The Sinner's Prayer--What should it say? (Full Version)

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itsmehoop -> The Sinner's Prayer--What should it say? (8/24/2008 8:50:57 AM)

I wrote this--Let me know what you think. Thanks and God Bless, HooP

Father, God
Thank you. thank you for sending Jesus your only begotton son for my redemtion. Jesus--Your Messiah, My Savior, The Lamb of God sent to take away the sins of the world. And to forgive my sins personally.
Jesus, I believe in you and I put my faith in you. By faith I believe that you are indeed the Lamb of God and that you gave your life for me on the cross at Calvary. I'm a sinner and I need a Savior. Forgive me and be my Lord and personal Savior. I repent of my sins and become a new man. Old things have passed away. Behold! All things are new. Create in me a new heart. A heart that can be forgiven. Fill with your mercy and your grace. Jesus, take up residence in my heart. God the Father living in you and you living in me. Never will I return to my old life. Forever I will worship you. Forever I will serve you. Amen.



BillBaileyBFAFan -> RE: The Sinner's Prayer--What should it say? (8/24/2008 9:22:56 AM)

Why should there be a "sinners prayer" to begin with? Why do we always try to improve on what the Bible says.

Romans 10:9
9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

To equate being saved from sin with saying a prayer is dangerous. I would say there are alot of people in hell who repeated the sinners prayer, in whatever form they said it.

The key from God's word is believing. It's putting your trust in what the Bible says about Christ, and believing on him, that his death, burial and resurrection will rescue you from hell, and give you a place in Christ. That saves you, not a prayer.



LivingParadox -> RE: The Sinner's Prayer--What should it say? (8/24/2008 10:10:42 AM)

What is prayer after all...it's sharing your heart with Christ, it's giving ownership of everything over to Him. If it's a canned "sinner's prayer" with no submission to God's Will then I would question it. But, why would a honest prayer with the correct heart motivation not be enough? Jesus covered all of our sins -- it's people that want to pick and choose which ones aren't covered. If it is honest, The Holy Spririt will guide any other actions that need to be taken.



sparkleingsnow -> RE: The Sinner's Prayer--What should it say? (8/24/2008 10:44:35 AM)

I think it beautful. I also think that it is too wordie and to full of symbolic language for a new believer to understand.
It should be simple. As Jesus said, it can be as simple as "Have mercy on me a sinner", or "God forgive me for my sins. Thank You that Jesus died on the cross to pay the price for my sins, and rose again. Come into my heart Lord Jesus." However its said, it should be sincere and from the heart.

As a side note:
I also agree with BillBaileyBFAFan. Being brought up in a Baptist church, we have been taught that you must say "the sinner's prayer". But as Bill pointed out, God's word says that if we confess with our mouth the Lord Jesus, and believe in our heart that God raised him from the dead we shall be saved. I've given this a lot of thought and studyed scripture on this. I believe that there will be many christians in heaven that never said the "sinners prayer" as such, but that believe on Him and trust in Him.



SonInMe1 -> RE: The Sinner's Prayer--What should it say? (8/24/2008 2:17:53 PM)

Whatever the person is led to say.



AboundinginHisGrace -> RE: The Sinner's Prayer--What should it say? (8/24/2008 4:22:38 PM)

There isn't really a specific prayer you have to pray, just admit to God that you are sinful and in need of forgiveness and that He provides forgiveness through His son Jesus Christ and what He did for you on the cross, and give your life to Him.



Lufia -> RE: The Sinner's Prayer--What should it say? (8/24/2008 7:30:37 PM)

I never believed that i was a sinner for almost all my life. I always believed Christ was the son of God and that He died on the cross and rose on the 3rd day. For all my life i never felt the Holy spirit in me ( didn't even believe in Him) and i never loved God ( but i did believe in Him)

Then 6 months ago, i said the sinner's prayer with all my heart and i gave myself to Jesus Christ. And now believe me, it makes all the difference in my life. I know the Holy Spirit is in me, i'm a new creature for sure.



chrisovery -> RE: The Sinner's Prayer--What should it say? (8/24/2008 8:41:56 PM)

i don't exactly believe in the sinners prayer as far as complete salvation. i believe that repentance is godly sorrow for the things that we have done wrong. the word repent means to turn away from our sins. in order for us to turn away from our sins, we have to know what our sins are. i do think that the sinners prayer if stated from the heart with a whole heart does in fact open the door for the lord to start putting it on our hearts to seek the lord more fully and honestly.

