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What if the Sinner's Prayer was a Lie?
How Would Your Pastor Answer This Question?
What is Your Condition if “The Sinner’s Prayer” is a Lie?
Would you just get mad and throw away this brochure? Some would do just that—that is why copies may lie trampled on the street at your feet—but what about YOU? Would you consider what the Bible says about those who believe a lie? Would you consider what is your situation if, in fact, “The Sinner’s Prayer” is a lie?
“…and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved. For this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false, in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth…”
(2 Thessalonians 2:10-11 NASB)
Let’s be stone-cold brutal for a moment, not to be mean, but to gain your attention: Just because you say you love the truth, does not mean that you do love the truth. What if something you have believed every day of your life is shown to be a lie. Will you then believe the truth?
We are not asking you to believe us. We are asking you to believe God.
So, What Does the Bible Say?
Some people point to Luke 18:13 to show a sinner who prayed and of whom Jesus said, “…this man went to his house justified” (v 14). That sounds like a good example, but what if you discovered in your study that both the Pharisee and the publican of Luke 18 were Jews and worshippers in the temple and as such, are not at all comparable to those of our day who are “strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and (are) without God in the world” (Ephesians 2:12)? Would you accept the truth?
In Acts 2 of the New Testament, when the audience of Peter (the apostle of Jesus Christ) heard of their terrible sin of demanding the death of Jesus Christ, they cried out, “Brethren, what shall we do?” Peter’s answer was very specific:
Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized 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)
Does that sound like the sinner’s prayer to you? When somebody asks your Pastor, “What shall I do?,” why does he/she not just answer what Peter did?
Some argue that “believe only” is the answer to the same question in Acts 16:31, but Acts 22:16 shows what “call on the Lord” means: “‘Now why do you delay? Get up and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on His name.” If “faith only” is the correct answer, what do we do with James 2:24-26. Works!?! Mind you, James is not speaking of MY works or YOUR works, but the obedience to God that proceeds from faith (Romans 1:5, 16:26).
Don’t you think it is time for you to stop listening to religious error and start studying what God says about the matter? We intend no offense, but you need to be thinking for yourself as you let God tell you how to be saved! You do not need to be praying a lie, convincing yourself the lie can save you! We just hope you will take the time to learn what God has said. We are not your judges; you stand before God.
23 Things that Save From Sin
Which ones are left out by your pastor?
God specified 14 things that have some part in salvation from sin.
Here’s the list with scripture citations:
1. The Father
Isaiah 12:2; Titus 3:4-5; Romans 6:23; 8:33;1 Timothy 4:10; Ephesians 3:8-19
2. The Son (Jesus Christ)
Matthew 1:21; 1 Timothy 1:15; Hebrews 5:8-9; Luke 19:10
3. The Holy Spirit of God
1 Corinthians 6:11; John 14:26; 16:7-13; Ephesians 6:17
4. God’s Grace
Acts 15:11; Romans 3:24; Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 2:11-12
5. God’s Love
John 3:16; 1 John 4:7
6. God’s Mercy
Titus 3:5
7. Hope
Romans 8:24; Titus 1:2
8. Life of Christ
Romans 5:10
9. The Cross (Christ’s sacrifice)
1 Corinthians 1:18; Galatians 6:14
10. The Blood of Christ (shed on the cross)
Matthew 26:28; Romans 5:8-9; Ephesians 1:7, 13-14; Hebrews 9:22; 1 Peter 1:18-19; 1 John 1:7;
11. The Name of Christ (His authority and dominion)
John 20:30-31; Acts 4:10-12; 10:43
12. The Gospel (contained in the New Testament of the Bible)
Romans 1:16-17; 1 Corinthians 15:1-4; James 1:21; 1 Peter 1:23
13. Preachers/Messengers of the gospel of Christ
Mark 16:15; 1 Corinthians 1:21; 2 Thessalonians 2:14
14. Truth
John 8:31-32; 2 Thessalonians 2:10
The Bible shows 9 ways we respond, each one specified as essential for salvation.
Here’s the list with scripture citations:
1. Hear (the words of the gospel, telling of Jesus, the Christ)
Romans 10:14-17; Proverbs 28:9; Isaiah 55:3; Acts 11:14
2. Faith in Christ (belief that He is the Son of God)
John 3:16; 8:24; Romans 5:1-2; Acts 16:31; Hebrews 11:6
3. Repentance of sin
Luke 13:3; Acts 2:38; 3:19; 11:18; 17:30; 2 Corinthians 7:10;
4. Confession of faith in Christ
Matthew 10:32-33; Luke 9:26; Romans 10:9-10; Acts 8:36-37
5. Baptism in water
Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; 10:47-48; 1 Peter 3:21
6. Works that are specified by faith’s action in obedience—see #7, below
John 6:28-29; James 2:20-26; 1 John 3:24
7. Obedience (of faith)—see #6, above
Romans 1:5, 16:25-26; Hebrews 5:8-9
8. Endurance (faithfulness to the Lord’s will)
Matthew 10:22; Revelation 2:10
9. Save ourselves (nobody can do it for you)—if not you, then who?
Acts 2:40-41; 2 Corinthians 5:20; James 4:8-10
While you can never be the sole effectual cause of your salvation, YOU must act FOR YOURSELF, based upon Bible teaching.
Which of These 23 Things Would You Leave Out?
You should be thinking for yourself, letting God’s Word guide you. After all, it is the Word that will judge you
(John 12:48). Stop letting others think for you (including us)! That’s why we’ve given you this sheet—and this Free Bible if you need one—with references to read so that YOU can know for yourself the will of God on this matter.
You have been told: “Accept Jesus Christ as your personal Savior by praying the Sinner’s Prayer,” but where do you read that in the Bible? Do you see anything in the above lists of Bible citations that is anywhere close to the lying instruction you are hearing from your Pastor?
We plead with you to think for yourself…learn the truth, and do it!
Ask yourself:
Why won’t your Pastor just say what Peter said in Acts 2:38 to the sinners at Pentecost who cried out, “What shall we do?”
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