The Sinners’ Prayer - (A Teaching From God or Men)
Romans 10 : 9 - 10 (NIV)
9 If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.
In the universal church, I believe this is the most misinterpreted scripture in the bible; alone with John 3:16
We all should know it by hard - 16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
These two scriptures by themselves are false, when it comes to being saved; and are causing many people to go to a place where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth. If you only follow these two passages for salvation you will be condemned to hell. This is no joke. The devil comes to steal, kill and destroy. He knowns the truth about salvation, but he lies to mankind to cause them to perish. And many believe his lies.
Origins of the sinner’s prayer
The Sinner's Prayer, as popularly known today, has roots in Protestant Christianity. Some affirm that it evolved, in some form or another, during the early days of the Protestant Reformation, as a reaction against the Roman Catholic dogma of justification by means of meritorious works. Others believe it originated as late as the eighteenth century revival movement. However, Paul Harrison Chitwood, in his doctoral dissertation on the history of the Sinner's Prayer, provides strong evidence that the Sinner's Prayer originated in the early twentieth century.
An early proponent of the sinner's prayer was the well-known American evangelist D. L. Moody.
Dwight Lyman Moody (February 5, 1837 – December 22, 1899), also known as D. L. Moody, was an American evangelist and publisher connected with the Holiness Movement, who founded the Moody Church.
Moody Version of the Sinner's Prayer:
God be merciful to me a sinner, and make me to know and believe in Jesus Christ; for I see, that if his righteousness had not been, or I have not faith in that righteousness, I am utterly cast away. Lord, I have heard that thou art a merciful God, and hast ordained that thy Son Jesus Christ should be the Savior of the world; and moreover, that thou art willing to bestow him upon such a poor sinner as I am—and I am a sinner indeed. Lord, take therefore this opportunity, and magnify thy grace in the salvation of my soul, through thy Son Jesus Christ. Amen.
Billy Graham's Version:
Dear Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner, and I ask for Your forgiveness. I believe You died for my sins and rose from the dead. I turn from my sins and invite You to come into my heart and life. I want to trust and follow You as my Lord and Savior. In Your Name.
Amen.
Cru (formerly Campus Crusade for Christ) Version:
Lord Jesus, I need You. Thank You for dying on the cross for my sins. I open the door of my life and receive You as my Savior and Lord. Thank You for forgiving my sins and giving me eternal life. Take control of the throne of my life. Make me the kind of person You want me to be.
St. Paul Street Evangelization Version:
God our Father, I believe that out of Your infinite love You have created me. In a thousand ways I have shunned Your love. I repent of each and every one of my sins. Please forgive me. Thank You for sending Your Son to die for me, to save me from eternal death. I choose this day to enter into (renew my) covenant with You and to place Jesus at the center of my heart. I surrender to Him as Lord over my whole life. I ask You now to flood my soul with the gift of the Holy Spirit so that my life may be transformed. Give me the grace and courage to live as a disciple in Your Church for the rest of my days. Amen.
Evangelists such as Billy Graham and evangelistic organizations such as Campus Crusade for Christ brought the concept to prominence in the 20th century. Televangelists often ask viewers to pray a Sinner's Prayer with them, one phrase at a time, to become a Christian. Quite commonly, such a prayer appears at the conclusion of a tract and is recited in a religious service or other public service as an invitation for congregants to affirm their faith, sometimes as part of an altar call. It is said to happen many times every day around the world—in one-to-one conversations between friends, relatives, and even strangers; in pastors' offices; via email; in online chat rooms; in addition to both small and large worship services.
Why the Sinner’s prayer is a false teaching:
The absence of any specific examples of people praying the "Sinner's Prayer" in the Bible is also used by some to argue against it. There are also no examples of conversions in the Bible with people praying such a prayer. Though a more prominent concern is voiced by those who say it creates within the sinner a false sense of security.
The sinners pray was not started by God, Jesus or the apostles. It was started by men; therefore, it is a false teaching. You cannot find the sinner’s prayer in the bible.
Matthew 15:9 (NIV)
9 They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men.
Galatians 1:6-9 (NIV)
No Other Gospel
6 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you to live in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— 7 which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let them be under God’s curse! 9 As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let them be under God’s curse!
Now let me explain why Romans 10: 9 -10
Is not meant for non-Christians.
#1) Romans 1:7 King James Version (KJV)
7 To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.
The book of Romans is written to Christians not pagans or the lost.
#2) Romans 6:1-4 New International Version (NIV)
Dead to Sin, Alive in Christ
6 What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? 2 By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? 3 Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.
The Saints were already baptized in Romans 6. Therefore, there were no need for them to be re-baptized in Romans 10.
