leading someone in sinners prayer?

[Len]

I was wondering what peoples thoughts were on "leading" others to repeat a sinners prayer? ........ I was with a friend as he lead another person in such a prayer but the problem I have with it was there was not enough information on "why" that unbeliever needed Jesus to save them and from what Jesus was saving them from .... so in essence they did not hear the full gospel message..... I suggested the new convert read Mark and Romans before we left him last week and hopefully I will have opportunity to speak with them again next weekend ..... I am just worried it was an emotional moment for them and not a true conversion......

 

[Tall Timbers]

If/when a person is convicted by the Holy Spirit and they're aware of their state of sin and want to be washed clean, It's enough to walk someone through a/the prayer and the work has already been done. The prayer is something to give understanding to the new convert... understanding of what just happened in their life(s). I was alone with a Bible when I got saved. I essentially prayed a sinner prayer for repentance without guidance from anyone. Even if they're not guided in the prayer, if they've been convicted they can stumble through it on their own. I think it's nice to have a Believer there to guide and to teach and even to explain what has just happened, though a new convert will likely understand what just happened as the Holy Spirit dwells in them and makes them new.

 

[ldonjohn]

Many people stop at Romans 10:13 and do not consider the next verse.

 

[Peggy0329]

The sinners prayer is not prescribed by scripture, it’s realizing you are a sinner in need of a savior and realizing that what Jesus accomplished with His death, burial, and resurrection was enough to pay the price for our sins and help us to attain salvation. When we truly believe, that’s what saves us. I know people who have prayed the sinners prayer thinking that’s what will save them and then realized later that they were never truly saved. That’s why at my church, we are careful about how we present salvation, so that we don’t accidentally mislead someone. Along time ago, I heard a Sunday school teacher say that someone doesn’t even have to pray the sinners prayer to be saved. That confused my poor little Baptist self for days, then one day I remembered the thief on the cross who asked Jesus to remember him when He comes into His kingdom. Jesus told him “today you will be with me in paradise”. He didn’t say “bow your head and pray this prayer after me”. Ever since then, I’ve viewed the sinners prayer as simply a way of acknowledging in prayer, what’s already taken place in the heart.

 

[lightofmylife]

For all sinners to be saved they need to believe that Jesus died on the cross for their sins, was buried, and rose again on the 3rd day. This is the gospel. They need to admit they are a sinner, believe the gospel and put their trust of the finished work Jesus paid for all our sins, and call on his name to save them. Whosoever shall call upon his name shall be saved. A=Admit, B=Believe, and C-Call upon his name Jesus.

 

[Set free 47]

I simply use a very good small booklet called "The Gospel". I leave it in different places, motel rooms, restrooms, and I also send it to people by mail. I recently sent one to some old Catholic friends. This book is so complete it does not need me to explain it, but I sometimes leave my email for questions and comments.
Some may disagree, but I think that these plans or formulas of salvation has become complicated with "Roman Roads", and "ABC's"and "sinners prayers", "confessing" Christ, "coming forward" and so on and on.... All that is really necessary is that someone realize he is a sinner and in need of the solution to his unacceptable state before God. When a sinner discovers from the Bible that Jesus Christ death already paid for his all his sins, that he was buried and raised from the dead and that only Christ's shed blood and death is provided to pay for all our sins and this completely justifies and reconciles us to God giving us eternal life. This is the good news gospel that saves us and it is the gift of God that all one has to do to receive this gift is to accept it by faith. It does not require any so called sinner's prayer, or ABC's, or verbal confessing. It is simply the good news of one's salvation that is provided as a gift. it is simply there and is instantly received by the sinner at the moment of trusting Chrsit as ones personal Savior.
This is what "The Gospel' booklet I mentioned above makes abundantly clear.
Too many people rely of what some preacher tells them. But I and others have discovered that if you give people a booklet or tract that they can study and check out what the Bible actually says about salvation, then the person can be firmly grounded in what the word of God says.
If you read my testimony of my salvation from 1975, I was not saved by someone in my face preaching at me:. instead I read how to become saved in the first six chapters of Romans. After I read in Romans and believed how Christ finished work on the cross had saved me there was no doubt I was saved: I truly believed and trusted that CHrist had paid for all my sins because God cannot refuse his only Son and his sacrifice for all our sins and he raised him from the dead. Thus we are also raised to eternal life. It is not about what we say, or confess, or some prayer we pray: it is simply believing what Christ has done on the cross that has justified and saved us. One just needs to believe it for his salvation and he is saved at that moment and forever! It is that simple. I would invite you to read this "Gospel" booklet I mentioned and see how simple it is to be saved just by believing what Christ has done to completely save us.
I once read a tract where a man who recently believed the good news exclaimed. "God says in his Word the Bible that I am saved, and it must be true!"