but truly the biggest problem that i see with the sinners prayer is that it is taught that if we say that prayer that we have repented and it does not matter what sin we commit we are forgiven already. this teaching makes many of our young people believe that they are saved and yet they can still live in fornication, adultery and many other sins. not just the youth does this but also many of the adults. the churches do not bring forth teachings such as romans 3:23 or 6:23 or 1 corinthians 6:9-11. people are just given the prayer and that is it.

i believe that this is dangerous for the souls of man kind. if anyone finds this to be in error with the word of god please let me know and quote the scriptures to support what you are stating.



chrisovery -> RE: The Sinner's Prayer--What should it say? (8/25/2008 2:23:40 PM)

i must admit that i am in shock and confused. i have never made a comment like the one above that has not drawn to some other posts of agreement or disagreement. i hope that it is because we all agree.



TNBoy1041 -> RE: The Sinner's Prayer--What should it say? (8/25/2008 10:46:47 PM)

There is a fine line here that is hard to explain.

Salvation is, like someone already said, not about a prayer or praying at all. I mean if praying a prayer could get you to Heaven, wouldn't almost everyone be going? That's not the case, sinner's prayer or not. I was saved when I was six and yes, I sat down with a man and I repeated a prayer after him. NOW, some say that is not salvation, however, you must look at what the Bible says. I'm not saved because of that prayer, I'm saved because I placed my faith in Jesus for salvation and asked Him, with sincerity, to forgive me of my sins. If I had just said the prayer to be saved and did not know what I was doing, I would not be saved.

Thank God that He made salvation as simple as possible. It's not about a fancy prayer, but a simple faith in a big God! Believe on Jesus and what He did for you and ask for forgiveness of your sins and the Lord will save you, the Bible says! What about that theif on the cross, how was he saved? He did not pray the 'sinner's prayer', but he just voiced his faith that Jesus was who He said He was and Jesus saved Him!

Acts 16:31: "And they said, believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house."
I John 1:9: "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
John 3:16: "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

Put these verses and ones already given together and you see a clear picture of what it means to be saved. There must be an admitting of sin, a belief on the Lord Jesus Christ, a plea for forgiveness, and a confession of Jesus Christ as Lord of your life.

Again, it's not about a prayer, although forgiveness must be asked of God. The Bible clearly says that the Father will not cast anyone out who comes to Him for salvation. If we humble ourselves and ask for forgiveness and put our faith in Christ, we are saved.

While just repeating the 'sinner's prayer' as just words will not save you, a trust and faith in Christ is what is needed for salvation so I don't believe someone is not saved just because they repeated a prayer, it's what you believe in your heart, plus asking for forgiveness and confessing Jesus as Lord (both of which are done through praying).

Thank God for salvation from sin and the simplicity of it all for us, remember that Jesus paid the price!



RJR_fan -> RE: The Sinner's Prayer--What should it say? (8/26/2008 7:55:45 AM)

What's wrong with this traditional sinner's prayer?

quote:

I believe in God, the Father Almighty,
the Creator of heaven and earth,
and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord:

Who was conceived of the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried.

He descended into hell.

The third day He arose again from the dead.

He ascended into heaven
and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty,
whence He shall come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy *catholic church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and life everlasting.

Amen.


Wait, wait, I see what's wrong with it. The traditional sinner's prayer focuses on the Person and works of God.

We definitely have improved upon it, and now pay attention to something far more significant, our own selves, and how we feel!



LastofAll -> RE: The Sinner's Prayer--What should it say? (8/26/2008 8:27:55 AM)

“Two men went into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.”
(Luke.18:10-14)



MidActsBibleBeliever -> RE: The Sinner's Prayer--What should it say? (8/26/2008 5:40:16 PM)

What's wrong with just trusting Christ??



JimboFletch -> RE: The Sinner's Prayer--What should it say? (8/26/2008 5:44:34 PM)

I agree with LastofALL. "God be merciful to me, a sinner," seemed plenty good enough for Jesus. Why is there a need to fancy that up?



