The Sinner's Prayer

[Sam]

This article about “The Sinner’s Prayer” is found at
 http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/...=2012#comments

The Evangelical Jesus Prayer

It's not perfect, but the Sinner's Prayer is a work of genius.
A Christianity Today Editorial

Southern Baptists—of all people!—recently debated the propriety of the Sinner's Prayer—of all things! What's the world coming to when we can't even count on Baptists to unswervingly defend the faith once delivered to the saints?

They eventually affirmed the Sinner's Prayer by a strong majority, but not without a fight. Yet the Baptist naysayers are not alone; the Sinner's Prayer has recently been suspect in influential evangelical circles.

The Sinner's Prayer rose from the mist of evangelical revivalism, and is in many ways a work of genius, as brilliant as the simple formulations of Martin Luther (Sola fide! Sola Scriptura!). It comes in many flavors, but it generally contains two elements: repentance for sin and trust in Christ's redemptive work at the Cross for forgiveness.

The Sinner's Prayer, in short, summarizes the gospel that so many desperately long for.

The prayer assumes absolute dependence on God's grace (we do not "cooperate" with grace); trust in Christ's lordship ("accepting Jesus as Lord and Savior"); and union with Christ (as in, "inviting Christ into my heart"). Some versions are theologically better than others, and there are often more felicitous ways to express its truths. But if we recognize that the Sinner's Prayer is not systematic theology but a heartfelt expression of faith in Christ, we needn't quibble.

The prayer at the end of the classic Four Spiritual Laws is as good an example as any:
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.

The Sinner's Prayer, in short, summarizes the gospel that so many desperately long for. It gives people a concrete and simple way to respond to the Good News and appropriate the grace of God. So what's the problem?


Some scholars rightly remind us that the gospel is ultimately about the Messiah Jesus fulfilling the covenantal requirements of Israel, thus ensuring the redemption of Israel and the whole world. Yes! But this sweeping view is appreciated mainly by theologians or those mature in the faith. Most people live with all manner of personal crises, the greatest being an abiding guilt and shame. They wander this earth as sojourners without hope, salving their souls' wounds with the balm of material entertainments. Their profound need is addressed by this simple prayer.

From some pastors, we hear frustration with those who say the Sinner's Prayer, "get saved," and never darken the doors of a church again. To be churchless or "undiscipled" is not a good thing. Still, we may ask whether churches that complain like this should first take the log out of their own eye, and examine whether they are truly loving—and not haranguing—the very people who should be predisposed to attend worship.

Some people worry that the Sinner's Prayer fails in its purpose, because some say it many times as they periodically repent of "backsliding." Well, of course. In fact, the Sinner's Prayer might be said every morning as we get out of bed and every night as we climb back in. The Sinner's Prayer is not just the electro-shock machine to resuscitate the dead, but an oxygen machine that keeps us going and going. This is a staple of Eastern Orthodox spirituality, which encourages daily, hourly, and even breath-by-breath use of their Sinner's Prayer, "the Jesus Prayer": "Lord Jesus Christ, son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner."

[Michael The Disciple]

The sinners prayer is a good place to start. It is THE place to start. But obviously it in itself is not the new birth.

[Dordrecht]

Originally Posted by Michael The Disciple

The sinners prayer is a good place to start. It is THE place to start. But obviously it in itself is not the new birth.

Why not?

[trialedbyfire]

Originally Posted by Sam

This article about “The Sinner’s Prayer” is found at
 http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/...=2012#comments

The Evangelical Jesus Prayer

It's not perfect, but the Sinner's Prayer is a work of genius.
A Christianity Today Editorial

Southern Baptists—of all people!—recently debated the propriety of the Sinner's Prayer—of all things! What's the world coming to when we can't even count on Baptists to unswervingly defend the faith once delivered to the saints?

They eventually affirmed the Sinner's Prayer by a strong majority, but not without a fight. Yet the Baptist naysayers are not alone; the Sinner's Prayer has recently been suspect in influential evangelical circles.

