Searching For The Sinner’s Prayer In The Book of Acts

Introduction It is common for people who want to be saved, become Christians, to be told “Trust Jesus as your personal Savior.” To do this, they are told to pray what is called “The Sinner’s Prayer” In order for their prayer to be accepted, they must believe in Jesus as the Son of God, repent of their sins and confess Jesus as Savior and Lord

Introduction Therefore, people are taught that saying the Sinner’s Prayer is the final step to become a Christian If this is true, we ought to be able to find a command or an example of it in the book of Acts, the inspired record of the first cases of people becoming Christians

Introduction In this lesson, we quote from a radio sermon delivered by Carter Conlon, “Senior Pastor” of the Time Square Church in Manhattan, New York City His lesson was aired on 8-26-2012 and entitled “If This Is True...I Want It!” He believes the Sinner’s Prayer is found in the book of Acts

Mr. Conlon Believes About 3000 People Prayed The Sinner’s Prayer In Acts 2 He quotes some of the same verses we will read later but he believes that in Acts 2, they were saved by the Sinner’s Prayer He believes their prayer was accepted when they believed in Jesus enough to turn from their sins and confess Jesus to be the Son of God He calls people down to the altar to pray the Sinner’s Prayer

Mr. Conlon Believes About 3000 People Prayed The Sinner’s Prayer In Acts 2 When done, he declares them to be Christians We do not question Mr. Conlon’s or anyone’s sincerity but we desire verification of this teaching in the Word of God We simply ask, is the Sinner’s Prayer in Acts 2 or in any part of the book of Acts?

Mr. Conlon Believes About 3000 People Prayed The Sinner’s Prayer In Acts 2 “And the Bible says that day 3,000 people…had the courage to step out of the crowd and say, “I give my life to Jesus Christ.”

Mr. Conlon Believes About 3000 People Prayed The Sinner’s Prayer In Acts 2 “If this is what God does, if God changes lives like this, if God gives this kind of an assurance for the future, if He died that I might be forgiven, if I could know that at the end of this life I’m going to Heaven to live with God for all of eternity, and while I live here, there’s a purpose for my life and I would be supernaturally enabled to fulfill it, if that is true, then I open my heart and I receive Jesus Christ as my Lord and my Savior.”

Mr. Conlon Believes About 3000 People Prayed The Sinner’s Prayer In Acts 2 “Now for those who are here this evening, Jesus is about to forgive you for everything that you’ve done that you know is not right. He’s about to clean the slate and come and live inside of you and give you the life that He has longed for you to have and you’ve always wanted deep down inside.”

Mr. Conlon Believes About 3000 People Prayed The Sinner’s Prayer In Acts 2 “Pray this simple prayer with me please if you will, out loud.” “Lord Jesus, I am a sinner. I thank you tonight for loving me so much that you went to the cross, you suffered and died to pay the price for all of the wrong things that I have done.”

Mr. Conlon Believes About 3000 People Prayed The Sinner’s Prayer In Acts 2 “Jesus, Son of God, thank you for loving me and tonight, I open my heart to you. I trust you and I ask you to come into my life, forgive my sin and be my Lord and my Savior from this day forward. Guide me, teach me and lead me into the supernatural life of God that I heard about this evening. Jesus, I trust you. You gave your life for me and so tonight, I give my life to you.”

Mr. Conlon Believes About 3000 People Prayed The Sinner’s Prayer In Acts 2 “Help me not to turn back or to turn away. Help me to be sincere in this commitment tonight. Teach me from your Word and guide me into the full life that you promised me. Thank you for receiving me. Thank you for cleansing me. I believe tonight that from this day forward, I am a child of God and I believe it because of Jesus. Amen.”

There Is No Sinner’s Prayer In Acts 2 Contrary to Mr. Conlon’s teaching and all those who teach the Sinner’s Prayer, we do not find it in Acts 2, the first preaching of the gospel of Christ We will not read the whole chapter now but we encourage all to do so We will read enough to show that no apostle commanded a sinner’s prayer for salvation

There Is No Sinner’s Prayer In Acts 2 We will find that when they believed in Jesus as Lord and Christ, they were commanded to repent and be baptized for the forgiveness of their sins If we are going to be forgiven, be saved, we must follow the apostles’ teaching not the unproved ideas of men such as the Sinner’s Prayer

Jesus’ Apostles Baptized With The Holy Spirit Act 1:4 Gathering them together, He commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for what the Father had promised, "Which," He said, "you heard of from Me; Act 1:5 for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now."

Jesus’ Apostles Baptized With The Holy Spirit Act 1:8 but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.“ Act 2:1 When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place.

Jesus’ Apostles Baptized With The Holy Spirit Act 2:2 And suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Act 2:3 And there appeared to them tongues as of fire distributing themselves, and they rested on each one of them.

