The sinners prayer

I have listened to some podcasts lately of a certain minister whom has called the sinners prayer the greatest heresy of our day. This minister I have noticed in his sermons makes lots of assumptions, does a poor job at exegesis, and tends to be very judgmental on his view of others motives, yet does not look at himself. I wont mention the name of the minister, but will discuss the sinners prayer in this post.

The Bible says the following.

Romans 10:13 (KJV)

For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

(NIV) for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

(ESV) For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

The sinners prayer is when someone calls on the name of the Lord and is saved. I tend to agree that those that call on his name, and are not serious about it, are not saved. But there are many that have called on his name and gotten saved (myself included). I wont throw the baby out with the bathwater as this minister has done. He has not convinced me as to why he is correct, and those that disagree with him are wrong. Until he does that I am not persuaded by his wild assumptions on the motive of other ministers and his faulty logic. Opinions?

John

Discussion

John,

I agree the the culprit is not “the sinner’s prayer” but its possible misuse. It is a tool. The Minister, if he is blaming the prayer itself, is amiss, unless the prayer he is referring to (there are several versions) does not accurately represent a saving response to the gospel.

[Alex Guggenheim] John,

I agree the the culprit is not “the sinner’s prayer” but its possible misuse. It is a tool. The Minister, if he is blaming the prayer itself, is amiss, unless the prayer he is referring to (there are several versions) does not accurately represent a saving response to the gospel.
I agree with you Alex. People often like to blame the prayer and not its misuse. By thta line of reasoning I do not understand why they continue to use the evil Internet which is very often misused, and use to promote evil.

Those that agree with the ‘sinners prayer’ always use the word sincere or serious and this is where I have a problem with the whole thing. What in fact they are saying to the poor sinners is. If you are as sincere/serious as ”me” then you shall be saved.

In my experience, the sinners prayers can be used as a crutch. So instead of trusting in Christ, they’re many who trust in their experience praying a prayer and hoping that that will save them.

I have no problem leading someone in prayer asking that God would open their eyes to the glory of the gospel but it shouldn’t be the prayer that’s important but the work of God in them and the work of Christ that assures them. It’s all how it’s used.

Mathew Sims

[Mathew Sims] In my experience, the sinners prayers can be used as a crutch. So instead of trusting in Christ, they’re many who trust in their experience praying a prayer and hoping that that will save them.

I have no problem leading someone in prayer asking that God would open their eyes to the glory of the gospel but it shouldn’t be the prayer that’s important but the work of God in them and the work of Christ that assures them. It’s all how it’s used.
Amen. Bye the way are you the guy I spoke with on yahoo Messenger? If so I sent you a message.

http://www.cerm.info/salvation.htm

In my page I say the following.

5. Take God at his Word

Romans 10:13 for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

Romans 10:9-11

That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. [10] For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. [11] As the Scripture says, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame.”

I’d like to help you receive salvation by giving you a prayer to say. God will hear you if you pray sincerely. Also remember that you are saved by grace and not by works of righteousness (Eph 2:8-9).

Dear Jesus, I know that I am a sinner. Please come into my heart and save

my soul from Hell. I’m trusting You, and You alone, to take me to Heaven

when I die. Thank you for saving me, Jesus. In your matchless name Amen.

If you got saved then this is great news! Remember that if you are born again this will be very evident in your life by the way you live (2 Cor 5:17, Eph 4:22-24). I’d like to help you by pointing you to a good church in your area so you can get discipleship so please do email me so we can talk. In the meantime I strongly recommend you get a copy of the word of God and purchase the book Changed into His Image by Jim Berg.

I see no evidence of The Lord Jesus Christ leading anyone in a sinners prayer?