 

[daygo]

If/when a person is convicted by the Holy Spirit and they're aware of their state of sin and want to be washed clean, It's enough to walk someone through a/the prayer and the work has already been done. The prayer is something to give understanding to the new convert... understanding of what just happened in their life(s). I was alone with a Bible when I got saved. I essentially prayed a sinner prayer for repentance without guidance from anyone. Even if they're not guided in the prayer, if they've been convicted they can stumble through it on their own. I think it's nice to have a Believer there to guide and to teach and even to explain what has just happened, though a new convert will likely understand what just happened as the Holy Spirit dwells in them and makes them new.

Agree I did something similar yrs ago I told them what to pray and do it in their time, next morning she told me she said the prayer, I said good now find a decent church. That's the simplified version.

 

[KenE@21B]

I have seen many people over the years who have struggled in their Christian walk because they were not presented with the 'full salvation package', if I may call it that....

For example, people need to know that Jesus' blood cleanses them of all their sins, past, present and future, but that this does not give them a 'license to sin'.

However, it is also important to explain that salvation does not mean instant exemption from temptation, that temptation in itself in not a sin, that (sadly) they will sin because their old nature will war against the new Spiritual nature all their lives. Should they succumb to sin, all they have to do is be quick to repent so as not to grieve the Holy Spirit and that as they honestly confess their sins, God is faithful and just to forgive and cleanse them.

They need to know that they have been saved, once and for all, that their names have been recorded in the Lamb's Book of Life and that nothing in all creation can separate them from the love of God.

They need to know that by the stripes laid on Jesus' back we have received healing.

They need to know that from the moment the Holy Spirit takes up residence in our hearts, He will guide and teach us and that we are to learn to be sensitive to His leading.

They need to know that they are empowered to take authority over, and practically control their thoughts, speech and behaviour.

They must be taught how to apply the Spiritual armor, defenses and weapons of attack by looking for, memorizing and quoting specific Scriptures to help them overcome their (own) temptations and strongholds.

They should be freed of every familial, generational and\or other curse\s.

Some may see this as a bit extreme, but unless the new believer is discipled properly,
the enemy will use every strategy in his arsenal to trip them up - and as soon as doubt sets in, so does the process of backsliding.

I have also seen many believers start their Christian walk well, and then begin losing momentum. This is a good time to propose baptism, as an act of obedience - and the process of symbolically 'dying to self and sin' and 'being raised up with Jesus into newness of life' has often taken these believers to the next level of their walk with Christ.

In essence I believe that for someone to 'raise their hand' at a meeting, to 'come forward' and to pray the sinner's prayer, is woefully inadequate.

This is nothing more than mental assent to a concept.

What is really needed is regeneration, for the 'old to be made new' and for the heart of stone to be replaced with a heart of flesh.
Regeneration is the act of God by which a spiritually dead person becomes spiritually alive and the Spirit is essential to every aspect of a relationship with God, including being able to read and be nourished by His Word.

 

[Set free 47]

If you have watched the 1972 rather campy cheezy rapture film, "A Thief in the Night" there is a scene where this 7 or 8 year old girl comes home and discovers her mom and older sister are not there. She panics thinking that they have already been taken in the rapture and she has been left behind. She starts screaming and her mom and sister show up to find out why she is screaming. She tell them that she was afraid that the rapture happened and she was left behind because she was not saved because she had not "asked Jesus into her heart." Her sister and mom then lead her in a prayer asking Jesus into her heart so if the rapture came she would not be left behind. This is probably what she was told she must pray to be saved in their church.
I tell this story to illustrate how people are given things like "saying a sinners prayer", ABC"s of salvation, the Roman Road, asking Jesus into ones heart; coming forward and confessing Jesus" and other slogans have gone from becoming suggested means of being saved to being mandatory to be saved. All that is necessary is to believe the gospel of ones salvation. Apparently. this little girl I mentioned above was taught, perhaps in the church they attended, that to be saved she must "ask Jesus into heart", to be saved. And her mom and sister agreed with this. I am sure there are people who if asked, they will say they are saved because they asked Jesus into their heart, or they came forward and confessed Jesus. or said some sinners prayer, or followed the ABC"s of salvation, or the Roman Road or other slogan because they were told they had to do one of these to be saved. They may be unaware that all they had to do was believe the gospel that Christ finished the work of their salvation by being put to death for all their sins and being raised for their justification. That simply trusting Christ alone as their Lord and Savior is all that is necessary to be saved.

