The Sinner’s Prayer
As a false convert for over 20 years of my life I know the dangers first hand of the “sinner’s prayer” and the hellish teachings of “carnal Christianity” and the unBiblical phrases like “ask Jesus into your heart”. I too was told by many that since I repeated a prayer and was “in the club” that no matter how I lived my life I was still heaven bound. Salvation is not only from the penalty of sin but from the power of sin! Salvation is the product of being born again – being a new creation with a new heart and new desires and a God-given hatred for sin.
Friends of this blog, if you don’t watch a single video I have posted I urge you to watch this video. This man’s testimony is spot on. This will cause many to shudder and my prayer is that if you have trusted in a prayer, walking an isle and profess to be a Christian yet live a life of sin and love the world you need to examine yourself and cast yourself on the Savior Jesus Christ. If you are a pastor, teacher of evangelist who has watered down the gospel and holds to the hellish teaching of carnal Christianity I urge you to examine the Scriptures and repent.
Saved from the Sinner’s Prayer from I’ll Be Honest on Vimeo.
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Excellent video. Excellent testimony. I’m pleased to see a frontal assault taking place against the “sinners prayer” from many sources.
It’s a terrible tragedy, and one that has given those who believe one can lose salvation the ammunition to claim their “see! some fall away after being saved!” heresy. They never even consider that conversion never actually took place .. that they were mere words (see Matt 15:8). It’s a prolific heresy.
I am thrilled you have come to Christ! But, my friend, when Peter denied the Lord Jesus, He was given by Christ the opportunity to re-dedicate his life to Him. Christ asked him three times, “Do you love me?” The response of Peter was to re-dedicate what he’d given to Christ before. We must DAILY take up our cross and follow Jesus. Every day that you do this, you are re-dedicating yourself to Him. When you suggest that there is no such thing as re-dedicating yourself to Christ, – then you are saying that when someone makes a horrible mistake like Peter made – that they were never saved to begin with. That, is horribly wrong! Thomas, when he doubted – was given by Christ the opportunity to rededicate himself to his Lord. The scriptures are abundant with examples. You also seem to suggest that Christians can live above sin. Nothing could be further from the truth. The scriptures remind us, “if we sin, we have an advocate with the Father.” Christians can and do fall away for periods in their life. It does not mean they were never saved. It does mean that they are still very human. Even Paul admitted that he did what he didn’t want to do and did not do what he did want to do! This is why Paul said, “I buffet my body and keep it under subjection.”
I’m grateful for your testimony. Your glowing love for Jesus, I believe, is what motivated the video. But, if you think that now you are immune from sin..my friend, “pride goeth before destruction” and “he that thinketh he standeth – take heed, lest he fall!”
Hi Steven.
Thanks so much for commenting. Allow me to respond to your comment.
Peter’s reinstatement I would not call a “rededication” but repentance. Christians are not called to rededicate our lives as if there are times we are not in Him and times that we are. We are always in Him. However we are called to constant repentance. The Christian life is a life of constant repentance from sin. Why? Because like Peter, we do sin – and at times grievously.
That leads me to your next comment on a sinless life. I would never want to teach or insinuate that the Christian life can reach perfectionism in this lifetime. Far from it. Christians sin everyday and only by His grace do we now have the power to say no to sin but we are still in the flesh and the sinful struggles still exist today and that is why repentance and confession of sin (1 John 1:8-9) is so importance and even possible because we are in Christ.
I believe that my point is that we put way too much emphasis in the church on “rededication” to Christ. I frankly don’t even know what that means. It’s like the folks who get rebaptized over and over again. Why? I believe it’s a misunderstanding of what true salvation is. You’re either saved or you’re not. I don’t like the term “rebaptized” at all. It’s not Biblical. For example, I was baptized at 13 and was not saved. I felt I was and everyone was telling me I was saved but my feelings and other people’s affirmations mean absolutely nothing. There was no changed life, no growing in holiness and no love for the commandments of my Lord. These, according to 1 John, are the signs of true salvation. So when the Lord truly saved me I was not “rededicating” or “rebaptized” I was baptized once and for all. In the same way I believe we have distorted “re-dedication” to undergird the false teachings of carnal Christianity.
