The Sinner's Prayer
The practice of seeking salvation through prayer at the mourner's bench, while not as widespread as once it was, is still employed in principle by many who believe that the alien sinner must pray to God for his salvation. Salvation by faith alone is just as widespread as it ever was, but the mourner's bench in revival meetings has virtually disappeared from the mainline denominations.
The following prayer in various forms has often been advocated for the sinner's use in seeking forgiveness: "Lord, I acknowledge that I am a sinner needing Your grace and forgiveness. I believe in Your Son. Please forgive and save me." Many sincere sinners have sought salvation by this route, deceived in thinking that God has appointed it for their salvation. We do not disparage their honesty in dealing with this matter.
The prayer of the publican in Lk. 18:13 is used as the Biblical basis for this belief. You recall that lie simply asked God to be merciful to him as a sinner, in contrast to the pride, self-righteousness, and evasion displayed by the Pharisee. What was good for the publican seems to many to be good for sinners today. The point that they fail to consider is that the publican's presence at the Temple shows that this man was an Israelite already in covenant relation with God. He had the right of prayer, and he also had the right idea of prayer as a humble acknowledgment of one's sins before the Lord. It is a stretch, however, to conclude that a sinner not in covenant relation with God today should do as this man did. After all, this man lived and prayed under the Mosaic dispensation which God had made for Israel. Jesus had not died on Calvary; the gospel arrangement operating after the ascension and exaltation of Jesus had not been activated at this time.
From the beginning of the gospel on the first Pentecost after Jesus' resurrection, it has been made clear that sinners need to believe on Christ and then to repent and be baptized into Christ (Acts 2:38 and other passages in Acts and the epistles). No alien sinner was ever instructed to pray to the Lord for salvation, but many were taught to do otherwise as already indicated. No passage exists connecting prayer to the salvation of the alien, but many verses exist teaching what the alien must do to be saved in view of Christ's death and resurrection.
Saul the sinner was told by Ananias the preacher to get up and be baptized so his sins might be washed away. The preacher also told him that in his doing this, he would be calling on the name of the Lord (Acts 22:16). Calling on the Lord's name in this verse refers not to prayer, but to the acknowledgment of the Lord as dispensing forgiveness, on the terms indicated. Such a request through obedience to Christ is the calling desired by the Lord, not some prayer apart from obedience. An appeal made by a penitent - believer as he is baptized into Christ, is the appeal which God answers (I Pet. 3:21).
May we all learn the Lord's will and submit to it in our lives. May we also teach to all who will hear it.
B.G.
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Last Updated January 28, 1998 by BobCleek
bcleek@niia.net
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The following prayer in various forms has often been advocated for the sinner's use in seeking forgiveness: "Lord, I acknowledge that I am a sinner needing Your grace and forgiveness. I believe in Your Son. Please forgive and save me." Many sincere sinners have sought salvation by this route, deceived in thinking that God has appointed it for their salvation. We do not disparage their honesty in dealing with this matter.
The prayer of the publican in Lk. 18:13 is used as the Biblical basis for this belief. You recall that lie simply asked God to be merciful to him as a sinner, in contrast to the pride, self-righteousness, and evasion displayed by the Pharisee. What was good for the publican seems to many to be good for sinners today. The point that they fail to consider is that the publican's presence at the Temple shows that this man was an Israelite already in covenant relation with God. He had the right of prayer, and he also had the right idea of prayer as a humble acknowledgment of one's sins before the Lord. It is a stretch, however, to conclude that a sinner not in covenant relation with God today should do as this man did. After all, this man lived and prayed under the Mosaic dispensation which God had made for Israel. Jesus had not died on Calvary; the gospel arrangement operating after the ascension and exaltation of Jesus had not been activated at this time.
From the beginning of the gospel on the first Pentecost after Jesus' resurrection, it has been made clear that sinners need to believe on Christ and then to repent and be baptized into Christ (Acts 2:38 and other passages in Acts and the epistles). No alien sinner was ever instructed to pray to the Lord for salvation, but many were taught to do otherwise as already indicated. No passage exists connecting prayer to the salvation of the alien, but many verses exist teaching what the alien must do to be saved in view of Christ's death and resurrection.
Saul the sinner was told by Ananias the preacher to get up and be baptized so his sins might be washed away. The preacher also told him that in his doing this, he would be calling on the name of the Lord (Acts 22:16). Calling on the Lord's name in this verse refers not to prayer, but to the acknowledgment of the Lord as dispensing forgiveness, on the terms indicated. Such a request through obedience to Christ is the calling desired by the Lord, not some prayer apart from obedience. An appeal made by a penitent - believer as he is baptized into Christ, is the appeal which God answers (I Pet. 3:21).
May we all learn the Lord's will and submit to it in our lives. May we also teach to all who will hear it.
B.G.
Return to Table of Contents
Last Updated January 28, 1998 by BobCleek
Return to Table of Contents
Last Updated January 28, 1998 by BobCleek