Why no sinner’s prayer?

First of all let’s take a look at what most people call the “sinner’s prayer”.

“Dear Lord, in the name of Jesus, I come before you. I know that I am a sinner. I know that Jesus is the Son of God and that His death, burial and resurrection from the dead has made my salvation possible. I ask you to cleanse me from all my sins by the blood of Jesus, from every sin from the day I was born until this very moment. I believe the Bible is your true word, and that by our word and my belief and confession that I will be saved. I surrender my life to you, and ask you for salvation through Jesus Christ. I want Jesus to come into my heart to be the Master and Lord of my life from this day forward. I thank you God for saving my soul, in the name of Jesus. Amen”

Then most of the “printed” versions of the “sinner’s prayer” goes on to quote Romans 10:13, “for, everyone that calls on the name of the Lord will be saved”. Then follows the words, “Congratulations! You have been accepted into the Body of Christ” So now let’s see why no more “Sinner’s Prayer”.

If the sinner’s prayer, the repetitive words that many today say to be part of the body of Christ, was necessary, why didn’t God put them in the bible? We see many other words, and instruction, but never a “sinner’s prayer”. So I ask you .. why if a sinner’s prayer is so important and it must be said to be accepted into the body of Christ, why didn’t God record it in the bible?

Now let’s look at the elements of the “sinner’s prayer”. First element, “you must say that you are a sinner“. How can that be? How can you claim to be a sinner, and then follow it with the words that you believe that Jesus was the Son of God, and that His death, burial and resurrection from the dead made salvation possible? How can you be a sinner if you believe what you just said… and that it made salvation possible?

The next element, “asking God to cleanse you from all your sins by the blood of Jesus“. Okay, now what was it that Jesus did, and what did the blood on the cross do? If you believe that He was the Son of God, that his death, burial and resurrection from the dead made salvation possible, how is it that after all Jesus did that you still need to be cleansed from your sins? If death is the wages of sin, and salvation means that you’re saved, then what Jesus did over 2000 years ago took care of it… didn’t it?

Next element, “I believe the bible is your true word, and that by my word and my belief and confession, that I will be saved“. Okay, now here is a tough one…. First you’re going to say that you believe that the bible is God’s true word, like if you don’t believe it, or say that it is the word of God, then it’s really not? Then by what you say, and what you believe and confess, that you are saved? But I thought you just said that it was what JESUS did that made salvation possible? If you’re going to say to God that you believe what Jesus did made salvation possible, then how does what you believe, say or confess save you? Didn’t you just say that salvation was made possible simply by what JESUS did? Does it really matter whether you believe it or not? Doesn’t that Jesus did it, make it possible?

Next element, “I surrender my life to you, and ask you for salvation through Jesus Christ“. How can you surrender your life to God? Then ask for salvation through Jesus if it was done for you before you got here? Unless of course you’re going to try to convince us that you’re over 2003 years old, or that what Jesus did missed you. Wasn’t it already done well before you were born? How can you ask for something through Jesus Christ, when Jesus already did it? And to surrender your life to God? Is He God or not? How can you surrender to God what God created, and is in full control of? Well maybe if God really isn’t God, or really didn’t do what He said, you could surrender to Him…but why would you? If He hasn’t kept His word to this point, why surrender to Him?? Think about it???

Next element, “I want Jesus to come into my heart to be the Master and Lord of my life from this day forward”. Well if Jesus is Lord, and Master, and the Son of God, as you already said you believed He is, then how can He be Lord and Master? What is it that He is Lord and Master of unless it’s you, part of God’s creation? If Jesus is King of Kings and Lord of Lords, that pretty much covers us all, and all that will ever be, or have been! Well doesn’t it? That was the title that God gave HIM before He came, and it remains today, and that too was done well before you were born! So why ask God to do what He’s already done, or Jesus to be what He already is??

Now for the final element, “I thank you God for saving my soul, in the name of Jesus. Amen” Thanking God… well that’s always something that we should do, but for saving your soul? Think about what the other elements have said you believe.. and when it was done? How could God save your soul, when your soul was born sinless and cleansed by the blood of Christ when you arrived? How is it that if you believe that Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection made salvation possible, that it wasn’t for all of us? If it was for all of us, then why thank God for only yourself? Why thank Him for saving your soul, when He’s the one that breathed into you life to make you a living soul in the first place?

Think about it! How can anyone today say a “sinner’s prayer” with the elements that so many claim must be in a “sinner’s prayer” and yet not deny the very thing they claim they must believe to be “saved”? Isn’t it clear to see that there is no more “sinner’s prayer”? Only those that deny Christ came in the flesh, went through that death, burial and resurrection that would be sinner’s in the first place! Is that what you are really saying? Are you denying Christ? I don’t think so…. and I’m sure that if you’re here reading this message, you’re not 2003 plus years old, …so when did Jesus make salvation possible??

Don’t follow the traditions and teachings of men, ASK GOD! Hear HIM! Realize that if you continue 2003 years after God sent His son and Jesus did what you claim to believe that He did.. and still call yourself a sinner.. or let anyone convince you that you are a sinner, then it’s simply a denial of Christ, and the redemptive work that Jesus did on the cross!! How could God send his only begotten son to die on the cross, resurrect him from the dead, and leave the world in the same sinful condition that it was in before Jesus came? Wouldn’t that be God making Jesus worthless?

Think about it! Ask GOD… and HEAR HIM!! If Jesus is the Son of God, and HIS death, burial and resurrection made salvation possible.. then it’s done.. and has been done.. and you were never a sinner to need to say a “sinner’s prayer” in the first place!!

In closing let me ask you this, as God asked Adam in the garden of Eden, when Adam was hiding from God… God said, “who has told you that you were naked”…. Who told you that you were a sinner? God or man??