Is the “Sinner’s Prayer” in the Bible?

Beckworth · Jul 17, 2019

No. There is no such thing as saying a sinner’s prayer to be saved in the Bible. This is a commandment of men. Matthew 15:9 says they were teaching FOR DOCTRINE the commandments of men. And their worship was vain or useless I affirm that saying a sinner’s prayer to be saved is vain totally useless. (Also see Mark7:7) Mark 7:8 says they were laying aside the commandments of God and holding on to the traditions of men.

When the Jews in Acts 2 asked Peter “what shall we do?” Did he tell them to say a “sinner’s prayer”?

When the Ethiopian Eunuch said “Here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?” Did Philip say, oh there’s no need to be baptized. Just accept Jesus in your heart and say the “sinner’s prayer?

When Cornelius said,we are here to hear all the things commanded you by God, did Peter say anything about a sinner’s prayer in the things he told him?

When Saul of Tarsus (later Paul) saw Jesus on the road to Damascus and asked, what do you want me to do, Lord? Did Jesus say just believe in me and say the sinner’s prayer? Acts 9

Did anybody say anything about a sinner’s prayer anywhere in the Bible? No

The closest thing to a sinner’s prayer that you will find in the New Testament is in Acts 8 in the story of Simon the sorcerer. And he was already a baptized believer when he was told to repent and pray God after he had sinned. This was never practiced to become a Christian.

Beware! Jesus said every plant that my Heavenly Father has not planted shall be rooted up. This is another one of Satan’s Lies. Do not be deceived.

p_rehbein · Jul 17, 2019

the actual words that I have seen published from time to time are surely not in the Bible. Nor are they required for one to have their sins forgiven. It is something someone thought up that would be a simple way to teach one seeking Christ to pray I suppose. But, it IS NOT Biblical, other than it is asking for forgiveness.

There are no specific words needed to be spoken when one is seriously seeking Christ......

anyway........

Beckworth · Jul 17, 2019

p_rehbein said:

No one in the Bible who was seeking Christ was ever told to pray-anything- to be saved. That was not how people in the New Testament were saved.

The Apostle Paul (Saul) saw Jesus on the road to Damascus. Even talked to him. That would surely count as a “religious experience” wouldn’t it?

He BELIEVED. on the road to Damascus. Yet when he asked Jesus what he should do, Jesus did not say, just accept me into your heart, or just say a prayer (sinner’s prayer”), or you don’t have to do anything, you are already saved because you believe. Please take note that these are all answers that MEN give to that question to people today but these are NOT Jesus's answer. Jesus said for him to go into the city and it will be told you what you MUST do. There were some things he HAD to do but none of those other things were the right answer.

So what did Saul DO? He prayed for 3 days with fasting. Surely he was repenting. I know he was sorry for all he had done in persecuting the followers of Christ.

Finally, after 3 days Anninias came to him and said, ...what are you waiting for? Arise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord. Acts 22:16

So faith alone did not save him, he still had his sins. Repentance by itself did not save him, he still had his sins. His sins were washed away only when he had fulfilled Mark 16:16, believed and was baptized. Baptism was the final act. These were the things Jesus told Saul he “Must” do.

He was not saved by a religious experience, prayer or faith only. Read it for yourself!! The people of Thessolonica were noble or fair minded because they searched the scriptures to see if those things are true. Search the scriptures to see how people in the Bible were really saved. For your souls sake, make sure you are saved the same way they were.

Waggles · Jul 17, 2019

Beckworth said:

Oh you are a glutton for punishment !!
Posting such truth in the Bible "Discussion" Forum will bring upon you the usual gang of doctrinal thugs who make it their
noble purpose to trash all who oppose their populist faith only versions of salvation.
Some even are in opposition to miracles and healing and the power of God made manifest in a disciple's life.
The constant dumbing down of Christian doctrine has now resulted in so many perverse gospels and ministries that pay
scant submission to the Word of God.

