is the sinners prayer always effective?

[follower]

Those who crucified Jesus had a moment of awakening in Acts 2. Their heart was pricked because they realized their sin. Upon this realization they cry out "What must we do to be saved?". Peter replied, repent and be baptized for the forgiveness of your sins and you shall be saved.
We've strayed a long way from how the Bible would give us guidance. .....Considering Jesus started his ministry with his baptism, and he commands us to baptize, we ought to just do what Jesus did, and what he's told us to do.

 

[Jethro Bodine]

Except that I think the OP was asking if a certain ritualistic performance "worked".... as in, and of itself, had some power to DO something........ BECAUSE, he asked if it (THE Sinner's Prayer) "worked every time".

The OP is ambiguous. He's talking about the sinner's prayer being effective if the person coming forward has strong or weak faith, or none at all. But who walks the aisle to salvation without some measure of faith to do that much?

I've come to the conclusion that God will forgive anyone who asks. I've moved away from the popular thinking that God may, or may not have forgiven the person who asks, and that we never really know until later. Instead, it's a matter of the quality of faith the person has, and whether it is strong, or weak, the extent of which becoming evident afterwards. I don't think it's a matter of the presence, or absence of faith altogether for the person who approaches God for salvation.

In the parable of the unmerciful servant (a favorite of so many in this forum ) the dude was forgiven simply because he begged for mercy. And, we see to what depth the forgiveness he received impacted him by how he acted afterward. Also, we see a flaw in his asking (he wanted time to pay back the debt), but he was forgiven, nonetheless. The point being, in the kingdom, God does not withhold forgiveness from those who beg him for mercy. The condition of the soil that received that forgiveness is what is in question and what determines whether what was received results in salvation, or not.

 

[follower]

there's several instances in the N.T. when hypocrites were turned away instead of granted what they came for.
john the immerser proclaimed against hypocrites who came to be immersed instead of immersing them,
Yeshua not only declared a woe to hypocrites (a woe is very very bad)
but Yeshua also got ANGRY at their hardness of heart.
the apostles rejected the request of simon the magician, and remember what happened to ananias and saphira ..... ....
and Yhvh says plainly that He does not even hear the prayer of someone who wants to keep on sinning....

so, ... ... ...

 

[Jethro Bodine]

there's several instances in the N.T. when hypocrites were turned away instead of granted what they came for.
john the immerser proclaimed against hypocrites who came to be immersed instead of immersing them,
Yeshua not only declared a woe to hypocrites (a woe is very very bad)
but Yeshua also got ANGRY at their hardness of heart.
the apostles rejected the request of simon the magician, and remember what happened to ananias and saphira ..... ....
and Yhvh says plainly that He does not even hear the prayer of someone who wants to keep on sinning....

so, ... ... ...

Simon was exactly who I had in mind. He did not come for salvation, but for the power of the Holy Spirit. We don't know what's up with the others, but I think there's enough evidence of how this works in the Bible to know they were not coming for salvation.

 

[Jethro Bodine]

What about people like Paul who did what he did not want to do, and what he want to do, he do not do?. But his intentions were good.?

To be honest, i think it would be very hard to find a blameless upright person.

Key: WANTS to KEEP ON sinning.

 

[Jethro Bodine]

yes i know, re read the post above.

Did you add to your post, or are my over fifty eyes letting me down again?

 

[Jethro Bodine]

I added, re-read the next second post above again.

You post to quick. To fast. Sometimes i will post something then a minuite later add to it or edit if i think of something or found mistake, but i already get quoted.

I hate when that happens.

In this forum.

Because I wonder if anyone reads my post again to see it.

I have enough trouble getting them to read it the first time.

And in my frustration I know that you have only read the first line of this post, and none of these edits I've added.

Don't worry about me I'll be fine....

I'm used to it.

Nobody can hear you scream in space.

 

[Jethro Bodine]

You post to quick. To fast.

No, you edit to slow.

 

[Jethro Bodine]

We agree to disagree.

No, you don't get out of it that easy. Meet me in the One-on-One and prepare to meet thy maker!

(Whoa, Jethro, have a snickers bar, you're not in the Theology folder!)

 

[follower]

just post truth. what Abba says. what is in line with all of Scripture and contradicts no Scripture.
it doesn't matter if anyone reads it. (like Yhvh told the prophets, proclaim what I tell you to - then their blood is on their hands and not yours if they don't repent. but if you don't tell them to stop sinning, then their sin is on your hands ... ... ) (seems that truth is rejected, not accepted by sinners who don't want to repent , who don't seek Yhvh, and who pretend to be religious, people who accept sin and such)