Articles
The Sinner's Prayer
In this world today, we see many denominations scattered around the world that seem to have a different approach to what they call the sinner’s prayer. The prayer is commonly promoted at the end of a service as an avenue to salvation, which the person is asked to repeat. The assurance is given that if one says the words sincerely and one trusts in God, all will be forgiven and God will save that individual. We must ask the questions “What is in the Prayer? Is there anything else I should do? What does the bible say?”
Here is a simple and short Sinner’s Prayer taken from Wikipedia:
Dear Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner, and I ask Your forgiveness. I believe You died for my sins and rose from the dead. I turn from my sins and invite You to come into my heart and life. I want to trust and follow You as my Lord and Savior.
First, what is in this prayer is “Faith” For with out faith it is impossible to please him... Hebrews 11:6, and the only way to receive faith is by hearing the word of God... Romans 10:17. Acts 8:37”... If you believe with all your heart, it is lawful.” And he answered and said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.” Though this prayer does not contain these words, I have seen others that do.
Some denominations say that all baptism “is just an outward sign of an inward change” but according to Mark 16:16 “He who believes and is baptized will be saved”... Acts 2:38 “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins...., Galatians 3:27 “For as many as were baptized into Christ, you put on Christ. Rom 6:3 Do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into His death? Rom 6:4 Therefore we were buried with Him by baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father; even so we also should walk in newness of life.
Our Saviour died and shed His own blood for our sins, was laid into the tomb and was risen from the dead to assend to heaven to be our Saviour and King. We all are dead, spiritually dead to Christ. Through baptism we come in contact with Christ’s blood while in the watery grave to rise out of the grave to a new life.
Baptism is not an outward sign, it is the act of obeying His word, After Christ rose from the grave while speaking to His apostles Matthew 28:19 Therefore go and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
So we must conclude hearing, believing, confessing and baptism are all necessary to be saved and being faithful until death to receive a crown of life. Revelation 2:10
