Bulletin
The Sinners’ Prayer
The Sinners’ Prayer
Getting salvation wrong is a big deal. There have been many in this decade who are questioning the use of the sinners prayer among the denominations. Let me be clear, I am not endorsing this book by J.D. Greear. He and many others in this internet article & book are questioning their previous habit of stopping people randomly, and asking them to say the sinners prayer with them. They now are raising the question, “is this sinner’s prayer found in the Bible”? They are surprised not to find it there! (February 1, 2013) [http://thewartburgwatch.com/2018/06/22/is-the-sinners-prayer-unbiblical] To be almost saved is lost. Did Jesus teach the sinners prayer? Did Paul or Peter teach this prayer? No.
So instead of almost getting salvation right, let’s get it right and quote him accurately. Jesus did say, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you… (Matthew 28:19-20). He didn’t send them out praying with people to save people! Jesus wants people to become disciples. This is done when Jesus is preached & practiced. Then people believe and are baptized. Then taught “all” his commandments. This cannot be reduced to a prayer. People want fast-food restaurants, but there is no such thing as a fast-prayer discipleship program. They have eliminated discipleship, baptism, and church for a
single prayer. It is in church where we are often trained about all the other commands of Jesus, including baptism, Lord’s supper, and the need for a godly life, forgiveness, etc. etc. But, of course, church is not needed when a single prayer will do!
Jesus trained his apostles for about three years while they were with him, nearly all the time - yet He was not finished with them. Can you reduce discipleship to a single prayer? No.
On the day the church began, they heard a sermon by Peter and the other apostles. And in that sermon, Peter persuaded them to believe that Jesus was their messiah “… that God has made Him both Lord and Christ—this Jesus whom you crucified.” (Acts 2:36). So surprised, shocked and terrified by this, they wondered what they should do to be saved. ”Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “ Brothers, what are we to do?”Peter said to them, “ Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” Peter didn’t say with them “the sinners prayer”. Rather said for them to “repent”/change their hearts/minds, & be baptized. So let’s get salvation right! Dan Peters
- Sinners_Prayer_.docx (9.39 kB)
