THE SO-CALLED SINNER’S PRAYER
By: Randy Kea
Essentially all of the denominational world and their preachers believe in and practice “The Sinner’s Prayer” instead of gospel obedience as plainly taught in the Bible. The following is an example:
“Oh God, I know I am a sinner. I am sorry for my sins, and I want to turn from them. I trust Christ alone as my Savior, and I confess Him as my Lord. From this moment on, I want to serve Him and follow Him in the fellowship of His church. In Christ’s name, I pray. Amen.” –Billy Graham, The Heaven Answer Book
This can be found nowhere in the Bible.
Billy Graham, in the last half of the 1900’s, was clearly the premier and most visible practitioner of calling upon multitudes to pray the sinner’s prayer and be saved. It is estimated that Mr. Graham preached to some 215 million people who attended one or more of his 400 crusades in 185 countries and territories
But the “Sinner’s Prayer” goes back further than Billy Graham. Out of the denominational preaching of the Reformation Movement in the 1700’s, there began to be a practice of using the following passage as a tool for the conversion of non-Christians: “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and sup with him, and he with me.” Revelation 3:20
Any serious Bible student can see clearly that Revelation 3:20 was not originally written to, nor should ever be applied to, non-Christians. The passage was written to the church at Laodicea, one of the seven churches of Asia recorded in Revelation Chapters 2-3. Laodicea was a lukewarm church; and Jesus, through the letter written by the Apostle John, condemns their lukewarmness, calling on them to “be zealous therefore, and repent.” Revelation 3:19 and Revelation 3:20 is this invitation and pleading of the Lord for these brethren to be restored. This passage, then, has no application whatsoever to non-Christians.
Over the last 50 years as a gospel preacher, I’ve heard people use other passages to justify the so-called “sinner’s prayer.” For example, Luke 18:9-14. In this parable Jesus speaks of two men who went to the temple to pray, a Pharisee and a publican. One prayed in arrogance, the other prayed in humility, saying, “God, be merciful to me, a sinner.” The Bible obligates us to rightly divide God’s Word (II Timothy 2:15). These two men in the parable lived under the Law of Moses; and, as Israelites had been born into covenant relationship with God. In other words, they were already children of God. The New Testament gospel with its terms of salvation (faith, repentance, confession, baptism) had not yet been revealed. There is nothing in this passage that justifies the modern concept of the sinner’s prayer.
Here are two other passages that have been brought up to me in studies concerning this subject: Acts 8:22 ~ “Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee” and I John 1:9—“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” In the first passage, this command was addressed to a man who had already been baptized to become a Christian (Acts 8:12-13). In the second passage, John was writing an epistle to his brethren, Christians. So again, neither has application for a non-Christian to pray the “sinner’s prayer.”
Closely associated with this is the idea that one can be saved like the thief on the cross who said, “Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.” This example is cited by those who want to negate the essentiality of water baptism. Once again, by rightly dividing God’s Word, you have the answer to this erroneous application. By reading Hebrews 9:15-18, you will see that the New Testament of Jesus Christ had not yet been revealed nor was binding with its terms of salvation. Therefore, the thief on the cross was not subject to the one true gospel plan of salvation (faith, repentance, confession, baptism).
Other phrases we sometimes hear closely associated with the “sinner’s prayer” would be “invite Jesus into your heart,” “accept Christ as your personal savior,” and “receive Jesus as your savior.” None of these phrases have any basis in the New Testament language of salvation through Christ.
Add to this, that in several of your modern Bible paraphrases (The Living Bible) and modern speech translations (NIV, RSV, etc.), the doctrine of “faith only” without further acts of obedience is promoted.
One can read from Acts 2, with the apostles preaching in Jerusalem, through Acts 28, with Paul preaching in Rome, and never read where someone was told to pray the “sinner’s prayer.” Where is the “sinner’s prayer” in Acts 2:36-41? Where is the “sinner’s prayer” in Acts 8:5-22? Where is the “sinner’s prayer” in Acts 8:26-38? Where is the “sinner’s prayer” in Acts 9:1-6? Where is the “sinner’s prayer” in Acts 10 and 11? Where is the “sinner’s prayer” in Acts 16:13-15? Where is the “sinner’s prayer” in Acts 16:30-36? Where is the “sinner’s prayer’ in Acts 18:8? Where is the “sinner’s prayer” in Acts 19:1-6? In not one of these conversions (Jews on Pentecost, Samaritans, the eunuch, Saul of Tarsus, Cornelius, Lydia, Philippian jailer, Corinthians, Ephesians) was any lost person ever instructed to pray the “sinner’s prayer!”
By cross-examining the above accounts of conversion in the Book of Acts it is clear to become a Christian under the gospel of Christ, after hearing the truth of the gospel, one must place his faith in Jesus, repent of his sins, confess his faith in Jesus to be the Son of God, and based on that confession, be immersed in water for the remission of his sins. These are simple, yet indispensable, terms of New Testament salvation.
“And now why tarriest thou? Arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.” Acts 22:16