Is the Sinner’s Prayer in the Bible?
Is the sinner’s prayer in the Bible?
No. It is not a literal prayer listed anywhere in the Bible.
Because of that, some argue that it shouldn’t be used when leading a person to Christ for salvation.
I don’t agree. While the prayer is not listed in the Bible, it is simply a way of declaring to God that you are placing your faith in Christ alone for salvation, which the Bible does say is necessary to be saved (Romans 3:21-28).
Some argue for not using the sinner’s prayer, however, because they think that people need to make more of a commitment to follow Christ.
Take David Platt, for example, who says, “I have seen people ‘pray the prayer’ without ever counting the cost of following Christ.”
Paul Chitwood, the president of the International Mission Board, writes this in his dissertation on the sinner’s prayer:
“Jesus only instructed the disciples to follow him. The Rich Young Ruler was commanded to sell all his possessions, give the money to the poor, and follow Jesus. The Adulterous Woman was told to leave her life of sin. The gospel writers never suggest that repeating the words of a prayer was a part of coming to faith.”
These types of comments do not take into account that Jesus was ministering to people under the Old Covenant. The New Covenant did not begin until after Jesus’ death, resurrection, ascension, and sending of the Holy Spirit.
Committing to give things up, obey all of the rules, and follow Christ in all His ways takes the salvation requirements way beyond grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. They put the emphasis on man and his work over Christ’s finished work on the cross. It leads to people doubting their salvation because they wonder if they are ever doing enough.
When the jailer asked Paul and Silas what he must do to be saved, they didn’t say, “Well, you need to sell your possessions, give to the poor, leave your life of sin, and count the cost of following Jesus.”
They said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved.” (Acts 16:29-31)
The sinner’s prayer is just a way to help people declare that they believe in Jesus for salvation and to help them understand what is happening to them in their moment of conversion and how much they are being changed.
WHAT IS THE SINNER’S PRAYER?
There are no exact words that one must recite in the sinner’s prayer. The words are not magical. The sinner’s prayer is not an incantation.
However, there are certain elements of the prayer that are commonly used.
UNDERSTANDING WE ARE ALL SINNERS
Scripture declares that there is no one righteous (Romans 3:10) and that we have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23).
In our culture today, many people would never make this declaration because they believe they are good and not in the wrong. Having an awareness that we are sinners is necessary, otherwise we have no need for a Savior. Without sin in our lives, we don’t have anything to be saved from.
Therefore, the first part of the sinner’s prayer usually involves making a statement that we understand we are sinners and separated from a holy God as a result of sin in our lives.
MAKING A STATEMENT OF FAITH IN CHRIST ALONE FOR SALVATION
The apostle Paul tells us that we are saved by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8). Salvation is a gift, but a gift isn’t really ours unless we receive the gift. We receive God’s gift of salvation by faith.
After admitting that we are sinners in need of a Savior, the next step is to declare your faith in Christ alone for salvation.
ASKING JESUS FOR SPECIFIC ASPECTS OF CONVERSION
Being on the other side of Jesus’ finished work on the cross and under the New Covenant means that the moment someone puts their faith in Jesus for salvation, a conversion experience takes place. Jesus changes you.
Even though you don’t have to ask Jesus to do these things, it helps you understand what is happening to you at the moment of conversion.
Asking Jesus to forgive you helps you see that you are being completely forgiven at that moment (Ephesians 1:7).
Asking Jesus to dwell in you makes you realize that you are entering into a spiritual union with Him (Galatians 2:20).
Asking the Holy Spirit to give you a new heart (Ezekiel 36:26) opens your eyes to see that you are being given a new nature at that moment (Romans 6:3-7).
Finally, asking God to adopt you into His family, helps you see that you become His child and brothers and sisters of those in Christ (Ephesians 2:11-22).
All of those things occur when you put your faith in Jesus but asking Him to do them allows you to understand you are being made into a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17) as you are being saved.
THANKING HIM FOR SAVING YOU
If Jesus really does rescue you in this moment, then saying thank you is of course, completely appropriate. You just received a gift that Jesus had offered out of His love for you, and your gratitude will give Him the glory for what He accomplished in that moment through the cross.
IS THE SINNER’S PRAYER REQUIRED?
No, simple belief/faith/trust in Jesus is all that is required for salvation (John 3:16).
If someone places their faith in Jesus to be their Savior without saying a sinner’s prayer as outlined above, he or she will be saved. That’s the promise of Scripture.
However, while it may not be required, it can be helpful to understand what is happening at that moment and to also have in mind the exact time he or she crossed over from life to death.
SINNER’S PRAYER FOR SALVATION
If you can’t remember a specific time that you have ever placed your faith and trust in Jesus to save you, are you ready to do so now?
Do you see that you are a sinner and separated from God?
Do you believe that Jesus died on the cross as the payment for your sins and was raised from the dead 3 days later?
Do you understand that the only way to be reconciled to God and spend eternal life with Him is to place your faith in Christ alone to be your Lord and Savior?
If so, and you are ready to say the sinner’s prayer for salvation, here is an example of one that you could pray right now:
“God, I realize that I am a sinner and that my sin separates me from You. Thank You for sending Jesus to die for me and for raising Him from the dead. Right now, at this moment, I place my faith and trust in You Jesus, and in You alone to be my Lord and Savior. Please forgive me, come dwell in me, give me a new heart, and adopt me into Your family. Thank You for loving me, rescuing me, making me into a new creation, and making me part of Your family. Use me as Your instrument to express Your life and love through me towards others. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”