The sinners prayer

[for_his_glory]

Traditional Sinners Prayer:

"Heavenly Father, have mercy on me, a sinner. I believe in you and that your word is true. I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of the living God and that he died on the cross so that I may now have forgiveness for my sins and eternal life. I know that without you in my heart my life is meaningless.

I believe in my heart that you, Lord God, raised Him from the dead. Please Jesus forgive me, for every sin I have ever committed or done in my heart, please Lord Jesus forgive me and come into my heart as my personal Lord and Savior today. I need you to be my Father and my friend.

I give you my life and ask you to take full control from this moment on; I pray this in the name of Jesus Christ."

Amen.

I repeated this prayer back in 1972 when I was seventeen because I was told if I did not receive Jesus as Lord and Savior I would go to hell. Kinda a scare tactic more than anything at that time as I had no knowledge of what Salvation even meant. I went to Sunday school when I was a kid and heard all the nice stories about Jesus, but the church I attended never taught Salvation or being baptized in the Holy Spirit. I repeated this prayer as the Pastor lead the congregation into it. I truly thought I was saved after repeating this prayer, but it was not a hearts condition, but a thought condition of not wanting to go to hell.

For years I was playing the part of being a Christian (even though I didn't know it), but yet always felt like I was missing something as I never truly felt the joy and excitement outside of the church service. I don't know if I was truly saved or not after repeating (mouthing) that prayer and my life outside of the church became a living hell for many years as my faith was very weak even though I believed in Jesus, but yet having very little knowledge of Gods mercy and grace. It wasn't until 1997 that I had what I like to call my Damascus Road experience that in the despair of my heart I literally fell on the ground and reached out to Jesus as I laid there giving Him all of my burden. It wasn't until I became quiet that I literally heard a voice speak to me and at that moment I was indwelled with the Holy Spirit. I then learned that prayer is just talking to Jesus like you would talk to your best friend for that is who He is as Jesus just wants to sit and have fellowship with us.

The sinners prayer, not the prayer itself, but what this prayer speaks to the heart is a good start, but if there is no Spiritual follow through then this prayer is just empty words.

 

[for_his_glory]

imo it is very essential to 1. talk with the person at the moment they come to the altar. i am not a repeat after me say this prayer . but a couple of scriptures with explanation . 2 the church failure they should have some type discipleship class for all new converts.

I agree that there should be a class taught to new converts instead of saying welcome to the family, now figure it out for yourself. It sure would have saved me a lot of pain and anguish years ago.

 

[Edward]

6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 that the genuineness of your faith,being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, 8 whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, 9 receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls. 1 Peter 1:6-9


This scripture teaches us that the reality of salvation we are hoping for, by faith, we will receive at the end of our faith.

Faith is the substance of the thing we are hoping for [salvation], and the evidence of things not seen [salvation; Jesus Christ]


Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory...

The reality of our salvation, that we are now hoping for, will be received at the end of our faith.

Those who choose to abandon or depart from their faith along the way, through persecution, or the cares of this world, will be lacking the "substance" of the salvation that we who believe and rejoicing are hoping for.

Faith is that divine "substance" of the thing you are hoping for.


No Faith = No Substance
No Substance = No thing you are hoping for.

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1

Faith is a non tangible reality.
Faith is a noun.

Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice...

Believing in this passage is a present tense verb.



JLB

Amen, Brother. Well I have a lot to rejoice about then. Trials, tribulations, people hating me, thorns in the flesh...and more. But see how much scripture is being fulfilled in my life here?! All those are upon my plate, praise the Lord!

I have a lot to look forward to.

 

[JLB]

I agree that there should be a class taught to new converts instead of saying welcome to the family, now figure it out for yourself. It sure would have saved me a lot of pain and anguish years ago.

HUGE Amen to that!!!!

 

[Wrg1405]

agree that there should be a class taught to new converts instead of saying welcome to the family, now figure it out for yourself. It sure would have saved me a lot of pain and anguish years ago.

I think your quote is part of why I posted the question. I really wanted people to think about this.

We have lots of people coming to Christ on this alone. Problem is they never start out with the conviction of their sin and so they think Christ and their sinful lifestyles can coexist.

I think you have hit the nail on the head. However I would say that the initial conviction should be one of unbelief in Jesus, as Jesus said he most go back to the Father so the Holy Spirit would come to convict the world of its sin, which is unbelief in him. When someone repents of that unbelief it should not stop there. If it does then they can think that Christ and their lifestyles can coexist.

As I said earlier

What worries me is that we call people to pray the sinners prayer, they feel good about some things but not bad about other things. When they pray that prayer it's another notch and then we leave them to their own devices as such.

Jesus came to reveal the total sinfulness of human nature and his answer to it. Belief in him, and that we need him in every area of our lives. That goes beyond the sinners prayer and that is what needs to be addressed.

When someone turns to Jesus it doesn't stop there. We then need to make disciples of them.
We need to teach them what Jesus said and requires. Truth is our sinful lifestyle will get in the way but but the aim is to allow Jesus to eradicate our sinful lifestyle and allow him to replace it as he sanctifies us.

Just recently in our church we have started two new groups. One which my wife and I have been asked to lead. It's for non Christians still searching and want to know more. The second group is for those who have now placed their faith in Jesus., a nurture group. Anyone in our group who professes faith in Jesus will go into this group along with those who respond after a service.

