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The "Sinner's Prayer?" By: Gary Colley
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The "Sinner's Prayer?" By: Gary Colley
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Millions of tracts have been distributed in hospitals, restaurants, etc., with some version of "the sinner's prayer." There are many differing versions, since this "prayer" is man-made and is not to be found in the Bible. The Bible makes it very clear that prayer is the privilege of Christians, not alien sinners (Matthew 6:9, I Peter 3:12). God has no children out of His family, who can rightfully call him Father. One must be "in Christ" to be called a son or daughter of God. To be in Christ means to be in His church or body (II Corinthians 6:17-18, Ephesians 1:22-23, Colossians 1:18). All must enter into Christ in the same way, by faith, repentance, confession, and baptism, but not prayer
(John 8:24, Luke 13:3, Matthew 10:32-33, Mark 15:15-16). The first thing a sinner needs to do is not pray, but obey (Hebrews 5:8-9). Yet, there are some religious folks who do not enforce God's desires for all men to be saved in His appointed way (I Timothy 2:4). It gives the lost a false security to think they are saved by merely saying,"Lord Jesus, I believe you are the Son of God and that you died on the cross for my sins to save me from eternal death. I open the door of my life and receive you as my Savior and Lord. I give you my life. Help me to be what you want me to be. Amen."Peter, by the Holy Spirit's guidance, told lost souls on Pentecost to obey, rather than pray
(Acts 2:38). What Peter said then and what men say today does not match. Peter is right, men are wrong. Upon the command to "repent and be baptized" for their salvation, the Bible says they that "gladly received the word were baptized" and the Lord added them to the church (Acts 2:41,
Acts 2:47). They then continued steadfastly in prayer (Acts 2:42). The Bible says: God hears not sinners (John 9:31), He is far from the wicked (Proverbs 15:9), the sinners prayer is an abomination (Proverbs 28:9), and that the face of the Lord is against evil doers (Psalms 34:16, I Peter 3:12). We hope that these thoughts will encourage men to come into Christ, His church, where they may have the blessing of prayer.