I appreciate your comments brother and your kind way of addressing them in a Christ-like manner. It’s so often that there are no gentle rebukes by other believers on blogs and it’s refreshing to see on. I think it’s just a misunderstanding of rededication and repentance and I assure you that I do not teach perfectionism – for my own life would destroy that teaching. :-) However, feel free to respond if you still disagree.
Soli Deo Gloria!
Thanks John! Appreciate your visiting my blog! Soli Deo Gloria!
@John
I feel you have nailed it on the head, while neglecting one primary problem within Christianity and the Church. One will continue in a state of perplexity when not realizing HOW MUCH The Words of God written in Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy are perverted by Christian doctrines and teachings. What Christianity has taught in their understanding of scripture is perverted due to the foundational errors within it’s origins that came from Rome = The Catholic Church. When you have an understanding of scripture WITHOUT the wisdom of G-D, that HE mandated for mankind to follow (the ways in which HE said one should walk and identify themself with The One True G-D) found in HIS WORDS written in GN, EX, LE, NU and DT you will have what we see in Christianity today……….perversion of the FOUNDATIONAL kind.
Will G-D have mercy? We trust HE will! However this does not negate our responsibility to seek foundational truth of the integrity of G-D’s Word and dispelling the Hellenistic paganism from Rome in which Christianity is founded. We need ALL TRUTH, not just portions in which we choose to embrace, while maintaining a resistance to foundational errors of a magnanimously fatal outcome we find in the teachings of Christian.
All The Best In Your Search For Purity Of Truth. Heeding: there’s nothing “New” about the truth or G-D’s covenant with mankind. The only thing “New” is what is being taught as the ONLY truth, “Newly” created in Rome that is damning the world from G-D’s covenantal relationship HE desires with all peoples.
I stumbled on this, well as I think about it I suppose that I have been led. A friend posted the link on facebook and then I googled the subject. There is a good counterpoint episode? that discusses this and I have found several other blogs and posts. Counterpoint was the only one that did a “wrap-up” so to speak. I could not glean from you testimony what was needed for salvation. What I got was 1)hear it 2)the holy spirit moves within you 3)speak it/repent 4)baptize. I have personally struggled with some bits. Can you enlighten me on the “elect”? Meaning that G-D has chosen those that he wants already (this makes no sense to me, cuz why preach) and that know one can deny HIM. Meaning, you cannot deny salvation. If it is presented, then you have no choice but to accept. Oh, and what would be a good starter book to help clear this up?
Something with solid biblical references to passages instead of piecs of verses. Sorry to go on, lots of stuff. Thanks, John
John,
Thank you so much for visiting and taking the time to post your comment and question. I’d like to answer your question as completely as possible. The doctrine of election is a Biblical doctrine that teaches that before the foundation of the world God has in His sovereignty chosen those who will come to faith in Christ by His grace. Ephesians chapter 2 is an excellent chapter to read on this doctrine. You see, if we are born spiritually dead (which the Bible clearly teaches) then no one would turn to God on their own without God first turning their heart of stone to a heart of flesh. This my friend is amazing grace. The fact that God would save anyone is grace. Many debate this doctrine but it simply comes down to the important question: what is the condition of man. If we believe that man is born good or neutral (which the Bible clearly does not teach) then we are thrown into false teachings of man having the ability to come to God on his own. However, if we hold to what Scripture clearly teaches – that man is born evil (Psalm 51:5) and spiritually dead (Ephesians 2) then only God can cause us to be born from above (John 3) and open our eyes to His glory and then we will find Him irresistible and come to Him.
