Is The Sinner's Prayer Scriptural?

Salvation is simply belief without any resulting action according to some. John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. Romans 3:10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one. Romans 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. Now all these scriptures are good and fine but do not point out the direct means of salvation as used by the Apostles and disciples of Jesus Christ. On the day of Pentecost, before this letter of Paul was written or even which before he was converted by his belief and baptism; there were over 3,000 converts were added to the church via repentance, belief, and baptism coupled with the grace of God. There as spokesman was Peter. And he along with Matthew, Luke, and the other 117 followers of Christ baptized the devout Jewish brethren from all parts of the known world that day. These new converts continued steadfastly in the doctrine or teachings of the Apostles. All this information is found in Acts chapter 2. Wikipedia states the following facts. This article is about the timeline of Christianity beginning with Jesus. Shortly after the Death (approximately in 32 A.D.) and Resurrection and Great Commission and Ascension of Jesus, the Jerusalem church was founded as the first Christian church with about 120 Jews and Jewish Proselytes, (converts) followed by Pentecost. (Pentecost means fiftieth. It can be called Shavuot or the Festival of Weeks in Exodus 34:22 and Deuteronomy 16:10). It is when the Jewish people were given the Torah and became a nation committed to serving God. Of course, we all know that from Pentecost onward that the church grew. This reaffirms that Christianity began at Jerusalem and not with Paul who was a Christian convert (around 37 A.D.) sometime later. Nevertheless, he was baptized in the name of Jesus by his faith and baptized believers in the same name. And all this recorded in Acts 9:18 And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized. 16:14-15/31-33 And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul. And when she was baptized, and her household, she besought us, saying, If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and abide there. And she constrained us. And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway. 18:8 And Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his house; and many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and were baptized.19:5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And lastly, Acts 22:16. And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord. He wrote in Romans 6:4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. Galatians 3:26-27 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. Galatians 2:11-13 In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses. Therefore, Paul who wrote in Ephesians 4:5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism, baptized every believer who confessed his faith in Christ in the name of the Lord Jesus. And he it is who wrote that all acts or words must be done in the name of Lord Jesus. Colossians 3:17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him. Because Jesus according to him and the other

apostles, was the family name of God. Ephesians 3:14-15 For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named. John 5:43 (Jesus speaking) I am come in my Father's name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive. John 14:6/26 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. And finally, Matthew 1:21. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins. No other name or title is acceptable before the Lord God. Acts 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. Nowhere did Paul intend to state that a sinner's prayer saved you. Such as this non biblical and man made formula that goes something like the following. "Just accept Christ into your heart through prayer and he'll receive you. It doesn't matter what church you belong to or if you ever do good works. You'll be born again at the moment you receive Christ. He's at the door knocking. You don't even have to change bad habits, just trust Christ as Savior. God loves you and forgives you unconditionally. Anyone out there can be saved if they accept Christ, now! Let us pray for Christ to now come into your heart." Now, the earliest notion of sinners prayer is less than 500 years old. And it wasn't formalized as a theology until around the time of Billy Sunday/Graham eras. Yet many hold to a belief system and so-called salvation practice that no one had ever held until relatively recently. The falsely held idea that one can pray Jesus into his or her heart and that baptism is merely an outward sign can not be found in the word of God. Instead, Paul meant that calling upon the name of the Lord Jesus saved you by your faith and in your baptism. As he did in Acts 22:16. Arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord. As per the instructions of Jesus in Mark 16:16. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved. Are you going to be a follower of Christ or of some false prophet? Your actions show forth what you really believe. 1 John 3:18 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. James 2:18-20 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? Here James points out that saying you believe, without resulting action to include baptism in the of Jesus for the forgiveness of sins, is useless. Have you have believed in vain? Matthew 7:21-23 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. These foolish virgins (outwardly clean, but lacking the Holy Spirit inside them which enters in after one's baptism in Jesus name) failed to apply the name of Jesus in their baptism. There will be many disappointed in that day. Christ Jesus must be your sure foundation. Ephesians 2:20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone. Colossians 2:6-7 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: Rooted and built up in him, and established in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. Luke 6:46-49 And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say? Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like: He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock. But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great. Is

Christ your rock? 1 Corinthians 10:1-4 Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; And did all eat the same spiritual meat; And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ. In the Old Testament all were baptized unto Moses and in the New Testament into Jesus Christ. Now the choice is yours to believe and be baptized or believe not. Either way, you will reap what you have sown. Galatians 6:7-8 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. Every person must bear his/her own burden or save himself/herself from wrath to come. Acts 2:40-41 And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation. Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. You alone will stand before God one day and give account of your actions. 2 Corinthians 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen. (Matthew 28:19) (19) Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: (Mark 16:16) (16) He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. (John 3:5) (5) Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. (Acts 2:38-41) (38) Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. (39) For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. (40) And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation. (41) Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. (Acts 8:14-17) (14) Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: (15) Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: (16) (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) (17) Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost. (Acts 10:44-48) (44) While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. (45) And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. (46) For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter, (47) Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? (48) And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain

days. (Acts 19:1-6) (1) And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples, (2) He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost. (3) And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism. (4) Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. (5) When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. (6) And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied. (Acts 22:16) (16) And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord. (Romans 6:3-4) (3) Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? (4) Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. (1 Corinthians 12:13) (13) For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. (Galatians 3:27) (27) For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. (Colossians 2:12) (12) Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. (1 Peter 3:21) (21) The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ: