Sinners Prayer

Comment

Comment by Leonard T on July 4, 2016 at 7:00am

While what is commonly called the sinner's prayer is a favorite for many to use with someone responding to the gospel it also comes with many trappings. It is my opinion that many, mostly unintentionally, have learned to rely on the prayer as some form of magical key that opens the door to heaven, as they often present the gospel and then include all you have to do to be saved is say this prayer ... that is not true! There is so much more to the salvation process including the work of the Holy Spirit that brings to light the reality of sin and our guilt before a holy God. The Holy Spirit must lead us through the repentance process that brings about a change of mind that leads to a new heart, new life. The sinners prayer cannot be more than a affirmation to what God has already done in the heart and mind of the person. Yet, especially in VBS, we find the sinner's prayer used as "if you say this then you are saved" the leaders will then pat them on the back and pronounce them as members of the family of God. While it is true some may have just affirmed their salvation (transformation) others leave with a false assurance trusting in the prayer rather than the Savior.  The same is often true when we look at the Word of God (Bible). Too often we find people's faith in the Bible instead of in the One to whom the Bible points us. The Bible, as precious as it is, is not may Savior ... Jesus is.

I do not believe this is your intent, but I feel the need to point this out for those who read this page because I am convinced that churches have multitudes in them of the unsaved religious who think they are saved because they once said a prayer and someone pronounced them saved.

Lord Bless,

LT