The Sinners Prayer

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Hi Protestant friends :tiphat:

Is the sinners prayer in the King James Version of the Bible?

Thanks and God bless,
Jonfan
 
Oh. Well if it isn’t in the Bible how does it follow “sola Scriptura”? Wouldn’t it be a man made doctrine?

Thanks and God bless,
Jon
 
I believe that such a tactic would be counterproductive and even insulting to educated Protestants. Even “sola Scriptura” Protestants understand that a thing may appear in Scripture but not in a word-for-word say. For example, they accept the doctrine of the Holy Trinity, although it is nowhere specifically articulated in Scripture.

You might do better to ask them what the Scriptural foundations are for their belief that the sinner’s prayer is the ticket to eternal security. Some of 'em might actually be able to give you an answer. Of course, it won’t withstand serious scrutiny based on a comprehensive view of Scripture, but that is another story.
 
As Catholics we say the sinners prayer at every mass and in confession!

“I confess to Almighty God…”

and

“Oh my God I am heartily sorry…”

We’re not so different after all!
 
I believe that such a tactic would be counterproductive and even insulting to educated Protestants. Even “sola Scriptura” Protestants understand that a thing may appear in Scripture but not in a word-for-word say. For example, they accept the doctrine of the Holy Trinity, although it is nowhere specifically articulated in Scripture.

You might do better to ask them what the Scriptural foundations are for their belief that the sinner’s prayer is the ticket to eternal security. Some of 'em might actually be able to give you an answer. Of course, it won’t withstand serious scrutiny based on a comprehensive view of Scripture, but that is another story.
I’m not trying to insult anybody.
God bless,
Jonfan
 
I believe that such a tactic would be counterproductive and even insulting to educated Protestants. Even “sola Scriptura” Protestants understand that a thing may appear in Scripture but not in a word-for-word say. For example, they accept the doctrine of the Holy Trinity, although it is nowhere specifically articulated in Scripture.

You might do better to ask them what the Scriptural foundations are for their belief that the sinner’s prayer is the ticket to eternal security. Some of 'em might actually be able to give you an answer. Of course, it won’t withstand serious scrutiny based on a comprehensive view of Scripture, but that is another story.
Some Protestants don’t accept the term Holy Trinity. They accept the “Godhead” because the word Godhead appears in the KJV Bible.
Thanks and God bless,
Jonfan
 
Some Protestants don’t accept the term Holy Trinity. They accept the “Godhead” because the word Godhead appears in the KJV Bible.
Thanks and God bless,
Jonfan
Understood. Good point. But “orthodox” Christianity, even of the Protestant kind, even of the extremely evangelical kind, requires belief in the Trinity in order to label yourself “Christian.” “Godhead” or Oneness Pentecostals, JWs etc. are wandering off into the land of the cults.
 
I have never found the sinners prayer in the Bible but i beleive that God could use it a vehicle to make someone award he has granted them to gift of salvation… However I have found election or as some call it Calvinism in the Bible.

Seventy years walking with the Lord
Seventy years a Baptist
allischalmers
 
I have never found the sinners prayer in the Bible but i beleive that God could use it a vehicle to make someone award he has granted them to gift of salvation… However I have found election or as some call it Calvinism in the Bible.

Seventy years walking with the Lord
Seventy years a Baptist
allischalmers
Thank you for your answer. Would you say the sinners prayer is a man made doctrine then?
Thanks and God bless,
Jonfan
 
Hi Protestant friends :tiphat:

Is the sinners prayer in the King James Version of the Bible?

Thanks and God bless,
Jonfan
I don’t think there is anything wrong with the Sinner’s Prayer.

I think it’s one of those things that started off Catholic (because as Trelow pointed out, the Act of Contrition could be considered a “sinner’s prayer” too), and became adapted to Protestant theology.

True, you won’t find either the Act of Contrition or the Sinner’s Prayer in Scripture, but the concept behind them both is certainly Scriptural.
 
I don’t think there is anything wrong with the Sinner’s Prayer.

I think it’s one of those things that started off Catholic (because as Trelow pointed out, the Act of Contrition could be considered a “sinner’s prayer” too), and became adapted to Protestant theology.

True, you won’t find either the Act of Contrition or the Sinner’s Prayer in Scripture, but the concept behind them both is certainly Scriptural.
I agree. I have nothing against the sinners prayer. I think it is nice and reflective of the Apostles Creed. It points to Christ but it wasn’t written by Christ or by his followers in the Bible yet many follow this prayer. Does this make the prayer wrong just because it was man made?
 
I think what Jonfan may be driving at is this: There are Evangelical Christians who demand that Catholics supply the words pope or immaculate conception or purgatory strictly from the Bible. Of course, those words don’t exist in the Bible. But then, neither do the words: trinity, virgin birth, God-man, and yet Evangelicals believe in those concepts.

Also, liturgical Christians are often challenged by some Evangelicals to “pray the sinner’s prayer” in order to assure them of their salvation, the assumption being that that alone makes one a Christian, even though that phrase and that prayer are nowhere to be found in the Bible. I think Jonfan is pointing out the inconsistency of their position if they insist on demanding Catholics and other liturgical Christians must do what they themselves cannot and will not do. Am I right?
 
I think what Jonfan may be driving at is this: There are Evangelical Christians who demand that Catholics supply the words pope or immaculate conception or purgatory strictly from the Bible. Of course, those words don’t exist in the Bible. But then, neither do the words: trinity, virgin birth, God-man, and yet Evangelicals believe in those concepts.

