1

 Ministers frequently tell people to say the “sinner’s prayer”  What is this prayer and its forms?  Was the “sinner’s prayer” practiced or commanded in the 1 st Century?  Why do many say this prayer?  Is the “sinner’s prayer” supported by scripture?  What were sinners of the 1 st Century taught and commanded to do to be saved? 2

 “Heavenly Father, I know that I am a sinner and that I deserve to go to hell. I believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross for my sins. I do now receive him as my Lord and personal Savior. I promise to serve you to the best of my ability. Please save me. In Jesus’ name, Amen”  The Billy Graham Evangelical Association “Peace with God” prayer: “Peace with God”  “Dear Lord Jesus, I know I am a sinner, and I ask for your forgiveness. I believe you died for my sins and rose from the dead. I trust and follow you as my Lord and Savior. Guide my life and help me to do your will. In your name, amen.” 3

 “Lord Jesus, I believe you are the Son of God. Thank you for dying on the cross for my sins. Please forgive my sins and give me the gift of eternal life. I ask you in to my life and heart to be my Lord and Savior. I want to serve you always.”  “Dear Lord Jesus, I know I am a sinner, and I ask for your forgiveness. I believe you died for my sins and rose from the dead. I trust and follow you as my Lord and Savior. Guide my life and help me to do your will. In your name, Amen.” 4

 “Father, I know that I have broken your laws and my sins have separated me from you. I am truly sorry, and now I want to turn away from my past sinful life toward you. Please forgive me, and help me avoid sinning again. I believe that your son, Jesus Christ died for my sins, was resurrected from the dead, is alive, and hears my prayer. I invite Jesus to become the Lord of my life, to rule and reign in my heart from this day forward. Please send your Holy Spirit to help me obey You, and to do Your will for the rest of my life. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.” 5

 Not commanded in the NT of sinner’s  Not found in any case of conversion in Acts  In the 1 st century lost souls were told to…  Hear - Romans 10:15  Believe - Acts 16:31; Romans 10:10  Repent - Acts 17:30  Confess Christ - Acts 8:37; Romans 10:9, 10  Be baptized “for the remission of sins” - Acts 2:38  Be faithful unto death - Revelations 2:10 6

7

 It expresses their desire of inviting Jesus to come into their life for salvation  Revelation 3:20  It expresses their view of the need to “receive Jesus” for salvation  John 1:12; 12:48  They believe that justification comes by one confessing they are a sinner  Luke 18:9-14  Many blindly follow the direction of religious leaders, because of ignorance  Matthew 15:8, 9, 14; Acts 3:17 8

 For Jesus to “come in” one must hear his word and open the door  Revelation 3:20  To “receive Jesus” one must believe and obey His words  John 1:12; 12:48  The “good confession” begins by confessing Christ before men  Romans 10:9, 10; 3:10, 23-26; Matthew 10:32, 33  Luke 19:10; 1 Timothy 1:15  We must study to show yourself approved unto God so as not to be ignorant  2 Timothy 2:15; Romans 10:1-4; Colossians 2:4-8 9

 Instantaneous Conversion  Southern Baptists believe that a person is converted in an instant. They use a variety of terms for this instantaneous experience, including "being saved," "being born again" or "accepting Christ." For Southern Baptists, conversion happens when a person realizes he's sinned, confesses that he's a sinner, repents of sin and asks Jesus to forgive him and come into his heart. At this moment of conversion, God saves the person from eternity in hell. All of his past, present and future sins are forgiven. Southern Baptists teach that the next step after conversion is water baptism, although this isn't necessary to salvation. 10

 Eternal Security  Most Baptists, including Southern Baptists, believe that being saved is something that happens once in a person's life and that it lasts forever. They teach that once a person accepts Jesus as her savior, that person will never again be at risk of going to hell. They believe that even a Christian who "backslides" or turns against God is still forgiven for those sins. Most Southern Baptists believe that the way Christians live their life will determine their rewards in heaven, and that their lifestyle can never put them in danger of hell. Critics of eternal security suggest that this encourages Christians to live a life of perpetual sin and that the person would still go to heaven even committing murder or genocide. In those extreme cases, Southern Baptists would argue that the person was never really saved to begin with, and never really trusted Christ as savior. 11