But nevertheless the truth as to how can I be saved with assurance is
Acts 2:38

it is what Jesus preached to bring believers to
it is the narrative of Acts
it is the teaching of the epistles

Off123123123 · Jul 17, 2019

I get that acting like a prayer is an automatic in, is potentially highly deceptive. But I also think it's silly to pooh pooh the very idea of a sinner's prayer.

Scripture does say at some point in time a Christian will confess with their mouth, believe in their heart, and call on the name of the Lord.

What do you call it when you call upon God, believe and confess? Yeah probably a prayer of a sinner asking to be saved.

Romans 10

8 But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim);9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.11 For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.”12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. 13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

p_rehbein · Jul 17, 2019

Oh, goodness, shoulda known this would turn into a baptism required for the forgiveness of sin thread.......sigh

Beckworth · Jul 17, 2019

Off123123123 said:

Matt 10:32 and Romans 10:10. What is the sinner confessing in these scriptures? Not that he is a sinner and wants to be saved. No. If you confess with your mouth the Lord ,Jesus”. That is talking about confessing your FAITH IN Jesus, not asking for forgiveness and salvation. We have a divinely approved example of the kind of confession God was talking about in those scriptures in Acts 8:37 where the Eunuch “confessed” Christ just before his baptism. This is the plan of salvation as the Bible teaches it but it is not taught this way by men. There is no way this comes even close to a sinner’s prayer as it is taught today.

What does “calling on the name of the Lord “ mean? Matthew 7:21 says “Not everyone that says Lord, Lord will enter the kingdom of heaven.” So please don’t say all you have to do is call on his name. People in Matthew 7 were doing just that but they were turned away. So how are these people saved? They are the ones who DO THE WILL OF God. As Paul did in Acts 22:16 when he was baptized to wash away his sins. The scripture plainly states that he was calling on the name of the Lord when he did this. Don’t listen to mans feeble attempts to “explain away” this. Let the Bible explain itself. It plainly tell you what that phrase means.

eternally-gratefull · Jul 17, 2019

Exit stage left. Another blasphemer trying to replace the baptism of the spirit by the hands of God, with the baptism in water by the hands of man.

notuptome · Jul 17, 2019

I do not see the point of contesting a sinner asking Jesus for forgiveness of their sin? What is to be gained and how does it edify?

Jesus said to believe on Him and be forgiven all your sins. What did the malefactor on the cross say to be told he would be with Jesus in the kingdom?

An accusation made but no remedy supplied. Perhaps the OP will inform all us ignorant souls how to be saved. Nah too much to hope for without a doubt.

For the cause of Christ
Roger

Beckworth · Jul 17, 2019

p_rehbein said:

Nothing wrong with that if that is what the Bible teaches. Study the scriptures to see if these things are so. Acts 17:11

Beckworth · Jul 17, 2019

eternally-gratefull said:

That may sound good but is not proof of anything.

Waggles · Jul 17, 2019

Off123123123 said:

Romans 10 is not the gospel, nor is it another gospel ...
Romans 10 is a summary of the previous 9 chapters of doctrine and follows Paul's great chapter on water baptism [Romans 6]
and of course the chapter on Holy Spirit baptism and walking in the Spirit [Romans 8]
having believed and done all of the previous then a disciple is in a position as a true believer to call on the name of the Lord
because they have heard the word of God (the true gospel) preached to them and obeyed.

Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says “Jesus is accursed!” and no one can say
“Jesus is Lord” except in the Holy Spirit.
1Corinthians 12:3
and this verse explains the meaning of the often quoted verses of Romans 10
for only the Spirit-filled Christian who is born from above by water and by Spirit can call Jesus their Lord.
again confirmed in
You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.
Romans 8:9

Waggles · Jul 17, 2019

p_rehbein said:

This is the problem is it not
the NT teaches clearly the need for water baptism.
The Apostles and all disciples were water baptised by full immersion.
Water baptism has been a part of Christian doctrine and practice from the beginning.
So what has changed that people think they do not need water baptism these days?
The word of God has not changed?
The teachings of the NT have not changed?