Also, liturgical Christians are often challenged by some Evangelicals to “pray the sinner’s prayer” in order to assure them of their salvation, the assumption being that that alone makes one a Christian, even though that phrase and that prayer are nowhere to be found in the Bible. I think Jonfan is pointing out the inconsistency of their position if they insist on demanding Catholics and other liturgical Christians must do what they themselves cannot and will not do. Am I right?
:clapping: Yes.
 
The sinners’ prayer is simply an evangelistic tool to help someone who may not know how to pray to form the words of repentance and ask Christ to be their Lord and Savior. The scenario should go something like this:
  1. You present the Gospel of Christ to a sinner. You lay the claims of God in front of them and confront them (nicely) with their need for forgiveness and reconcilation with God, etc etc.
  2. You then ask that person if they understand this and if they would like to repent of their sins and ask Christ to be their Savior. If the person says yes, you ask them if they would like to pray for forgiveness and ask the Lord to save them.
  3. If they do not know what to say or how to pray, you lead them in the sinners prayer.
  4. After the prayer, you assure them that if they have been truly repentant, then God does forgive their sins and welcomes them as one of his children (or some such words, similar to what the priest does in confession).
  5. Now, you encourage that person to find a Church, become involved in parish life, and begin reading the Bible, usually starting with the Gospel of John.
  6. As much as possible, you should follow up with that person in discipleship to help them grow in the faith.
The problem with most approaches to using the sinner’s prayer is that a person is left with the understanding that all they need to do is pray that prayer and all is taken care of. However, the person needs to then be discipled and this is where many people fail in their evangelization of others. They go on to someone else and leave the other person behind to fend for themselves and very often that person never continues on in the faith, never grows, and often falls back into the same sinful lifestyle they were living.

The sinners’ prayer is a tool and like other tools it must be used correctly and not as a cure-all and not as the final test of one’s salvation. Nor is it the correct tool for every situation you encounter.

++Mark
 
The sinners’ prayer is simply an evangelistic tool to help someone who may not know how to pray to form the words of repentance and ask Christ to be their Lord and Savior. The scenario should go something like this:
  1. You present the Gospel of Christ to a sinner. You lay the claims of God in front of them and confront them (nicely) with their need for forgiveness and reconcilation with God, etc etc.
  2. You then ask that person if they understand this and if they would like to repent of their sins and ask Christ to be their Savior. If the person says yes, you ask them if they would like to pray for forgiveness and ask the Lord to save them.
  3. If they do not know what to say or how to pray, you lead them in the sinners prayer.
  4. After the prayer, you assure them that if they have been truly repentant, then God does forgive their sins and welcomes them as one of his children (or some such words, similar to what the priest does in confession).
  5. Now, you encourage that person to find a Church, become involved in parish life, and begin reading the Bible, usually starting with the Gospel of John.
  6. As much as possible, you should follow up with that person in discipleship to help them grow in the faith.
The problem with most approaches to using the sinner’s prayer is that a person is left with the understanding that all they need to do is pray that prayer and all is taken care of. However, the person needs to then be discipled and this is where many people fail in their evangelization of others. They go on to someone else and leave the other person behind to fend for themselves and very often that person never continues on in the faith, never grows, and often falls back into the same sinful lifestyle they were living.

The sinners’ prayer is a tool and like other tools it must be used correctly and not as a cure-all and not as the final test of one’s salvation. Nor is it the correct tool for every situation you encounter.

++Mark
And baptised. All the repentance in the world can’t do the work of a little water and the Holy Spirit.
 
Understood. Good point. But “orthodox” Christianity, even of the Protestant kind, even of the extremely evangelical kind, requires belief in the Trinity in order to label yourself “Christian.” “Godhead” or Oneness Pentecostals, JWs etc. are wandering off into the land of the cults.
And not one single group in all of your statement knows the truth…
 
Thank you for your answer. Would you say the sinners prayer is a man made doctrine then?
Thanks and God bless,
Jonfan
I would not call it a doctrine but I would call it a man made tool for evangelizing. Some one that has heard the Gospel and feels the need to pray the sinners prayer God probably already has saved them

seventy years walking with the Lord
seventy year in the fullness of the faith
seventy years a Baptist
allischalmers
 
And baptised. All the repentance in the world can’t do the work of a little water and the Holy Spirit.

There can be repentance and saving faith where there is no baptismal water - and sacrilege where there is baptismal water​

Baptising a kitten (as witches did, to raise storms) or a stone doesn’t confer any grace at all. Invoking the Holy Spirit over a currant bun, and baptising the currant bun in the name of the Blessed Trinity, is a waste of time, and a sin.

The “good thief” in Luke 23.43 was not baptised, he never went to confession, he was crucified for his crimes & did not deny that his punishment was just - but he had saving faith in the words of Christ Himself. That’s why the thief has a place in the calendar of saints. And he could not have had faith but for Christ.

Acts 10 shows the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the household of the Roman soldier Cornelius - before anyone was baptised. Baptism followed the reception of the Holy Spirit, rather than preceding it - just as happened in Acts 2.

Besides, without the Holy Spirit, no one can repent. To bring a sinner to repent is as great a thing as to create the world from nothing; so God alone can do it. And none of God’s works is a small thing, even when they fall outside His “usual” ways of working - which is why the Church teaches that God is not limited by or to the Sacraments; as is plain enough even without the Church’s underlining the point; for if God is Transcendent & Infinite, nothing through which He works can limit Him. The limits are in the creatures - such as the Church or the Christian. But our weakness & poverty is no limitation on God. ##
 
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