"sinners prayer "is it biblical?

Say what you will my friend and Mr. Spurgeon, but I'll stake my eternity on the fact that I cried out, "Lord, be merciful to me a sinner, and save me." He did....praise to Him !!

 

Here is an online booklet:

The Sinner's Prayer

 

The referenced article on “Sinners Prayer” says, “If you wrote about what YOU have done rather than what Jesus Christ did for you, you are LOST.”

I want to make a comment about that.

No, I do not believe the statement is representative of the truth. One could be quickened to life, and that wholly the result of God, then that person could discover their sin, and call out to the Lord, and subsequently know that Christ has saved them, but they might not have a correct understanding of what has happened, and may very well think they are saved because they called out to the Lord.

They are not saved because they called out, but they called out because they had new desires, and a new understanding of their sin, a result of the new birth. One that is dead in sins and has no desire for Christ does not understand and dos not desire Christ. While they might very well attribute their salvation on their having called out to the Lord, the truth is they were chosen before the foundation of the earth in Christ, God having from the beginning chosen them to salvation (Eph 1:4; 2Thes 2:13). Our not understanding these things does not hinder the Lord from giving us new life. The new birth is not accomplished by our proper education but is instead by God’s power, the resurrection power.

 

Disclaimer on the link I previously posted:

It's not mine and I do not necessarily agree with the author. I just provided the link for those interested.

10-4, over and out.

 

I've been there and done that before

Now let's see, what can I do now?

 

The Sinner's Prayer is fine (If you realize that you are indeed a sinner).

HankD

 

Some have prayed the prayer seven times and are still lost as a goose. They have prayed the prayer at the end of the 4 Spiritual Flaws.

 

I got saved by asking Jesus in my Heart, 25 years ago this month and I KNOW I'm saved.

John 5:39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.

Psalm 51:10
Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.

The Holy Spirit was not yet given??? Angel of the Lord, was Jesus back in them days.

[ May 10, 2005, 09:38 AM: Message edited by: jim62 ]

 

Salvation is a one time confession of the mouth and belief in the heart.

The process of sanctification is a life-long one that will culminate when we see Him face to face.

Yes, the sinner's prayer, when said with the proper heart, is all one needs to do to be saved. That is scriptural (obviously not the words, but the concept.)

 

As salvation is of the Lord, our confession with the mouth and belief with the heart is testimony of what the Lord has done for us. One must be born again, and so have new life, for then only is the confession valid. The deadness prior to our being born again makes us insensible of the separation from the life of God.

Ephesians 4:18 (KJV) Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:

 

Actually, no. Jesus himself said if you confess and believe, you shall be saved. That's it. Three points and a prayer. Like I said, the sanctification is what I think you are referring to, and that my friend is the journey God leads us on until the day we see him face to face. It is at that point we are complete.

 

(Luk 18:13 KJV) 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 interesting thing about this prayer is the greek word from which merciful is translated, "hilaskomai"

This word carries the implication of to be a propitiation or to make atonement. Understanding this verse this way I think shows that conviction of sin by the Holy Ghost can result in true repentance to the willing heart and prayer that will cause the sinner to cry to God for mercy and atonement. Praying a prayer that is not the result of the drawing power of the Holy Ghost is just words.

Chad

 

That's not what Jesus said, though.

Jesus said if you confess and believe, thou shalt be saved.

Why is this so hard? Why, in a worl that is lost and going to hell, do we as Christians make this so hard? Jesus came so that all may have life, and have it more abundently. He also made it clear that we must come to him with faith like of a child to receive salvation.

Folks, salvation is our simple, blind, faith-filled acceptance of what Jesus did on the cross for us. The Holy Spirit is responsible for regenerating our heart for the rest of our life.

Let's get back to the basics and preach the word, not our flimsy interpretations of it.