#3) Romans 10:5 (NIV)
5 Moses writes this about the righteousness that is by the law: “The person who does these things will live by them.”[a]
These Christian were first Jews and lived under the law of Moses. They and their forefathers lived under the law of Moses for many, many years. Therefore, it was hard for them to let the law of Moses go and cling to Jesus. This is why Paul wrote Romans 10: 9 – 10. The Christian in Roman had to let go of Moses’ law and confess with their mouth that Jesus is Lord.
Now, let’s see what Jesus says about being saved.
John 3:5 (NIV)
5 Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit.
Matthew 28:16-20 (NIV)
The Great Commission
16 Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Jesus told his disciples to go and make disciples and baptize them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Nowhere did Jesus tell them to tell the new disciples to say the sinner’s prayer.
Now, let’s see what the Apostles says about being saved.
Acts 2:38-41 (NIV)
38 Peter replied, “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. 39 The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”
40 With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” 41 Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.
About 3,000 people were baptized in the name of Jesus on that day. The Apostle Peter told them to repent and be baptized. Look at v39.
This promise of salvation was for everyone who would come to Jesus. However, they must follow the teaching of salvation taught by Peter and the Apostles. Nowhere did Peter tell them to say the sinner’s prayer.
Now, let see how Paul’s sins were forgiven.
Acts 22:3 – 16 notice verse 16
Then Paul said: 3 "I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city. Under Gamaliel I was thoroughly trained in the law of our fathers and was just as zealous for God as any of you are today. 4 I persecuted the followers of this Way to their death, arresting both men and women and throwing them into prison, 5 as also the high priest and all the Council can testify. I even obtained letters from them to their brothers in Damascus, and went there to bring these people as prisoners to Jerusalem to be punished. 6 "About noon as I came near Damascus, suddenly a bright light from heaven flashed around me. 7 I fell to the ground and heard a voice say to me, 'Saul! Saul! Why do you persecute me?' 8 " 'Who are you, Lord?' I asked. " 'I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting,' he replied. 9 My companions saw the light, but they did not understand the voice of him who was speaking to me. 10 "'What shall I do, Lord?' I asked. "'Get up,' the Lord said, 'and go into Damascus. There you will be told all that you have been assigned to do.' 11 My companions led me by the hand into Damascus, because the brilliance of the light had blinded me. 12 "A man named Ananias came to see me. He was a devout observer of the law and highly respected by all the Jews living there. 13 He stood beside me and said, 'Brother Saul, receive your sight!' And at that very moment I was able to see him. 14 "Then he said: 'The God of our fathers has chosen you to know his will and to see the Righteous One and to hear words from his mouth. 15 You will be his witness to all men of what you have seen and heard. 16 And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on his name.'
Paul’s sins were washed away through baptism. Nowhere did Paul have his sin’s forgiven by saying the sinner’s prayer.
Conclusion, Acts 5:29 says we must obey God, rather than men. Well, if you got saved by saying the sinner’s prayer, then you are still in your sins and doomed to a place where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth. However, if you obeyed the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the Apostles, then you are headed to a place where there is no more death, pain, and sorrow and God will reign forever.
Now if you said the sinner’s prayer, you still have time to Believe, Confess, repent, and be baptized today. Time is of the essence.
Check out my YouTube Video:
GOD’S COMPLETE PLAN OF SALVATION:
1) Hear the Word: Romans 10:17 17 Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ
2) Believe the Gospel: Acts 8: 37 37 Philip said, "If you believe with all your heart, you may." The eunuch answered, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God."
3) Repent of your Sins: Luke 13: 3 - 5 3 I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. 4 Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them—do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? 5 I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish."
4) Confess Christ as Lord: Romans 10: 9 9 That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved
5) Be Baptized (Immersed In Water): Acts 2: 38 38 Peter replied, "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 22:16 16 And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on his name.'
ENOCH 94: 1 - 4
1. And now I say to you, my children, love righteousness and walk in it;
For the paths of righteousness are worthy of acceptance, But the paths of unrighteousness will quickly be destroyed and vanish.
2. And to certain men of a generation shall the paths of violence and of death be revealed, And they shall hold themselves afar from them, And shall not follow them.
3. And now I say to you, the righteous: do not walk in the wicked path, or in wrong doing, or in the paths of death, and do not draw near to them, or you may be destroyed.
4. But seek and choose for yourselves, righteousness, and a life that is pleasing and walk in the paths of peace so that you may live and prosper.
Our Goal: Let the World know the Truth about Salvation! If you like to support our cause, please forward this website to all the people on your e-mail list. Also, please click on "Donations" to help spread the truth about salvation. Thank you for your support.
In Christ,
Charles Felton, a true apostle -- sent not from men nor by man,
but by Jesus Christ and God the Father, who
raised Jesus from the dead --- Peace, Love, and Joy