Jesus’ Apostles Baptized With The Holy Spirit Act 2:4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance. Act 2:5 Now there were Jews living in Jerusalem, devout men from every nation under heaven.

Jesus’ Apostles Baptized With The Holy Spirit Act 2:6 And when this sound occurred, the crowd came together, and were bewildered because each one of them was hearing them speak in his own language.

Apostles Prove God Made Jesus Both Lord And Christ Act 2:22 "Men of Israel, listen to these words: Jesus the Nazarene, a man attested to you by God with miracles and wonders and signs which God performed through Him in your midst, just as you yourselves know-- Act 2:23 this Man, delivered over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put Him to death.

Apostles Prove God Made Jesus Both Lord And Christ Act 2:24 "But God raised Him up again, putting an end to the agony of death, since it was impossible for Him to be held in its power. Act 2:29 "Brethren, I may confidently say to you regarding the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day.

Apostles Prove God Made Jesus Both Lord And Christ Act 2:30 "And so, because he was a prophet and knew that GOD HAD SWORN TO HIM WITH AN OATH TO SEAT one OF HIS DESCENDANTS ON HIS THRONE, Act 2:31 he looked ahead and spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, that HE WAS NEITHER ABANDONED TO HADES, NOR DID His flesh SUFFER DECAY.

Apostles Prove God Made Jesus Both Lord And Christ Act 2:32 "This Jesus God raised up again, to which we are all witnesses. Act 2:33 "Therefore having been exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He has poured forth this which you both see and hear.

Apostles Prove God Made Jesus Both Lord And Christ Act 2:34 "For it was not David who ascended into heaven, but he himself says: 'THE LORD SAID TO MY LORD, "SIT AT MY RIGHT HAND, Act 2:35 UNTIL I MAKE YOUR ENEMIES A FOOTSTOOL FOR YOUR FEET."'

Apostles Prove God Made Jesus Both Lord And Christ Act 2:36 "Therefore let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ--this Jesus whom you crucified."

Apostles Command Them To Repent and Be Baptized To Be Forgiven of Their Sins Act 2:37 Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Brethren, what shall we do?" Act 2:38 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.

Apostles Command Them To Repent and Be Baptized To Be Forgiven of Their Sins Act 2:40 And with many other words he solemnly testified and kept on exhorting them, saying, "Be saved from this perverse generation!" Act 2:41 So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls.

There Is No Sinner’s Prayer In Acts 2 We do find what the Lord, through His apostles, commanded those who believed in Jesus to do to be saved, repent and be baptized for the forgiveness of their sins To be fair, each case of conversion in Acts does not always mention each step in being saved Let us search more to see if the Sinner’s Prayer is one of these steps

The Samaritans Believed In Jesus and Were Baptized Act 8:5 Philip went down to the city of Samaria and began proclaiming Christ to them. Act 8:12 But when they believed Philip preaching the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were being baptized, men and women alike.

The Samaritans Believed In Jesus and Were Baptized Act 8:13 Even Simon himself believed; and after being baptized, he continued on with Philip, and as he observed signs and great miracles taking place, he was constantly amazed.

The Eunuch Heard The Gospel, Confessed Jesus and Was Baptized Act 8:35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning from this Scripture he preached Jesus to him. Act 8:36 As they went along the road they came to some water; and the eunuch *said, "Look! Water! What prevents me from being baptized?"

The Eunuch Heard The Gospel, Confessed Jesus and Was Baptized Act 8:37 [And Philip said, "If you believe with all your heart, you may." And he answered and said, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God."] Act 8:38 And he ordered the chariot to stop; and they both went down into the water, Philip as well as the eunuch, and he baptized him.

The Eunuch Heard The Gospel, Confessed Jesus and Was Baptized Act 8:39 When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away; and the eunuch no longer saw him, but went on his way rejoicing.

Saul Was Commanded To Be Baptized and Wash Away His Sins Act 9:5 And he said, "Who are You, Lord?" And He said, "I am Jesus whom you are persecuting, Act 9:6 but get up and enter the city, and it will be told you what you must do." Act 9:9 And he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank.

Saul Was Commanded To Be Baptized and Wash Away His Sins Act 9:10 Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias; and the Lord said to him in a vision, "Ananias." And he said, "Here I am, Lord." Act 9:11 And the Lord said to him, "Get up and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying,

Saul Was Commanded To Be Baptized and Wash Away His Sins Act 22:16 'Now why do you delay? Get up and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on His name.' Act 2:21 'AND IT SHALL BE THAT EVERYONE WHO CALLS ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED.'

Cornelius and Household Were Commanded To Believe and Be Baptized Act 10:33 "So I sent for you immediately, and you have been kind enough to come. Now then, we are all here present before God to hear all that you have been commanded by the Lord." Act 10:42 "And He ordered us to preach to the people, and solemnly to testify that this is the One who has been appointed by God as Judge of the living and the dead.