The Sinner's Prayer rose from the mist of evangelical revivalism, and is in many ways a work of genius, as brilliant as the simple formulations of Martin Luther (Sola fide! Sola Scriptura!). It comes in many flavors, but it generally contains two elements: repentance for sin and trust in Christ's redemptive work at the Cross for forgiveness.

The Sinner's Prayer, in short, summarizes the gospel that so many desperately long for.

The prayer assumes absolute dependence on God's grace (we do not "cooperate" with grace); trust in Christ's lordship ("accepting Jesus as Lord and Savior"); and union with Christ (as in, "inviting Christ into my heart"). Some versions are theologically better than others, and there are often more felicitous ways to express its truths. But if we recognize that the Sinner's Prayer is not systematic theology but a heartfelt expression of faith in Christ, we needn't quibble.

The prayer at the end of the classic Four Spiritual Laws is as good an example as any:
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.

The Sinner's Prayer, in short, summarizes the gospel that so many desperately long for. It gives people a concrete and simple way to respond to the Good News and appropriate the grace of God. So what's the problem?


Some scholars rightly remind us that the gospel is ultimately about the Messiah Jesus fulfilling the covenantal requirements of Israel, thus ensuring the redemption of Israel and the whole world. Yes! But this sweeping view is appreciated mainly by theologians or those mature in the faith. Most people live with all manner of personal crises, the greatest being an abiding guilt and shame. They wander this earth as sojourners without hope, salving their souls' wounds with the balm of material entertainments. Their profound need is addressed by this simple prayer.

From some pastors, we hear frustration with those who say the Sinner's Prayer, "get saved," and never darken the doors of a church again. To be churchless or "undiscipled" is not a good thing. Still, we may ask whether churches that complain like this should first take the log out of their own eye, and examine whether they are truly loving—and not haranguing—the very people who should be predisposed to attend worship.

Some people worry that the Sinner's Prayer fails in its purpose, because some say it many times as they periodically repent of "backsliding." Well, of course. In fact, the Sinner's Prayer might be said every morning as we get out of bed and every night as we climb back in. The Sinner's Prayer is not just the electro-shock machine to resuscitate the dead, but an oxygen machine that keeps us going and going. This is a staple of Eastern Orthodox spirituality, which encourages daily, hourly, and even breath-by-breath use of their Sinner's Prayer, "the Jesus Prayer": "Lord Jesus Christ, son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner."

There's twelve thousand variation of "sinners prayers"... maybe the Southern Baptists should decide which one they believe is most Biblical...

[trialedbyfire]

Originally Posted by Dordrecht

Why not?

If it was we'd have to determine whether it was the birth of the water or the birth of the spirit... or both...

"Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:" Matthew 28:19

I wonder why that doesn't say teach all nations and lead them in the sinners prayer?

[Sam]

Originally Posted by trialedbyfire

If it was we'd have to determine whether it was the birth of the water or the birth of the spirit... or both...

"Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:" Matthew 28:19

I wonder why that doesn't say teach all nations and lead them in the sinners prayer?

Well, we've all been born of water. That's our first birth that put us into the human family. When Nicodemus heard the term "born again" he was confused and asked how a person could be born when he was old and then asked if he could re-enter his mother's womb and be born again. Jesus clarified it by saying that we each were born of the flesh but have to be born of the Spirit. That first birth --the birth of water-- is not enough (the Jews thought they were in God's kingdom by their physical birth), we must be born of God's Spirit.

The "Sinner's Prayer" in its many variations is just following the example of the prayer in Luke 18:13 which Jesus said resulted in justification (just as if I'd never sinned) for the person who prayed it.

In Romans 10:9-13 the Apostle Paul taught that if a person believes in Jesus, confesses Him as Lord and calls on His name, that person is saved.