 

[athenasius]

Sometimes there isn't time for much teaching. My father in law was days before dying, and I had a brief opportunity to talk about salvation. I kept it as simple as possible. I don't even remember exactly what was said but he said he believed in Christ as his saviour. Then he was too tired to talk more. Within a few days he was dead of the heart problem that finally did him in at 103. I hope and pray I didn't screw it up. I do believe he gave his heart to the Lord.

While we were up at the farm visiting our daughter, son in law and 5 granddaughters my son in law said "I don't know what's keeping Bob alive" (referring to my 93 year old brother in law)

I reminded him of God's grace keeping father in law alive till just past 103 in time to get him saved. I said George and I are praying for Bob and I mentioned other family that recently escaped death from a stroke brought on by a tumour in the heart. (not what everyone thinks nowadays, slightly different, and really deadly) but we are praying for HER salvation TOO.

All I know is that God is GRACIOUS and He reaches us more than half way. He knows the heart.

 

[daygo]

Sometimes there isn't time for much teaching. My father in law was days before dying, and I had a brief opportunity to talk about salvation. I kept it as simple as possible. I don't even remember exactly what was said but he said he believed in Christ as his saviour. Then he was too tired to talk more. Within a few days he was dead of the heart problem that finally did him in at 103. I hope and pray I didn't screw it up. I do believe he gave his heart to the Lord.

While we were up at the farm visiting our daughter, son in law and 5 granddaughters my son in law said "I don't know what's keeping Bob alive" (referring to my 93 year old brother in law)

I reminded him of God's grace keeping father in law alive till just past 103 in time to get him saved. I said George and I are praying for Bob and I mentioned other family that recently escaped death from a stroke brought on by a tumour in the heart. (not what everyone thinks nowadays, slightly different, and really deadly) but we are praying for HER salvation TOO.

All I know is that God is GRACIOUS and He reaches us more than half way. He knows the heart.

Exactly athanasius.

 

[Tall Timbers]

I tell this story to illustrate how people are given things like "saying a sinners prayer", ABC"s of salvation, the Roman Road, asking Jesus into ones heart; coming forward and confessing Jesus" and other slogans have gone from becoming suggested means of being saved to being mandatory to be saved.

I think I understand what you're saying. Things like that can become legalistic hurdles instead of helpful aids. I personally like the ABC. It just helps me guide a person who is ready to accept Christ. I'm not going to ABC the person but I'm going to use it in my own mind as a simple guide.

 

[Tall Timbers]

However, it is also important to explain that salvation does not mean instant exemption from temptation, that temptation in itself in not a sin, that (sadly) they will sin because their old nature will war against the new Spiritual nature all their lives. Should they succumb to sin, all they have to do is be quick to repent so as not to grieve the Holy Spirit and that as they honestly confess their sins, God is faithful and just to forgive and cleanse them.

They need to know that they have been saved, once and for all, that their names have been recorded in the Lamb's Book of Life and that nothing in all creation can separate them from the love of God.

A lack of Bible literacy in the Church is unfortunate. After I got saved I learned a lot about what happened as I studied the Bible. I learned about the promises God gives us and understanding came little by little.

Unfortunately, many Believers don't spend much time reading God's Word and remain Biblically illiterate. A good church body is a wonderful thing, but can't provide a complete cover for the Believer who is Biblically illiterate.

 

[lightofmylife]

Here is what rapture forums says about getting saved. https://www.raptureforums.com/salvation/

 

[Wally]

Probably the most important part is,

You gotta wanna.

You have to know you are a sinner. You have to know your situation. You have to know your need.
Then you have to want help.

Jesus saves sinners, completely. Like a life line in the water, He is there.

But you need to believe. You need to take hold and let Him do His work. You need to want to be saved.
But knowing you need help, comes from hearing His Word. Knowing you have a sin debt that cannot be repaid by you.

The Word also gives us knowledge of the Only one Who can save us from that debt.

And yet even after all the good news, the confessions, the prayers, the assurance of God's promises,

We come to the next question:

Having received so great a salvation, How should we now live?
In the power of the Holy Spirit who give us grace and power to live for Him. To be transformed from a creature of wrath to a child of God.
To persevere until that final day knowing nothing we have done will add to our salvation, but instead add to our joy in, and praise of, the One who saved us.

 

[Set free 47]

Here is what rapture forums says about getting saved. https://www.raptureforums.com/salvation/

There are a couple of things I disagree with in the above RF how to get saved link.

