Is Prayer Necessary for Salvation?

Prayer is not necessary for Salvation. The idea of a "Sinner's Prayer" is a modern day invention. We are saved by Grace through Faith. One embraces Christ in Faith and repentance

The Ethiopian Eunuch believed - No Sinner's Prayer.
The Phillipian Jailer believed - No Sinner's prayer

 

The "subsequent prayer" is a Christian work in that the believer seldom prays only for him/herself but includes family, friends, government, schools, doctors, the unsaved, etc. Therefore they are offering up unselfish prayers. That qualifies those prayers to be "Righteousness Works", or "Salvific works". These prayers are never offered up to God by those who do not believe in God! NO, THEY ARE NOT PART OF SALVATION...BUT THEY ARE OFFERED BECAUSE THE ONE OFFERING THEM HAS ALREADY RECEIVED THE PROMISE OF SALVATION!

If God removed his unilateral, universal grace from mankind, it is then too late for salvation! Ephesians 2:8,9 For by grace (while grace is present) are ye saved through faith (you can gain faith which saves you), and not of yourself (not by what you do...including prayer), it (salvation) is the Gift of God, NOT OF WORKS (nothing you can do), lest any man should boast (if you can do it you can boast about it).

 

Then what in the world have we all been arguing about for the past few years? And why does the Roman Catholic Church teach that there is no salvation outside the Catholic Church if Protestants and Catholics believe the same thing?

 

But Kathryn, you're wrong! I don't agree with YOU that salvation is by Grace alone!

Grace is the environment in which one comes to saving FAITH. Without Grace, Faith is not possible.

Conversely, Salvation is not possible without FAITH!

NOW, God provides his unilateral, universally applied Grace in which man can come to FAITH in Him.

God atoned for the all the sins of the
World, so that man is not bound by the penalty of sin. Man is not under the penalty of Sin! That's worth saying often!

We know that Man cannot earn salvation by anything man does.

Salvation = FAITH + NOTHING!

Because:
ALL men have God's grace!
ALL sins are Atoned!
ONLY those with FAITH are SAVED!

That is why Salvation is by FAITH ALONE!

 

You really need to reread Ephesians 2:8. Or ask God to change it because you found a mistake in his Word.

In Christ,
Neal

 

Kathryn,

you said "How does one embrace Christ in faith and repentance without turning our hearts, and mind to God."

That is exactly how one is saved but that does not imply prayer. I cannot find one Scripture in the Bible where anyone prayed to Jesus to come in their heart. I am one who believes Regeneration causes one to have faith not vice versa. Faith and Repentance in Christ implies a turning from Sin, Self, World and the Devil and embracing Christ alone for Salvation. The evidence of that may be Prayer or it may not be. The Bible never says we are saved by Prayer but by Grace through Faith. It is God's grace that works faith in us (Eph. 2:8-10). Faith and Prayer are in no ways synomous. We do not obtain this Grace by prayer alone. Grace brings us to Faith and Grace is the working of God in us.

The Question asked "Is Prayer Necessary for Salvation?" and the answer is no.

 

You really need to reread Ephesians 2:8. Or ask God to change it because you found a mistake in his Word.

In Christ,
Neal </font>[/QUOTE]There is no mistake in the written text, the mistake is in the "church's interpretation" of that specific text!

I have no difficulty understanding what Paul was telling the Ephesians, he is consistant with all the rest of the bible which tells us that it is FAITH ALONE that God seeks in man, and that HE, God, does not save those who do not have FAITH!

It is your interpretation that cause YOU grief!

 

Look at what you just said, "Salvation by grace THROUGH faith" Then Look at what I said, They are the same thing. But your understanding is that Grace is the what saves. If true then ALL mankind is saved (Universal salvation) by Grace. But if it is FAITH what saves, God's universal grace gives ALL mankind the opportunity to come to faith and THEREBY be saved.

 

Furthermore, If Grace is what saves, what is the purpose of the church? What did Christ tell his disciples to do? Go, make disciples of all nations, baptise them in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit!

If Grace is what saves, there is absolutely no purpose for the church!

 

Grace is what makes salvation possible. By grace alone is salvation made possible.

Faith is what redeems us as sinful people. By faith we are made alive once again.

Faith is the "how", grace is the "by".

The only real question to ask yourself is: Is faith obedient?

 

This how I see it.

Grace leads to faith
Faith is lived through obedience
At death we have salvation

Salvation through a one time expression of faith is fiction.

 

You've left out the Atonement, you know, what "The Passion of the Christ" so aptly depicts.

While grace is present, God Atoned for ALL sins in ALL times Once, for ALL.

While Grace is present, man can Hear God's Holy Word and Believe unto FAITH.

Therefore, GRACE enabled Atonement, AND FAITH!

But look at all who do not have faith while in the midst of God's grace. If it is God's grace that saves there should be no one who is not saved. That is why I say it is FAITH ALONE that saves and Not Grace, though grace is the enabler of FAITH. God saves only those who have faith, while He gives his grace to ALL unilaterally and universally.

FAITH ALONE SAVES! Thank God for His Grace by which we can come to faith in Him, and thereby receive his Gift of Grace which is SALVATION! FAITH ALONE SANCTIFIES the believer setting him apart from the unbeliever, ALL, while God is shedding His grace on thee!