Ephesians 1:13 tells us that when we believed in Jesus we were sealed by His Holy Spirit and identified as one of His own.
"And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit," (NIV)
"And now you Gentiles have also heard the truth, the Good News that God saves you. And when you believed in Christ, he identified you as his own by giving you the Holy Spirit, whom he promised long ago" (NLT)
"In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, " (NKJV)

These are just commentary on what we some times call "The Sinner's Prayer" but there is no set "formula" for the prayer. It is just a person calling on Jesus to save him. If the person did not believe that Jesus was alive or risen from the dead, he would not call on Him.

[Michael The Disciple]

Ephesians 1:13 tells us that when we believed in Jesus we were sealed by His Holy Spirit and identified as one of His own.
"And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit," (NIV)

Protestant Theology fails to understand this very major reference point.

The very same Ephesians Paul wrote these scriptures to had been brought to receiving the Holy Spirit BY PAUL HIMSELF. We have their testimony recorded in Acts 19.

Please compare their testimony here as to receiving the Holy Spirit with Pauls statement about being sealed with the Holy Spirit when they believed.

Acts 19:1-6

1 And it came to pass , that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples, 2 He said unto them , Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed ? And they said unto him , We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost. 3 And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized ? And they said , Unto John's baptism. 4 Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is , on Christ Jesus. 5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.

So when Paul said they were sealed with the Spirit after they believed we can see EXACTLY what he was talking about. Since they experienced it (Acts 19) that was their point of reference.

The baptism of the Holy Ghost.

Their testimony includes BOTH the water and the Spirit. Just what Jesus said. John 3:5

Protestant theology blinds people from making this connection.

[Dordrecht]

There's twelve thousand variation of "sinners prayers"...

I believe the Lord knows which ones are sincere.

Romans 10:9-13

9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.

13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

[Sam]

Originally Posted by Michael The Disciple

Protestant Theology fails to understand this very major reference point.

The very same Ephesians Paul wrote these scriptures to had been brought to receiving the Holy Spirit BY PAUL HIMSELF. We have their testimony recorded in Acts 19.

Please compare their testimony here as to receiving the Holy Spirit with Pauls statement about being sealed with the Holy Spirit when they believed.

Acts 19:1-6

1 And it came to pass , that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples, 2 He said unto them , Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed ? And they said unto him , We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost. 3 And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized ? And they said , Unto John's baptism. 4 Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is , on Christ Jesus. 5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.

So when Paul said they were sealed with the Spirit after they believed we can see EXACTLY what he was talking about. Since they experienced it (Acts 19) that was their point of reference.

The baptism of the Holy Ghost.

Their testimony includes BOTH the water and the Spirit. Just what Jesus said. John 3:5

Protestant theology blinds people from making this connection.

We just have different opinions on this.

In my opinion when Paul encountered those Baptists in Acts 19, he proclaimed the Gospel to them. Then, after they received his message and were converted he baptized them in water and laid hands upon them and ministered the Holy Ghost Baptism to them. In my opinion, at the moment of their salvation or regeneration or justification experience they were saved from sin and cleansed by the blood of Jesus; born into the family of God; passed from death unto life; were baptized/placed into the Body of Christ by the Holy Spirit; went from the kingdom of darkness into the Kingdom of God. Then they were baptized in water which quickly followed conversion in some of the accounts in the Book of Acts. Through the laying on of hands they Holy Spirit came upon them, or fell upon them, or filled them, or empowered them.

It is my understanding that Acts 19:1-7 happened around October AD 53 and the book of Ephesians was written while Paul was under house arrest in Rome during the years 60 and 61 AD as recorded in Acts 28. Some of the original group of those whose experience was recorded in Acts 19:1-7 may have still been part of the assembly in Ephesus which received Paul's letter known to us today as the NT book of Ephesians. It is my opinion that the "sealing" by the Holy Spirit referenced in Ephesians 1:13 and the "one baptism" referenced in Ephesians 4:5 refers to their salvation experience which would have been followed by their baptism in water and their baptism in the Spirit.