Prayer for Salvation

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by PackerBacker:
What happens if I as a missionary do not get a person to pray a "sinners prayer" to recieve salvation (Rom. 10: 9,10,13)? Have I left the "plan of salvation" only 3/4 of the way done?<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

No, not at all. The "Sinner's Prayer" has become the third Baptist Ordinance, and some believe that someone is not saved unless they have walked an aisle and "repeated after them". It is God who saves, not a prayer. The sinner's prayer has been a cause for many a false conversion, for many people put their faith in a prayer rather than the Savior.

The missionary's duty is to proclaim the unchanging gospel of Christ, and God will turn the hearts to himself of his chosen.

 

As a missionary your job is to spread the gospel. If you have done that and sowed the word you've done 100% of your job.
Those who don't recite a prayer aren't your resopnsibility. First if they don't truly believe then a million sinners prayers won't save them. Second it's the Holy Spirit who convicts a person to salvation. That's one of His jobs, ours as Christians first and for most is to 'Go ye therefore...'
William Fay has a good study of this in his Share Jesus without fear series of literature.

 

Chris, et al

Romans 10:9-10 (ESV)
because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.

This "confesses" with the "mouth" must include repenting from sin, trusting in Jesus for salvation, and submitting to Him as Lord. This is the volitional element of faith. While some would tie this to baptism, which is a public profession of faith, I believe Rom 10:10 is referring to confession to God.

I will agree with you Chris that how it is often done leaves much to be desired, and as you stated, may be responsible for many false conversions. But clearly, a "confessional prayer" to God is a requirement of salvation.

 

I believe that one purpose of the sinners prayer is to settle it in their mind. Being saved means turning from you old ways to God, accepting the salvation He has given, but it settles it in the mind of the person praying that now this has happened, they have a perticular point in time that they have done this. Not suree if I'm being very clear on what I mean to say. Sorry.

 

Quite clear Katie.

John in the verse you quoted when is the person saved? When they belive and are justified or when they open their mouth and speak?

Not trying to be smart or anything but when is salvation at the believing or speaking?

 

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by John Wells:
But clearly, a "confessional prayer" to God is a requirement of salvation.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

John -

I disagree greatly. The only requirements of God's salvation are God's elect confessing him as Lord and Savior and believing upon him. Nowhere in Scripture does a person pray a prayer of public confession in order to receive salvation. The confessing of Romans 10.9ff is that Christ is Lord, and this is done between the sinner and God. For some reason, we stress the confess the Lord Jesus part over the believe in one's heart part. Scripture teaches repentance and belief as conditions of salvation.

John 20:31 (ESV)
but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

Acts 2:38 (ESV)
And Peter said to them, "Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Acts 3:19 (ESV)
Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out,

 

Chris:
I disagree greatly. The only requirements of God's salvation are God's elect confessing him as Lord and Savior and believing upon him. Nowhere in Scripture does a person pray a prayer of public confession in order to receive salvation.

Chris I would agree it doesn't have to be in public. My question is how do they "confess" by mouth or what?

 

The Gk word translated confess is homologeoµ; from homologos (of one mind); to speak the same, to agree.

It is less an act of oral confession and more to be in agreement with Christ of who he is - Lord and Savior. This is why easy believism is false; one must believe Christ is who he says he is. MacArthur says on Rom 10:9:

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>10:9 confess … the Lord Jesus. Not a simple acknowledgment that He is God and the Lord of the universe, since even demons acknowledge that to be true (James 2:19). This is the deep personal conviction, without reservation, that Jesus is that person’s own master or sovereign. This phrase includes repenting from sin, trusting in Jesus for salvation, and submitting to Him as Lord. This is the volitional element of faith.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

 

Chris,

In the very sentence where you disagree, you agree! I don’t know if you read what I wrote too quickly or what, but you bolded my quote which said ”confessional prayer” to God and then accused me of saying the confession had to be public, which I said no such thing. Did you read or miss this part: ” While some would tie this to baptism, which is a public profession of faith, I believe Rom 10:10 is referring to confession to God.”

Chris: The confessing of Romans 10.9ff is that Christ is Lord, and this is done between the sinner and God.

I agree which is exactly what I said that you disagreed with!

 

Dr. Bob,
<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR> I believe that the person who 'walks the aisle' probably has already been regenerated by the Holy Spirit that compelled him to respond to the Gospel message. That, too, is a form of confession. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I've heard my pastor say just about the same thing. By the time the person walks the isle, they have already had it in their hearts, and are now acting on the promptings of the Holy Spirit.
Mind you not his exact words, which I can't remember.

 

Carl Hatch,an IFB preacher, one of best known "soul winners" in IFB circles, has deceived many, many people with his "soul-winning" methods. Repeat this prayer after me is one, another one is when he is "witnessing" to a person, he tries to hold their hand and ask them "do you want to be saved" if that person says no, he then puts pressure on the persons hand, if the person still says "no"...you guessed it, more pressure. Either that person "prays the prayer" or gets his hand broke. He is considered a "great" IFB preacher.....many decieved people in IFB churches.

 

PackerBacker,

It is not me you have a serious problem with, but the Bible:

Romans 10:9-10 (ESV)
because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord AND believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.

Someone earlier asked "exactly when does a person become saved." I say, when "with the heart one believes," and when "with the mouth one confesses" to God, then they are saved the moment the Holy Spirit indwells them.

[ December 03, 2001: Message edited by: John Wells ]

 

1 John 4:15 (ESV)
Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.

Matthew 10:32-33 (ESV)
So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.

Matthew is clear! Confession not only to God, but confession before men is required for salvation. Don’t fall for “easy believism!”

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>In reality, secret discipleship is a practical impossibility. Jesus constantly called for an open confession of Himself by His followers. We must be willing to acknowledge Jesus as Lord and Saviour, with all that those terms imply. That our confession is to be before men clearly indicates that a public confession of true Christian faith is a virtual necessity.
KJV Bible commentary. 1997, c1994 (electronic ed.) (Mt 10:32). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

[ December 03, 2001: Message edited by: John Wells ]

 

Why are you hung up on "confessional?" Confessional - suited to, typical of, or resembling an act of confession. - Encarta® World English Dictionary © & (P) 1999 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Developed for Microsoft by Bloomsbury Publishing Plc.

The scriptures previously given make it clear that private confession to God of our sins and need for Him, and public confession are both necessary for salvation.

Where did I say anyone needed to lead someone. That came out of your head, not mine. Please don't add your words to mine and claim they are from me. Perhaps you are equating "confessional" with the Catholic thing. I can assure you that was not my thought.

[ December 03, 2001: Message edited by: John Wells ]

 

Hey, I think our roads are about to cross! Let's take out "confessional" and "pray." For salvation to be real one must confess their sins and need to God (Rom 10:9-10), and must confess their faith in God before men (Matt 10:32-33).