So where does this heresy come from?

tourist · Jul 17, 2019

p_rehbein said:

the actual words that I have seen published from time to time are surely not in the Bible. Nor are they required for one to have their sins forgiven. It is something someone thought up that would be a simple way to teach one seeking Christ to pray I suppose. But, it IS NOT Biblical, other than it is asking for forgiveness.

There are no specific words needed to be spoken when one is seriously seeking Christ......

anyway........

I just said that I was a sinner and that I was sorry.

tourist · Jul 17, 2019

Beckworth said:

Yet, Jesus himself baptized no one. Healed a few peeps though. Died for our sins. That's sufficient.

Waggles · Jul 17, 2019

Seems that much of what passes for Christian life and faith these days has been dumbed down to praise and worship
no sound doctrine no standing on the word of God

Waggles · Jul 17, 2019

tourist said:

Jesus who as God underwent water baptism to fulfill all righteousness
and to show to his disciples the pattern of how things must be done

water baptism is fundamental to Christian doctrine and obedience.
so also is Holy Spirit baptism (and yes the sign is speaking in tongues; praying in the Holy Spirit)

tourist · Jul 17, 2019

Beckworth said:

No one in the Bible who was seeking Christ was ever told to pray-anything- to be saved. That was not how people in the New Testament were saved.

The Apostle Paul (Saul) saw Jesus on the road to Damascus. Even talked to him. That would surely count as a “religious experience” wouldn’t it?

He BELIEVED. on the road to Damascus. Yet when he asked Jesus what he should do, Jesus did not say, just accept me into your heart, or just say a prayer (sinner’s prayer”), or you don’t have to do anything, you are already saved because you believe. Please take note that these are all answers that MEN give to that question to people today but these are NOT Jesus's answer. Jesus said for him to go into the city and it will be told you what you MUST do. There were some things he HAD to do but none of those other things were the right answer.

So what did Saul DO? He prayed for 3 days with fasting. Surely he was repenting. I know he was sorry for all he had done in persecuting the followers of Christ.

Finally, after 3 days Anninias came to him and said, ...what are you waiting for? Arise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord. Acts 22:16

So faith alone did not save him, he still had his sins. Repentance by itself did not save him, he still had his sins. His sins were washed away only when he had fulfilled Mark 16:16, believed and was baptized. Baptism was the final act. These were the things Jesus told Saul he “Must” do.

He was not saved by a religious experience, prayer or faith only. Read it for yourself!! The people of Thessolonica were noble or fair minded because they searched the scriptures to see if those things are true. Search the scriptures to see how people in the Bible were really saved. For your souls sake, make sure you are saved the same way they were.

John said the he baptizes with water but the one that is coming after him will baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire. I believe that the baptism that John performed was a type to the superior baptism that was to come. Thief on the cross to the right of Jesus was not baptized with water and he made out OK. Something about being with Jesus in paradise.

tourist · Jul 17, 2019

Off123123123 said:

I get that acting like a prayer is an automatic in, is potentially highly deceptive. But I also think it's silly to pooh pooh the very idea of a sinner's prayer.

Scripture does say at some point in time a Christian will confess with their mouth, believe in their heart, and call on the name of the Lord.

What do you call it when you call upon God, believe and confess? Yeah probably a prayer of a sinner asking to be saved.

Romans 10

8 But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim);9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.11 For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.”12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. 13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

I agree that this sounds like a sinners prayer.

tourist · Jul 17, 2019

Waggles said:

This is the problem is it not
the NT teaches clearly the need for water baptism.
The Apostles and all disciples were water baptised by full immersion.
Water baptism has been a part of Christian doctrine and practice from the beginning.
So what has changed that people think they do not need water baptism these days?
The word of God has not changed?
The teachings of the NT have not changed?

So where does this heresy come from?

Where in the bible does it state that the Apostles were baptized?

Is the “Sinner’s Prayer” in the Bible?

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