Cornelius and Household Were Commanded To Believe and Be Baptized Act 10:43 "Of Him all the prophets bear witness that through His name everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins." Act 10:48 And he ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to stay on for a few days.

After Hearing The Gospel Lydia and Household Were Baptized Act 16:13 And on the Sabbath day we went outside the gate to a riverside, where we were supposing that there would be a place of prayer; and we sat down and began speaking to the women who had assembled. Act 16:14 A woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple fabrics, a worshiper of God, was listening; and the Lord opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul.

After Hearing The Gospel Lydia and Household Were Baptized Act 16:15 And when she and her household had been baptized, she urged us, saying, "If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house and stay." And she prevailed upon us.

The Jailer and Household Believed The Gospel and Immediately Were Baptized Act 16:29 And he called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas, Act 16:30 and after he brought them out, he said, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" Act 16:31 They said, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household."

The Jailer and Household Believed The Gospel and Immediately Were Baptized Act 16:32 And they spoke the word of the Lord to him together with all who were in his house. Act 16:33 And he took them that very hour of the night and washed their wounds, and immediately he was baptized, he and all his household.

The Jailer and Household Believed The Gospel and Immediately Were Baptized Act 16:34 And he brought them into his house and set food before them, and rejoiced greatly, having believed in God with his whole household.

After Hearing and Believing The Gospel The Corinthians Were Baptized Act 18:4 And he was reasoning in the synagogue every Sabbath and trying to persuade Jews and Greeks. Act 18:5 But when Silas and Timothy came down from Macedonia, Paul began devoting himself completely to the word, solemnly testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ.

After Hearing and Believing The Gospel The Corinthians Were Baptized Act 18:8 Crispus, the leader of the synagogue, believed in the Lord with all his household, and many of the Corinthians when they heard were believing and being baptized.

After Believing Some Ephesians Were Baptized in The Name of Jesus Act 19:3 And he said, "Into what then were you baptized?" And they said, "Into John's baptism." Act 19:4 Paul said, "John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in Him who was coming after him, that is, in Jesus." Act 19:5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

Conclusion – The Sinner’s Prayer Is Not In The Book of Acts Many have been misguided into thinking the Holy Spirit has revealed to them the Sinner’s Prayer as the final step of being saved But, when we simply read the book of Acts given to us by the Holy Spirit, we do not find the Sinner’s Prayer

Conclusion – The Sinner’s Prayer Is Not In The Book of Acts What is found in the book of Acts is that which Jesus commanded His apostles by the Holy Spirit to teach people what they must do to be saved To add to or take away from what they commanded for salvation is sinful

Are You Willing To Hear The Gospel? Act 2:36 "Therefore let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ--this Jesus whom you crucified." Act 2:37 Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Brethren, what shall we do?"

Are You Willing To Believe In Jesus As The Son of God, Lord of All? Act 16:30 and after he brought them out, he said, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" Act 16:31 They said, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household."

Are You Willing To Repent of Your Sin? Act 2:38 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.

Are You Willing To Confess Your Belief In Jesus As The Son of God? Act 8:36 As they went along the road they came to some water; and the eunuch *said, "Look! Water! What prevents me from being baptized?" Act 8:37 [And Philip said, "If you believe with all your heart, you may." And he answered and said, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God."]

Are You Willing To Be Baptized In The Name of Jesus For The Forgiveness of Your Sins? Act 2:38 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.

Baptism Is The Last Step That We Follow To Become A Christian Again, we are not commanded to pray as the last step to become a Christian All were commanded to be baptized, immersed in water, for the forgiveness of sins to begin that new life in Christ If we have been baptized believing we were saved before baptism, then our baptism is not acceptable to God

Christians Commanded To Repent and Pray For Forgiveness of Their Sins No person was ever commanded to pray to become a Christian But, after being baptized into Christ, Christians, when they sin, are commanded to repent and pray for forgiveness of sins Also, Christians are commanded to pray for one another that we may be forgiven of our sins

Christians Commanded To Repent and Pray For Forgiveness of Their Sins Act 8:13 Even Simon himself believed; and after being baptized, he continued on with Philip, and as he observed signs and great miracles taking place, he was constantly amazed. Act 8:18 Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was bestowed through the laying on of the apostles' hands, he offered them money,

Christians Commanded To Repent and Pray For Forgiveness of Their Sins Act 8:19 saying, "Give this authority to me as well, so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit." Act 8:22 "Therefore repent of this wickedness of yours, and pray the Lord that, if possible, the intention of your heart may be forgiven you.

Christians Commanded To Repent and Pray For Forgiveness of Their Sins Act 8:24 But Simon answered and said, "Pray to the Lord for me yourselves, so that nothing of what you have said may come upon me."