“Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” asked the jailer to Paul and Silas while they were imprisoned (Acts 16:30). Paul replied, “Say the sinner’s prayer, and when you die, you will go to heaven!” Um…no. That was not Paul’s reply.
The Sinner’s Prayer and Its History
The purpose of the sinner’s prayer is for a person who wants to go “God’s way” in life. There are several versions of this prayer. Most go something like this: “Lord Jesus, I am a sinner, and I can’t save myself. I believe you died on the cross for my sins, and I repent for them. Come into my heart and be the Lord of my life.” This is a short version; some are very long. They all have the same components: sin, repentance, and letting Jesus into their life.
The Sinner’s Prayer didn’t show up until the 20th century. Many evangelists used (and still use) this type of prayer as an easy way to get someone “saved” (from going to hell). It is a prayer that makes a person “born again.” It is a prayer used to start someone’s life over again with a clean slate. It’s a prayer of repentance – being sorry for what you’ve done and turning from that behavior.
Is The Sinner’s Prayer Biblical?
Some say no, it’s false doctrine. However, most people continue to use it. So let’s first take a look at what the Bible says about salvation?
None of us are righteous.
…There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. 25 God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith… (Romans 3: 21-25 NIV)
Jesus died for us.
18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit. (1 Peter 3:18 NIV)
Repent for our sins.
19 Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord (Acts 3:19 NIV).
38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38 NIV).
How to be saved.
“If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9 NIV).
The last scripture I’m going to use comes from the beginning of this blog. Paul and Silas were in jail. They were singing loud enough to cause an earthquake that broke open the prison doors. The jailer freaked out and was about to kill himself, fearing the prisoners had all escaped. Paul yelled to him and stated that everyone was accounted for.
29 The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. 30 He then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
31 They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.” 32 Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house. 33 At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his household were baptized. 34 The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God—he and his whole household.
If you look at all these scriptures and compare them to The Sinner’s Prayer, you will find that the prayer contains the above scriptural components. You will not find the “sinner’s prayer” written in scripture, but I’m not convinced it is unbiblical; however, I have some issues with it.
Problems With The Sinner’s Prayer
Millions of people have used this prayer to start their spiritual journey. My issue is how people use it. Well-meaning Christians fearing the eternal damnation of loved ones often push them to say this prayer. If it is presented incorrectly or misunderstood by the person saying it, no one gains any ground. Both parties may be lulled into a false sense of security.
Of course, people need to understand their shortcomings and need for a savior. However, if we think that a simple prayer with no action afterward is getting us into heaven, we are deceived. Yes, there are certainly people who make it in on their deathbed. It happened to the criminal that hung next to Jesus and recognized where Jesus was about to go and where he was about to go.
39 One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!”
40 But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? 41 We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”
42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”
43 Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.” (Luke 23:39-43 NIV)
No doubt countless people have understood their need for Jesus when they were at death’s door – but don’t take that chance. God has a plan, purpose, and destiny for your life and the sinner’s prayer is a starting point, not an endpoint. Once you have made that decision, God will move you into so much more! Until next time, be blessed!
