The Sinner's Prayer

There is a very popular teaching that says salvation comes through prayer. Commonly called the "Sinner's Prayer," the idea is that one can become a Christian by simply uttering a short prayer admitting they are a sinner and asking Jesus into their heart. This may sound good, but is it biblical?

You will not find "Sinner's Prayer" anywhere in the Bible. It is a relatively modern teaching that can only be traced back a few hundred years, becoming especially popular in the early 1900s with men like Billy Sunday and Billy Graham.

Jesus said to "believe and be baptized" for salvation (Mark 16:16). He did not say anything about prayer. Then on the day of Pentecost, Peter said to "repent and be baptized" for forgiveness (Acts 2:38). He did not say anything about prayer, either. In fact, none of the detailed conversions in the book of Acts even hint at salvation coming through prayer. It is a false doctrine that originated with man, not God.

Perhaps the best example to refute the "Sinner's Prayer" is Saul of Tarsus. He fasted and fervently prayed to God for three days. What do you supposed he was praying for? Forgiveness! There is no doubt that he was confessing his sins and begging God to take them away. Yet he was still in is sins until baptism (Acts 22:16). Hence, salvation does not come through prayer.

Cornelius the Gentile fervently prayed to God and his prayers were answered. However, they did not save him. He was told to call for Peter who would "declare to you a message by which you will be saved" (Acts 11:14). That message included a command to be baptized (Acts 10:48) but did not mention praying. Hence, we again see that salvation does not come through prayer.

Historically, proponents of the "Sinner's Prayer" have quoted Revelation 3:20 as justification for their teaching, ignoring the fact that it was written to Christians and says nothing about prayer. Others have argued from Luke 18:9-14, ignoring the fact that it is a parable designed to teach humility in prayer, not how alien sinners are saved, and that both men were already in the covenant relationship as Jews. Still others have pointed to passages that talk about "calling on the name of the Lord" for salvation. However, that involves more than a verbal utterance. Calling is equivalent to obeying. For instance, in his sermon on the day of Pentecost, Peter told the Jews that "everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved" (Acts 2:21). Then he said to "repent and be baptized" to be saved (vs. 38). Did Peter contradict himself in the same sermon? Of course not. Then what must we conclude? That one calls on the name of the Lord when he repents and is baptized. Hence, calling is equivalent to obeying (also see Acts 22:16).

No one in the Bible ever became a Christian by praying. It is a false means of salvation. Prayer is a privilege for Christians; it is not how we become Christians. Stay away from preachers who teach that salvation comes through prayer.