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The Sinners prayer

Greektim

Well-Known Member
I believe that any repentant sinner who cries out to the Lord for salvation will be saved.

That said, if we have to lead a sinner to pray the prayer; if we have to tell them what to say, then we have not properly prepared them with the gospel.

We can quote Romans 10:9 (if thou will confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, etc) why is more than that required?

Ah, one says, Romans 10:13 says "whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved" Calling on the Lord is the sinner's prayer.

Wait, it says call on the NAME of the Lord.

Paul told the Philippian jailer to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul told the philosophers on Mars Hill that God commands them to repent. And some believed (Acts 17).

Jesus said "except you repent, you'll perish."

Philip told the Ethiopian eunuch to believe, not ask for salvation.

None of those folks were instructed to pray a prayer or ask for salvation.

Are we blowing an uncertain trumpet here?
BINGO!!!

:wavey:
 

seekingthetruth

New Member
I have no problem with helping a lost soul talk to God, but it has to be sincere.

The 'sinner's prayer' is used as a magic spell, and there is no such thing.

John
 

seekingthetruth

New Member
Growing up in an SBC church, i know of many youths that prayed the prayer because their family and sunday school teachers wanted them to.

I have in-laws that asked to be saved because they go to a Word Of Faith (chrasmatic) church and they want to be rich and healthy.

There are all kinds of reasons why a person praying a 'follow after me' prayer would not be sincere....but only God knows thier hearts.

The danger in this is truly believing that they are saved, when no repentence, no change of character, or no fruits are evident, but they live thier whole lives believing they are going to heaven because of reciting one prayer.

One prayer can get us to heaven, but it has to come from the heart and not greed or peer pressure.

John
 

seekingthetruth

New Member
So sincerity, not a proper understanding that doesn't need the prompt of another, is the key factor in the acceptance of the gospel?

I would say that it takes a proper understnding to reach a point of sincerity.

How can you be sincere without a proper understanding?

You can be whimsical, and go with a trend, but that lacks understanding, and sincerity.

So yes, it takes understanding to be sincere.

John
 

annsni

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
Growing up in an SBC church, i know of many youths that prayed the prayer because their family and sunday school teachers wanted them to.

I have in-laws that asked to be saved because they go to a Word Of Faith (chrasmatic) church and they want to be rich and healthy.

There are all kinds of reasons why a person praying a 'follow after me' prayer would not be sincere....but only God knows thier hearts.

The danger in this is truly believing that they are saved, when no repentence, no change of character, or no fruits are evident, but they live thier whole lives believing they are going to heaven because of reciting one prayer.

One prayer can get us to heaven, but it has to come from the heart and not greed or peer pressure.

John

Exactly John. When someone doesn't even want to listen to a "brother" in Christ correct them for sin because they don't care - they are going to heaven because they prayed a prayer and that's it, there is a problem. "I'm a Christian and you can't tell me anything else!" :tear:
 

seekingthetruth

New Member
What is wrong with this sinners prayer?

God be merciful to me a sinner.

There is nothing wrong with it as long as the person praying truly understands what it means, and is sincere about it. Simply reciting 'after me' with no understanding or sincerity resembles withcraft.

John
 

Greektim

Well-Known Member
There is nothing wrong with it as long as the person praying truly understands what it means, and is sincere about it. Simply reciting 'after me' with no understanding or sincerity resembles withcraft.

John
So why do they need a specific prayer if they "understand what it means"??? True sincerity is best determined by their confession of faith guided by the Holy Spirit not the evangelist or pastor.
 

OldRegular

Well-Known Member
What is wrong with this sinners prayer?

God be merciful to me a sinner.

There is nothing wrong with it as long as the person praying truly understands what it means, and is sincere about it. Simply reciting 'after me' with no understanding or sincerity resembles withcraft.

John

Jesus Christ thought it was pretty good, in fact excellent. He says:

Luke 18:14, KJV
I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
 

seekingthetruth

New Member
Hey guys, all I am saying is that if a person really wants to be saved then they will be.

But the "sinner's prayer" is not a magic spell that saves everyone just because they recite it.

John
 

seekingthetruth

New Member
Jesus Christ thought it was pretty good, in fact excellent. He says:

Luke 18:14, KJV
I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

Huh? Wnen did Jesus say "repeat after me and you will go to heaven"?

John
 

preacher4truth

Active Member
Problem is not many of us lead someone down 'the Romans Road'. :)

I prayed 'the sinners prayer' and Jesus saved me and changed my life: Romans 10:13.

The key is that He is drawing, and the result is praying for mercy in belief for salvation.

Leading someone along to recite a 'magical' prayer and telling them they are 'now saved' is a different story.

Within the church great doubt is unfortunately placed upon many (i.e. those others than ourselves or outside of our personal experiences) whether or not their conversion is as 'legit' as ours. That's a huge problem. If 'we' saw it, then it's legit. If we heard about it, then we have huge doubt and attack the scenario and question everything.

Such is life in the church.

:wavey:
 

Alive in Christ

New Member
As is so often the case, its a matter of the heart.

If someone says the right words because someone told them that if they say it they will be saved, it will probably be fruitless, and they are still lost.

If they say the prayer sincerely, and the prayer reflects the desire of thier heart..they will be saved.
 
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Greektim

Well-Known Member
As is so often the case, its a matter of the heart.

If someone says the right words because someone told them that if they say it they will be saved, it will probably be fruitless, and they are still lost.

If they say the prayer sincerely, and the prayer reflects the desire of thier heart..they will be saved.
Once more... what is the purpose of the sinner's prayer???
 

agedman

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
As is so often the case, its a matter of the heart.

If someone says the right words because someone told them that if they say it they will be saved, it will probably be fruitless, and they are still lost.

If they say the prayer sincerely, and the prayer reflects the desire of thier heart..they will be saved.

I agree, except for the last sentence.

My view is that the prayer reflects what has already taken place in the heart - they are saved already and responding.

Example - thief didn't ask to be saved, but asked to be remembered in paradise. In my opinion, he stated the words because he already had the eternal hope of paradise, while admitting to the other thief completely deserving Hades.
 
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