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Many, many denominational religious groups teach salvation in Christ through
the use of the “Sinner’s Prayer.” However, nowhere in Scripture do we find the
sinner’s prayer, nor do we find any example of an alien sinner praying
successfully or otherwise for salvation.
Here is an example published by Little Bible Ministry, Pottstown, PA 19464.
“God be merciful to me a sinner! I believe Christ died for me and that His
Precious blood will cleanse me from all my sin. By faith I now receive the Lord
Jesus Christ into my heart as my Lord and my Savior; trusting Him for the
salvation of my soul.
Help me Lord to do thy will each day. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.”
“God’s Simple Plan of Salvation” published by Lifegate, Inc. Monrovia, IN 46157,
states it this way.
“Oh, God, I know I am a sinner. I believe Jesus was my substitute when He died
on the Cross. I believe His shed blood, death, burial, and resurrection were for
me. I now receive Him as my Savior. I thank You for the forgiveness of my sins,
the gift of salvation and everlasting life, because of Your merciful grace.
Amen.”
This one doesn’t even request all this in Jesus’ name! Just “Amen” Do it, God!
Well, the question is, will God give salvation on this basis?
The New Testament sets forth the terms and conditions by which God through Jesus
Christ offers salvation. Do those include the “Sinner’s Prayer” as a means to
salvation?
The little leaflet by Lifegate, Inc. makes a vain attempt to prove it so. They
make an appeal to Luke 18:13, where the tax collector said, “God, be merciful to
me a sinner.”
What is the context of Luke 18:13? Jesus began chapter 18 by teaching a parable
about the importance of persistence in prayer. Sometimes this parable (verse
2-8) is called the Parable of the Unjust Judge, but it should more correctly be
called the Parable of the Persistent Widow. Then in verse 9 through verse 14,
Jesus taught another parable about prayer. This Parable He addressed to “some
who trusted in themselves that they were righteous,and despised others.” (Verse
9). In Verses 10-14, Jesus told the story of two men who went up to the temple
to pray. One of these was a self-righteous Pharisee, and the other was a tax
collector, such as the Pharisees and others would despise and avoid any social
intercourse with. But both of these men were (A) Jewish, and (B) under the Law
of Moses. They were both in, and a part of the Old Covenant. To make the remarks
of the tax collector in verse 13, “God, be merciful to me a sinner.” a prayer to
save an alien sinner from sin, the tax collector would have to be a Gentile, one
who was not in any covenant relationship with God. Jesus is teaching in the
parable, that the tax collector was humble, contrite and recognized his sins and
asked for forgiveness. This is in direct contrast to the self-righteousness of
the Pharisee, who “stood and prayed…..God, I thank you that I am not like other
men……even as this tax collector.” (Verse 11). What a self-centered,self-righteous,
arrogant, and self-deluded individual he was! That is why Jesus said, “…everyone
who exalts himself will be abased, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
Verse 14b).
This Parable of the Lord teaches a great lesson, but it does NOT teach salvation
for the alien sinner by reciting the Sinner’s Prayer.” Jesus said in Matthew
7:21, “Not everyone who says to Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter the kingdom of
heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.” Salvation in Christ is
based upon the kind of faith that will respond to the sacrifice of Christ in
humble submission to His will. The writer said in Hebrews 5:9, “He (Jesus)
became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him.”
Have you obeyed Him? Will you obey Him? Do not delay! (Mark 16:16).
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