Repeat after me...

revmattchoo.com · House Cat Joined: 02 Sep 2003 Posts: 165

In today’s evangelical world, it is expected when one wants to follow the Christ that one prays a prayer, and one becomes a Christ-follower. The thought occurred to me, “Is that how it happened in the first century?” When Jesus told Matthew to follow Him, did Matthew step away from his tax booth, bow his head and close his eyes, and follow Jesus in a sinner’s prayer? When the mass of people at Pentecost heard Peter’s message and asked Peter what they should do, did Peter say, “Now, repeat this prayer after me, or one like it, and you will be saved”? No, Peter said in Acts 2:38, “Repent, and each one of you be baptized…” Now, repentance, if I remember correctly is a turning around. You are going the wrong way and turn around to follow the right way. It is a life change.

Should a “sinners prayer” be the defining mark of when a person becomes a believer (or saved)?

Just a thought running through my mind. Comments are welcome.

RevJP · Moderator Joined: 18 Apr 2003 Posts: 6661 Location: USA

Seems to me the 'sinners prayer' is wrapped up in a few concepts and misconceptions.

The concepts:

Mat 10:32 Therefore, everyone who acknowledges Me before men and confesses Me [out of a state of oneness with Me], I will also acknowledge him before My Father Who is in heaven and confess [that I am abiding in] him.

Luk 12:8 And I tell you, Whoever declares openly [speaking out freely] and confesses that he is My worshiper and acknowledges Me before men, the Son of Man also will declare and confess and acknowledge him before the angels of God.

This is an abiding aspect of the 'sinners prayer' the confession of sin and being a sinner.

Act 8:37 And Philip said, If you believe with all your heart [if you have a conviction, full of joyful trust, that Jesus is the Messiah and accept Him as the Author of your salvation in the kingdom of God, giving Him your obedience, then] you may. And he replied, I do believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.

The confession of Christ Jesus as the Son of God and savior - another abiding aspect of the 'sinners prayer'.

Rom 10:9-11 Because if you acknowledge and confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and in your heart believe (adhere to, trust in, and rely on the truth) that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. (10) For with the heart a person believes (adheres to, trusts in, and relies on Christ) and so is justified (declared righteous, acceptable to God), and with the mouth he confesses (declares openly and speaks out freely his faith) and confirms [his] salvation. (11) The Scripture says, No man who believes in Him [who adheres to, relies on, and trusts in Him] will [ever] be put to shame or be disappointed. [Ps. 34:22; Isa. 28:16; 49:23; Jer. 17:7.]

1Co 12:3 Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking under the power and influence of the [Holy] Spirit of God can [ever] say, Jesus be cursed! And no one can [really] say, Jesus is [my] Lord, except by and under the power and influence of the Holy Spirit.

1Jn 1:8-10 If we say we have no sin [refusing to admit that we are sinners], we delude and lead ourselves astray, and the Truth [which the Gospel presents] is not in us [does not dwell in our hearts]. (9) If we [freely] admit that we have sinned and confess our sins, He is faithful and just (true to His own nature and promises) and will forgive our sins [dismiss our lawlessness] and [continuously] cleanse us from all unrighteousness [everything not in conformity to His will in purpose, thought, and action]. (10) If we say (claim) we have not sinned, we contradict His Word and make Him out to be false and a liar, and His Word is not in us [the divine message of the Gospel is not in our hearts].

This then is the culmination, or summary, of that which is in the 'sinners prayer' - admission of sin, of being a sinner, confession of belief in Christ Jesus as Lord and Savior, and asking forgiveness for our sins.

Here is the misconception:

Accepting Christ into one's heart. This certainly smacks of Armenian doctrine which has plagued evangelical teachings. The idea that justification and sanctification is a joint effort between man and our sovereign God simply is not biblical.