12

 Jesus never taught or command this prayer  Taught disciples HOW to pray  Luke 11:1-4; Matthew 6:9-13  No sinners in the NT were commanded to pray this prayer  If so, where is the scripture??  Those who were worshipful/prayerful were not instructed to pray this prayer  Saul of Tarsus - Acts 9:9, 11, 22:16 (In Damascus 3 days & prayed)  Cornelius - Acts 10:1, 2, 31  Lydia - 16:13-15  Saints (children of God) prayed to God for the Lord’s people and His work  Acts 2:41, 42; 6:1-4; 13:1-3; 14:23; 16:25; 20:36  Acts 21:4, 5; 22:17; 28:8  Ephesians 6:18; James 5:13-15  Prayer is reserved for the child of God! - John 9:31 13

A.“For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ”  Galatians 3:26, 27 B.“For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus, For as many of you as have prayed the sinner’s prayer have put on Christ”  2 Opinions 3:26, 27 14

A.“And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?”  Acts 8:36 B.“And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me from praying the sinner’s prayer for salvation?”  1 Opinions 8:36 15

A.“And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord”  Acts 22:16 B.“And now why tarriest thou? arise, and say the sinner’s prayer, and pray away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord”  1 Rejections 22:16 16

A.“Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus”  Acts 19:4, 5 B.“Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. When they heard this, they prayed the sinner’s prayer in the name of the Lord Jesus”  1 Objections 19:4, 5 17

A.“The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ”  1 Peter 3:21 B.“The like figure whereunto even praying the sinner’s prayer doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ”  1 Omissions 3:21 18

19

Examples of Conversion PreachingBelievedRepentedConfessedSinner’s Prayer Saved Pentecost Acts 2:14-41 Repented V ?Remission of Sins V Samaria Acts 8:5-13 Believed V. 12 ? Eunuch Acts 8:35-39 Believed V Confessed V. 37 ?Rejoiced V. 39 Saul Acts 9:17-18 ?Sins Washed Away Acts 22:16 Cornelius Acts 10:34-48 Believed V. 43 ?Remission of Sins V. 43 The Jailor Acts 16:30-33 Believed V. 31 Washed Stripes ? Lydia Acts 16:13 Attended V. 14 ? Corinthians Acts 18:8 Believed V. 8 ? Rom. 10:14-17 Heb. 11:6Lk. 13:3Rom. 10:10?2 Tim. 2:10 20

Examples of Conversion PreachingBelievedRepentedConfessedBaptizedSaved Pentecost Acts 2:14-41 Repented V Baptized V. 38, 41 Remission of Sins V Samaria Acts 8:5-13 Believed V. 12 Baptized V Eunuch Acts 8:35-39 Believed V Confessed V. 37 Baptized V. 38 Rejoiced V. 39 Saul Acts 9:17-18 Baptized V. 18 Sins Washed Away Acts 22:16 Cornelius Acts 10:34-48 Believed V. 43 Baptized V. 48 Remission of Sins V. 43 The Jailor Acts 16:30-33 Believed V. 31 Washed Stripes Baptized V. 33 Lydia Acts 16:13 Attended V. 14 Baptized V. 15 Corinthians Acts 18:8 Believed V. 8 Baptized V. 8 Rom. 10:14-17 Heb. 11:6Lk. 13:3Rom. 10:10Gal. 3:272 Tim. 2:10 21

Examples of Conversion PreachingBelievedRepentedConfessedBaptizedSaved Pentecost Acts 2:14-41 Repented V Baptized V. 38, 41 Remission of Sins V Samaria Acts 8:5-13 Believed V. 12 Baptized V Eunuch Acts 8:35-39 Believed V Confessed V. 37 Baptized V. 38 Rejoiced V. 39 Saul Acts 9:17-18 Baptized V. 18 Sins Washed Away Acts 22:16 Cornelius Acts 10:34-48 Believed V. 43 Baptized V. 48 Remission of Sins V. 43 The Jailor Acts 16:30-33 Believed V. 31 Washed Stripes Baptized V. 33 Lydia Acts 16:13 Attended V. 14 Baptized V. 15 Corinthians Acts 18:8 Believed V. 8 Baptized V. 8 Rom. 10:14-17 Heb. 11:6Lk. 13:3Rom. 10:10Gal. 3:272 Tim. 2:10 Baptism is specifically mentioned in EVERY case of conversion! 22

Where Is The Scripture? Where is the scripture that teaches saying the “sinners prayer” was told to anyone as a condition of salvation? __________________________________ 23

“18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, ‘All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 ‘Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 ‘teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.’ Amen.”  NKJV 24

“15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned” 25

Will You Obey The Words Of Jesus & Be Baptized For The Remission of Sins? 26

Or, Obey The Doctrines of Men & Remain Lost? 27