea that an individual laymen could actually talk to God directly like that.

I am just saying that there are plenty of people who I could see who just don't know if they can or should ask God anything and if they dare do that, what should they say. I don't think there is anything wrong with suggesting what to say. We can't assume that everyone already knows these things. I don't remember reading where Rice said you had to say those words or that they were effective because they were said. I realize and agree that there is a type of aggressive "soul winning" that has done a lot of harm. But I don't think it's fair to lump any type of a call for a decision to that misuse. I fully understand how some people feel who came out of that but don't go overboard the other way either.

 

I heard an old hard shell preacher make this comment a far as the sinners prayer... You can use it if you want... He said in prayer it is not the posture of the body, its the posture of the heart... Brother Glen

 

So once again you prove that you really do not trust the bible or Christ so it would seem.