Grounding them in the basics of the Christian Faith and what it actually means to be a follower of Jesus.

 

[Cygnus]

what difference does it make. your gnat straining

Perhaps, but I don't think so.

I don't think a sinner can say, you know what Jesus...I think I'll accept you. I thought it was God that calls us. God that draws us. God that enables us to believe. God that regenerates us....

But, I can see how one might think I'm splitting hairs.

 

[Wrg1405]

Perhaps, but I don't think so.

I don't think a sinner can say, you know what Jesus...I think I'll accept you. I thought it was God that calls us. God that draws us. God that enables us to believe. God that regenerates us....

But, I can see how one might think I'm splitting hairs.

I don't necessarily think you are splitting hairs. I agree that a sinner cannot accept Jesus without being convicted by the Holy Spirit. That is why Jesus had to go back to heaven so the Holy Spirt could come to reconcile us to God.

The Holy Spirit works to draw us to God and beleive.

 

[Cygnus]

I don't necessarily think you are splitting hairs. I agree that a sinner cannot accept Jesus without being convicted by the Holy Spirit. That is why Jesus had to go back to heaven so the Holy Spirt could come to reconcile us to God.

The Holy Spirit works to draw us to God and beleive.

Would you say conviction or regeneration comes first? I'm going with regeneration.

 

[JLB]

Would you say conviction or regeneration comes first? I'm going with regeneration.

So you believe a person is first born again, then they are convicted by the Holy Spirit to repent?



JLB

 

[for_his_glory]

Would you say conviction or regeneration comes first? I'm going with regeneration.

Acts 2:37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? 38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

I would say repentance comes first then we are regenerated by the Holy Spirit.

 

[Cygnus]

Acts 2:37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? 38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

I would say repentance comes first then we are regenerated by the Holy Spirit.

I would say you can't even repent unless you're regenerated.

 

[Cygnus]

So you believe a person is first born again, then they are convicted by the Holy Spirit to repent?



JLB

Define repent. I can use it several ways...hpw are you using it?

 

[for_his_glory]

I would say you can't even repent unless you're regenerated.

Actually I was wrong as I would say faith the size of a mustard seed would come first as it takes faith to believe and confess Christ and then regeneration would come as Jesus was teaching Nicodemus that it was a Spiritual rebirth or renewal of our spirit that through Gods spoken word we can reconcile our past sins through repentance to be made sinless before God as God can not hear the prayers of a sinner.

John 9:31 Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshiper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth.

 

[JLB]

Define repent. I can use it several ways...hpw are you using it?

I'm using it in the context of the Gospel message, by which we are born again.

Repent, for the kingdom of God is at hand.

Repent: Turn to God; by turning away from Satan as your lord.

The evidence that this command has been obeyed, is confessing Jesus as Lord with your mouth.


My original question to you: So you believe a person is first born again, then they are convicted by the Holy Spirit to repent?


JLB

 

[Jethro Bodine]

I would say you can't even repent unless you're regenerated.

You can't repent unless you have faith. Faith (knowing something is true that you can't see) hardly equates to salvation. Trusting in what you know to be true through God's gift of faith is what saves.

Most people when they are told the gospel is true (through God's gift of faith operating through the voice of the Holy Spirit in the world) choose to then reject the truth God is giving them the faith to trust in:

"the testimony of God is this, that He has testified concerning His Son. 10The one who believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself; the one who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has given concerning His Son." (1 John 5:9-10 NASB).

Regeneration occurs after you trust in the word of faith given through the ministry of the Holy Spirit.

 

[ezra]

Perhaps, but I don't think so.

I don't think a sinner can say, you know what Jesus...I think I'll accept you. I thought it was God that calls us. God that draws us. God that enables us to believe. God that regenerates us....

But, I can see how one might think I'm splitting hairs.

are you calvinist ?if so i can understand your belief.. when he calls it is up to us to accept by stepping out by faith .

 

[Willie T]

So you believe a person is first born again, then they are convicted by the Holy Spirit to repent?



JLB

Isn't this a bit backwards?

 

[Hospes]

Isn't this a bit backwards?

Not really. If you think about it, how can a person repent until he has faith to believe the truth of the Gospel, his spiritual eyes opened to see his need to repent, and clearly see what to repent from? There is something deeper and prior that results in repentance.

 

[JLB]

Isn't this a bit backwards?

Yes sir, backwards.

First we are convicted by the Spirit, and we repent, then we are born again.

The Gospel of the kingdom of God, is the call for mankind to turn to God and His kingdom, but turning way from Satan, and the kingdom of darkness, so that we are forgiven of our past sins.

The Gospel is the power of God unto salvation.

Here is the account of what the Lord Jesus sent Paul to do: A scriptural example of repent.

16 But rise and stand on your feet; for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to make you a minister and a witness both of the things which you have seen and of the things which I will yet reveal to you. 17 I will deliver you from the Jewish people, as well as from the Gentiles, to whom I now send you, 18 to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.’
Acts 26:16-18



JLB

 

[for_his_glory]

REPENT - change, transform, transfigure, reconsider

How can a sinner know they are sinning unless it is first revealed to them. God draws us to Him by His grace, but faith has to come first as faith leads us to repent and then be baptized in the Holy Spirit as then we are regenerated as becoming made a new creation again that is sinless before the eyes of God, Ephesians 2:8; Acts 2:37,38.