Do you remember the old commercials for the Italian Sauce called Prego? The main sales pitch was, "Prego, It's in there." To the best of my knowledge, Prego is Italian for thank you. Prego has one up on "The Sinner's Prayer" and that is, Prego can be found in the Bible and The Sinner's Prayer cannot. Jn 11:41
How many times have you heard that all a person must do for salvation is come forward and repeat a certain prayer after the preacher and they will achieve salvation. First of all, salvation is received and not achieved. Secondly, that is not found in the Bible. If you can find where a person is told all they have to do is repeat after a preacher and they are saved I will have my friend George Rigo give you $10,000!!
The problem is in the definite article that is place in front of the word sinner. I can find "a" sinner's prayer. Those are all through the Bible. The only person that prays in the Bible that was not a sinner is Jesus. All other people are sinners and they have prayed a lot. Consider the apostle Paul. In his B.C. life, Saul of Tarsus, was persecuting Christ's Church and while on the road to Damascus he encounters Jesus personally. He sees the light so to speak. Is he told to repeat after Jesus? NO!! He is told to go to Damascus to think things over a bit. Saul fasted for three days. (Acts 9:9). He also prayed. (Acts 9:11)! THIS WAS NOT ENOUGH!! We see here that Saul believes that Jesus is the Son of God. He is obviously repenting of his sins. He is praying. Is he ready to do the Lord's work that he has been called to do? NO!! He has not fully obeyed that gospel call. In Acts 22:16 He is not told, "Get up and pray..." is he? He is told, "Get up and be baptized, and wash away your sins..."
You can read the book of Acts from beginning to end and you will find several conversions. You will NOT find a single time in there where a person is told to "pray" themselves into a saved state. There is no such thing as "THE" sinner's prayer, but in Acts you can find "A" sinner's prayer like in Acts 9:11!
Today make sure you are not forced fed what a man says the Bible says and make sure you are fed what the Bible says! Be diligent in studies so we can accurately handle the Word of truth. 2Ti 2:15 If you have not met the Gospel call please contact me and we can study together.
Remember, the hymn that says, "Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling, calling for you and for me; See, on the portals he's waiting and watching, watching for you and for me. Come home, come home; Earnestly, tenderly, Jesus is calling, calling, O sinner, come home." I pray, if you have not already, you will properly respond to that call!
WHAT MUST I DO TO BE SAVED?
Hear The Word- Rom 10:17; Acts 4:4
We Must Believe or Have Faith- Heb 11:6; Acts 16:31
We Must Repent- Lk 13:3; Acts 17:30
We Must Confess Christ Before Others- Mt 10:32; Acts 8:37
We Must Be Immersed Into Christ (Baptized)- 1Pe 3:21; Mk 16:16; Acts 2:38
We Must Remain Faithful- Rev 2:10; Acts 14:22
Good stuff. I wish everyone everywhere would read this.
ReplyDeleteThank you, so do I!!!
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