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Acts 2:21 – Is “The Sinner’s Prayer” a Lie? – Article
Is it possible to believe a lie? Is it dangerous to believe a lie? Can we die spiritually because we believe a lie? If anyone doubts the truth that Satan preaches lies, then they have not read the Bible with an honest heart. Jesus Himself denounces Satan as the father of lies (Jn.8:44). Jesus speaks of Satan not only as a liar, but as a murderer because Satan murders through his lies.
Now let’s get a little closer to home, to today’s religious world. Is Satan still lying today? He preaches that to be saved, people need to say “The Sinner’s Prayer.” Here is an example:
“Lord Jesus, I know I am a sinner and have displeased You in many ways. I believe You died for my sin and only through faith in Your death and resurrection can I be forgiven. I want to turn from my sin and ask You to come into my life as My Savior and Lord. From this day on, I will follow You by living a life that please You. Thank You, Lord Jesus for saving me. Amen.”
There is truth in “The Sinner’s Prayer.” Yes we are sinners. Yes Jesus died for us. Yes it is through faith in the death and resurrection that we can be saved. Yes we must turn from sin. And yes we must ask Jesus to come into our life in order to become a Christian. But how do we ask? Do we ask by saying a prayer? To say yes to that last question is to believe Satan’s lie. It is a good sounding lie, but that’s how Satan gets people to believe it.
The best way to tell a lie is to clothe it in truth. There is no greater truth than God loves us and wants us to be saved. Because there is no greater truth than that, Satan will attack, twist and turn those truths into a lie. If there is no greater truth than God loves us and wants us to be saved, then Satan will convince people that God does not love them and that they cannot be saved; or he will lie about how God will save those He loves.
Is the “The Sinner’s Prayer” written in many Bibles? Yes, just not in the parts that the Holy Spirit inspired! Good-hearted publishers include it either in the front or in the back in hopes that people will say it and be saved. I too want people to be saved, but that comes from obeying the One who wrote the Bible, not obeying those who publish the Book. And let’s be plain, the Holy Spirit never inspired “The Sinner’s Prayer.” And even those who preach it do not claim that God inspired it.
When about the 3000 people were saved on the Day of Pentecost, and it would be hard to find a more successful evangelistic effort than that day? They asked Peter and the rest of the apostles, “What must we do” (Acts 2:37). Did Peter tell them to say the Sinner’s Prayer? No, through inspiration Peter said, “Repent, and be baptized, each of you, in the name of Jesus the Messiah for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:28). Did the Holy Spirit through Luke say, “So those who accepted his message said the Sinner’s Prayer? No, the Holy Spirit said, “So those who accepted his message were baptized, and that day about 3,000 people were added to them” (Acts 2:41).
When Philip preached in Samaria “the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus” (Acts 8:12), did the sinners respond with prayer? No, “both men and women were baptized” (Acts 8:12).
When Philip “proceeded to tell him the good news about Jesus” did the Ethiopian Eunuch ask Philip if he should say a prayer? No, he asked, “”Look, there’s water! What would keep me from being baptized” (Acts 8:36)? The inspired preacher said, “If you believe with all your heart you may” (Acts 8:37). The sinner confessed not His sins, but confessed “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God” (Acts 8:37). Then Philip ordered the chariot to stop, and both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him (Acts 8:38).
The gospel was preached, and people believed it, repented of their sins, confessed Jesus as the Son of God and were baptized. In doing that, they called on the name of the Lord and were saved.
And let’s close by echoing the words of Jesus Himself – Luke 6:46 HCSB “Why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and don’t do the things I say?
And what did Jesus say?
Matthew 28:19 HCSB Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
Mark 16:16 HCSB Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.
Jesus has the words of life (Jn.6:63,68). Let’s listen to Him (Mt.17:5).
[For the entire sermon, please see the same title listed elsewhere]
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