The question you have about evangelism is a common one when someone first begins to investigate the true teachings of Scripture with regards to reformed theology. They often think to themselves that if God has already chosen who will come to faith then why share the gospel? The gospel must be shared for several reasons: 1) we are simply commanded to (Matthew 28:18-20), 2) faith comes by hearing the word of Christ (Romans 10:17) and 3) the Holy Spirit uses the Gospel to bring about faith and repentance. So a true Calvinist will hold fast to evangelism and will frankly be very passionate about sharing the gospel knowing that the work is not in vain – that God has His secret elect that will respond to the gospel call. Only the errant “hyper-Calvinists” will hold that one should not evangelize. Unfortunately this false teaching by “hyper-calvinists” has labeled inaccurately the true teaching of reformed theology. This hyper-calvinistic view of election is far from the true teachings of Scripture and reformed theology.
You asked about some good books on this subject. First and foremost be sure to spend much time and prayer in Scripture. Especially spend time in all of God’s Word to see throughout all of the pages the electing love of God. I don’t want to sound preachy but we must spend most of our time in God’s Word and then turn to other books for commentary and help.
That being said, here are some excellent books that I would highly recommend:
“What is Reformed Theology” by RC Sproul
“Whatever Happened to the Gospel of Grace?” by James Boice
“Chosen by God” by RC Sproul ** Highly Recommended!**
“Finally Alive” by John Piper
In addition, one of the finest websites dedicated to reformed theology is Monergism.com. Here is the link to view their section on the doctrine of election:
http://www.monergism.com/directory/link_category/Election/
These books will give you an excellent, solid understanding of the doctrines of grace (unconditional election being on of them) written by sound theologians that can be trusted.
I’m sure that I have not even begun to hit the surface of this glorious doctrine of election but I want to make sure that I make this important information as clear as possible. Hopefully some other folks will chime in with their book recommendations and Biblical responses to your question. Feel free to post another comment or email me directly if you have any questions.
May the Lord grant you wisdom from above as you seek Him!
Soli Deo Gloria!
You’re nuts! Get help. May you come to know God as you should.
Hi Chuck,
Would you mind sharing with me how I should come to know God?
Jay, thank you very much for your testimony, it’s great and honest. I totally agree that the so called “sinner’s prayer” often does much more harm than good, especially when some churches refuse to administer baptism to those who have not prayed that “prayer” in public – to me it is nothing but salvation by works, not by faith, and have no place in Biblical Christianity. And I do feel sad that we, Evangelical Christians, simply introduced new “sacraments” that have no Biblical basis.
Just one thing (please be patient with my English, it is not my native language). Apostle Paul in Romans, Chapter 7, speaks about the spiritual war between the new nature of a believer and the flesh, that is the old, sinful nature. He also rebukes the Churches in Corinth and other cities for tolerance of sin, legalism and many other things – but he still addresses them as saints, that is, genuine believers. He even asks to accept a brother that was excommunicated for adultery – without any reference to his “unregenerate nature”.
Here is what I want to say: our old nature does not simply disappear (I wish it were…) at the moment of conversion, it still tries to stand its ground and wage war against the Spirit. It takes years to overcome the consequences of life without God, to get rid of the “favorite” sins and to learn to resist temptations. We’ve got to realize how wicked our heart, how desperately corrupted our nature, and how powerful sin within us. I can’t help quoting John MacArthur here:
“So sin is powerful, and sin is near–even within us, and sin does not separate itself but is mingled into everything. It is interwoven with everything in our lives. The best that we do is somehow corrupted in some way–large or small by a taint of self-will, or self-pleasure, or self-aggrandizement, or self-righteousness, or self-gain, or whatever. And so we become easily entangled, and as I said, there are certain sins that more easily entangle us, each of us, than others do” (“Dealing with Habitual Sins”, http://www.biblebb.com/files/MAC/80-106.htm).