First and most important is that salvation does not require one to "confess with your mouth....: from Romans 10:9. I think preachers have taken this completely out of context. The whole passage from Roman 9 thru 11 is Paul's lament and plea to Israel as a whole nation to accept Christ as their Messiah. It is not to individual Gentiles or Jews to accept the gospel. Paul gives the whole doctrine for getting saved in Romans 3 thru 6, 1 Cor 15;1-4. He does not pick it up in the middle of Romans chapter 10 and say, "oh, by the way, you have to along with faith confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus." Andy Woods gave a talk on the misuse of Romans 10:9 as a salvation message for believers. and i agree. When Moses led the Israelites they were told to verbally as a whole people confess with their mouth that would do everything the Lord said. (Ex. 19:7,8) Likewise, the Lord Jesus their Messiah makes the same command to Israel in Matt 23:38. Christ says, "You will not see me again until you SAY, 'Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord" Thus proclaiming with their mouths his Messiahship and accepting His Kingdom.
If you think about it, believers who insist that one believes the gospel plus confessing with their mouth the Lord Jesus are actually adding a work, verbal confession.
The terms for Israel accepting Christ's kingdom and Him are different. Faith and verbal confession. The terms of justification for the gospel of grace are faith in the gospel, the finished work of Christ, plus nothing else

Second; everyone who comes to Christ and believes already knows or realizes he is a sinner or they would not be looking for an answer to their unacceptable sinfulness. Repenting simply means to change ones mind, not turn from sins. Turning from ones sins, or willingness to do so, does not save anyone. The only kind of repentance that saves anyone is simply changing ones mind (repenting) and believing the good news that Christ's finished work has completely taken away all our sins and given us eternal life. You won't find the word "repent" used by John in his Gospel concerning salvation by grace. And the reason is that faith or believing mean the same thing as repenting. Everyone who comes to believe the gospel of their salvation has repented, that is changed their mind.

 

[ItIsFinished!]

There are a couple of things I disagree with in the above RF how to get saved link.

First and most important is that salvation does not require one to "confess with your mouth....: from Romans 10:9. I think preachers have taken this completely out of context.

If someone who wasn't a believer asked you about salvation and how to be saved , how would you go about it? What would you say to them ?

 

[Everlasting Life]

It is true that by believing in Jesus, putting faith in His work on the cross, paying for our sins by His death and securing our salvation by His resurrection.

And now you Gentiles have also heard the truth, the Good News that God saves you. And when you believed in Christ, he identified you as his own by giving you the Holy Spirit, whom he promised long ago.

Ephesians 1:13

All of the Bible focuses on faith as key to the door of salvation (with the Old Testament having types that point to the reality of this), resting in God's incredible grace.

I also think that if one did utilize the "ABC's" of salvation or any other similar guide to seeking the Lord in repentance and trusting Jesus for salvation that if the posture of the heart is believing in Jesus for salvation, that soul is saved.

While it's not these guides that save neither is one, who has a turned heart of faith in Jesus, who also happened to utilize a prayer guide, not saved. It comes down to the posture of the heart, the one time event of placing faith in Christ saves a soul eternally.

That's what God is looking at.....the heart, whether there's faith in Christ......no matter how small or faint.

The jailer called for lights and ran to the dungeon and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. Then he brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”

They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, along with everyone in your household.” And they shared the word of the Lord with him and with all who lived in his household. Even at that hour of the night, the jailer cared for them and washed their wounds. Then he and everyone in his household were immediately baptized. He brought them into his house and set a meal before them, and he and his entire household rejoiced because they all believed in God.

Act 16:29-34

 

[Set free 47]

If someone who wasn't a believer asked you about salvation and how to be saved , how would you go about it? What would you say to them ?

Since I have been on the RF forum I have expressed more than a few times how one can be saved by believing the gospel of their salvation by trusting in Christ's finished saving work of dying for all our sins, his burial, and resurrection from the dead.
I also think that giving ones personal testimony of how they became saved is effective also. So, I refer you to my personal testimony in the personal testimonies forum here on the RF. I think it is titled. "When I first became a believer." I like a personal testimonies because it doesn't make the person feel so much like he or she is being pressured or preached at. So, if someone asked about salvation I think I would use my testimony. Hope that answers your question.

 

[Tall Timbers]

I'm glad Jesus makes it simple to get saved. The person who has been convicted may not know everything they're supposed to be in agreement with or believe. They may not have a Bible or anyone to guide them. They might only know that they need Jesus thanks to the Holy Spirit convicting them, and they simply accept Jesus as their savior... and learn what's good to know later on... hopefully.