Considering the Sinner's Prayer

Considering the Sinner’s Prayer

The debates can be intense and the misrepresentations superfluous regarding the role and use of a sinner’s prayer.  Certainly we have seen many improper uses of a sinner’s prayer that have led many to a false sense of security regarding salvation.  These excesses must be avoided.  Yet we also must confess that Scripture provides precedent for one convicted about their sin crying out for God to be merciful.  Jesus speaks of a humbled tax collector who felt the convicting power of God in Matthew 18:13.  The man, “standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’”  Peter certainly offered a prayer of acceptance and humility, when after Jesus showed him divine power over the fish of the sea, Peter “fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!” (Luke 5:8)  The prodigal son came to the realization of his sinful condition and expressed a prayer of repentance in Luke 15:18, “I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you.”  The clear repentance reflected in this great parable manifests the heart’s cry of one turning away from sin and turning to God.  The thief on the cross offers a type of sinner’s prayer when he spoke up for righteousness by correcting the other thief, and expressed repentance with, “do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the condemnation?  And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds.”  And then He turned to Jesus and said, “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.” (Luke 23:29-40)  At Pentecost, Peter even instructs his responsive audience after preaching a convicting sermon.  In response to their question, “What shall we do?” Peter tells them they must “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ for the remission of sins.” (Acts 2:37-38)  Paul and Silas instruct the Philippian jailer in the same manner as he asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”  They guide him to a proper response in salvation, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved.” (Acts 16:30-31)  The biblical record is clear that a proper response to the hearing of the gospel is for a sinner to pray to the merciful God.  The mistake against which we must guard is the false promise that seems to accompany some type of mechanized prayer.  We must not give a sense of assurance to someone just because they have repeated the words of a prayer recited before them.  It is right and biblical to instruct someone honestly responding to God’s grace, but we must never cheapen the call to discipleship.  There are too many today who, “went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us.” (1 John 2:19)  It is my fear, and the fear of others, that many have contributed to this error by offering people a half-true gospel.  And in the end a half-true gospel makes half-true disciples, who are no disciples at all.