So I would be careful to pronounce judgement on those who, for example, have been fighting with an addiction or a certain habit. Yes, some people may mistakingly believe they are Christians while they are not, but some honest and godly Christian may suffer from the power of sin and doubt their salvation.
This is how I see it. Thank you again.
Hi Ingvar,
Thanks so much for your post and for visiting the site. I agree completely with your comment. I believe that the misunderstanding is that a true Christian will battle with sin and make war with sin and thus not be able to live a lifestyle of sin. This completely agrees with Scripture. (1 John) However, a false believer will not have a battle with sin and they will often be able to live in a lifestyle of sin because they believe they are a “carnal Christian” or they are being told by others they are saved because of something they did (walk an isle, pray a prayer, etc.) The key here is that when someone is truly regenerated the Holy Spirit will indwell them and the battle over sin begins. Yes, we will wage war with sin in the flesh until Christ returns but that is the focus: there is a war.
Sin in the life of a believer (not an unrepentant lifestyle of sin) can and does often cause one to lose their assurance of salvation. A true believer cannot and does not lose their salvation but their assurance can be lost until that sin is rightly repented of.
Again, thanks so much for taking the time to post your comment on my blog!
Soli Deo Gloria!
Thanks for telling it the way it really is. I was much older than you and had been in the church much longer before I knew that I was a sinner and was miraculously saved by God’s grace and had to repent of the pride in my life as well. Your testimony has many similarities to mine.
God took that anger and pride from me and I finally knew what it really was to be a believer in His Word and that the sacrifice He made with His Son on Calvary was for my sin! I am a sinner saved by His wonderful grace. I don’t know why he would choose me of all sinners, but I am forever thankful for the peace that only He can give.
It is so hard to live in this world of unbelief and see the beliefs of the world flowing into the churches like a mighty river and washing out the Truth of the Word of God with Man’s formulas such as “the sinner’s prayer”.
Thank you for speaking out, and God bless you!
We do have a preacher that preaches the Word and not the formulas, I thank God for that, but there are few around!
Kathy
Hi Kathy,
What a wonderful testimony you have – all glory and honor to the Lamb who was worthy to be slain! What a joy also to hear that you are in a church where the pastor truly proclaims the full gospel of Christ – they are few indeed!
May the Lord grant conform you more and more into the image of Jesus Christ!
Soli Deo Gloria!
- Jay
I too was a false convert believing that by praying the sinner’s prayer and then living without turly knowing Christ as my savior I grew up in rebellion. Finally, many years later, Jay finally covninced me that the sinner’s prayer was not true salvation and I came to be completely dependent upon Jesus Christ for all that I do.
The one comment that Jay made in response to a child walking the aisle and repeating the sinner’s prayer is “Time will tell”. In my case, time did tell. It told me that even though I knew Jesus Christ, I actually did NOT know him. Now, I believe that I do know him.
Tim Porter
Thanks for sharing your testimony Tim! All glory to Christ for His sovereign grace and infinite mercy and love.
Soli Deo Gloria!
Thanks for putting the video and this site together. I posted it on my facebook page. It’s important that we help and support each other, those who have been saved from the false doctrine and have been awakened by God to see it. It’s impossible not to to preach the true gospel, but hard and frustrating to do so give we live in a world of the lost, and espically hard to preach to those who think they are saved on there own merits, or intelligence to be able to come to Gop on their own. Thanks, and looking forward to meeting you some day.
Hi Andy,
Thanks so much for stopping by and for your comment. I agree with you that one of the major problems with Evangelicalism today is a lack of pure and true gospel proclamation. Just wanted to point out too that I didn’t make this video – it was created by the fine folks over at illbehonest.com.
Soli Deo Gloria,
Jay
Ya, the more I got looking into your site I realized the video wasn’t yours, but still a good one that goes with this post. I’ll be visiting this site on a regular basis. Thanks again.
I sent it to our ‘pastor’ and a bunch of people at the ‘church’. Thank you for posting this.