RJR_fan -> RE: The Sinner's Prayer--What should it say? (8/26/2008 5:50:49 PM)

quote:

"God be merciful to me, a sinner," seemed plenty good enough for Jesus.


Unless you read the NT in Greek, you might think that the publican was saved by his humility.

Wrong.

He was saved by the atoning blood.

"O Lord, remember the blood on the altar when you think of me" is a more cumbersome, but more accurate, translation of his prayer.

Again, here we have some real dogma, some real doctrine, a real understanding of what it takes for God to interact with man.



RJR_fan -> RE: The Sinner's Prayer--What should it say? (8/26/2008 5:52:16 PM)

quote:

What's wrong with just trusting Christ??
.

Which Christ?

The Archangel Michael "Christ" preached by the Jehovah's Witnesses?

The brother of Satan "Christ" preached by the Mormons?

The Wonderful Example and Teacher "Christ" preached by the Unitarians?



JimboFletch -> RE: The Sinner's Prayer--What should it say? (8/26/2008 5:55:26 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: RJR_fan

quote:

"God be merciful to me, a sinner," seemed plenty good enough for Jesus.


Unless you read the NT in Greek, you might think that the publican was saved by his humility.

Wrong.

He was saved by the atoning blood.

"O Lord, remember the blood on the altar when you think of me" is a more cumbersome, but more accurate, translation of his prayer.

Again, here we have some real dogma, some real doctrine, a real understanding of what it takes for God to interact with man.

I'll take that as an affirmation of my post...



BibleL7 -> RE: The Sinner's Prayer--What should it say? (8/27/2008 1:07:23 AM)

I'll have to go for the other Christ the one known as Jesus the one and only Son of the Father in Heaven.

Apostles creed makes it fairly clear which one

I dont much care for so called Sinner's Prayers for the simple reason stated previously that some tend to think just say those magic words and you are saved and have your fire insurance. And it is a shame that many preachers will state it just like that.



RJR_fan -> RE: The Sinner's Prayer--What should it say? (8/27/2008 2:18:32 AM)

quote:


Apostles creed makes it fairly clear which one

I dont much care for so called Sinner's Prayers for the simple reason stated previously that some tend to think just say those magic words and you are saved and have your fire insurance. And it is a shame that many preachers will state it just like that.


An excellent point. Wish I'd thought of it myself! The "sinner's prayer" is part of an entire package that includes boring, repetitive choruses, freeze-dried summaries, and barely/badly inked caricatures of historic Christianity.

I know of one guy who came to the Lord with the words "Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead. I'm tired of fighting you, God...." but this was after months of reflection, reading, conversation, personal attention from a few serious believers. This was a decisive moment in a process that stretched a long ways in both directions. But only God Himself was applying the pressure, at that point.



Covaan_Meshuga -> RE: The Sinner's Prayer--What should it say? (8/27/2008 10:49:20 AM)

Efforts like Hoop's appear to have been done in sincerity and hope, but the fact is that I had never heard of a "sinner's prayer" until long after my walk with G-d began -- a couple decades or more.

I apologize to Hoop, but I have no idea what to tell another to say in order for them to give in to Messiah, asking Him to take over. It is so personal, so between that individual and our Maker.

I think they have so speak to Him with their own understanding, and if they need help formulating a prayer, maybe we have failed in our mission to tell them why they need to pray in the first place.



chrisovery -> RE: The Sinner's Prayer--What should it say? (8/27/2008 3:23:13 PM)

covaan, i am with you all the way. i stated the sinners prayer from the depths of my heart but nothing happened. the true change came when i was broken in my spirit because of who i was and the things that i did against the lord. i wanted the lord to come into me and i want him to stay with me.

one of the biggest false teachings there are in america today is that god needs us. that is the furthest thing from the truth. god wants us. that is why jesus died on the cross for our sins. we are all in need of the savior, but jesus doesn't want us to need him. he wants us to want him, to freely accept him without any pressure but just the love of him.

i am truly sorry ladies and gentlemen, but the fact is that some years ago a church denomination came up with this in order to have lots of people show up because all we do is fallow some man in a prayer and live life the same way we always have. sorry you guys but this is not any truth that is written in the word of god. if it is p;ease share the word of god with me to show me.



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