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2. Investigate The Truth About The “Sinners Prayer” The “Sinner’s Prayer” is a common Protestant denominational appeal and plan of salvation. It is often presented at the end of the service when people want to know how to be forgiven of their sins be saved. The words may vary but the elements are usually the same. The assurance is given that if one says these words sincerely that God will save them.

3. See The Contrast And The Contradiction Between Billy Graham, Christ & His Apostles! • Billy Graham:  "Many are routes that lead to God-every one goes his own way from God and then every one  must find his own way back."  (Billy Graham, "My Answer," March 9, 1954) • Jesus Christ: " ... I Am the way, the truth and the life: no man cometh unto the Father but by Me." (John 14:6; Acts 4:10-12).  "...Reconciliation unto God is in one body by the cross...(Ephesians 2:13-16).  God's wisdom is made known by the existence of the church, a relationship whereby the world may be saved which He planned from eternity through Christ Jesus (Ephesians 3:8-11). • Billy Graham: "Whenever anyone points a critical finger and demands to know why there have to be so many  different churches all serving the same God, I am always tempted to point out how many different  styles of hats have to be designed for both American men and women.  We all belong to the same  human race, but we all have enough physical differences to make it impossible for us to wear the same style of hat with equal satisfaction."  (Billy Graham, Peace with God, p. 193) • Jesus Christ: "Neither pray I for these (the apostles  KET) alone ,but for them that also which shall believe on Me through their word; that they all may be one; as thou Father, art in Me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in US: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me" (John 17:17, 20-21).

4. See The Contrast And The Contradiction Between Billy Graham, Christ & His Apostles! • The apostle Paul: "...that you all speak the same thing and that there be no divisions among you..." (1 Corinthians 1:10-13). • The apostle Paul: "..., mark them which cause divisions and offenses contrary to the doctrine which you have learned; and avoid them....they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple (unlearned ASV)" (Romans 16:17-18). • Jesus Christ: "He who rejects Me, and receives not My words, has one who judges him:  the word which I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day." (John 12:48) • The apostle Peter: "And account that the long suffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; As  also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they are unlearned and unstable wrest, (twist NKJV) as they do also to other Scriptures, unto their own destruction." (2  Peter 3:15- 16). • Paul to Titus: "A man that is an heretic (binds his opinions KET) after the first and second admonition reject; knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself." (Titus 3:10-11)

5. See The Contrast And The ContradictionBetween Billy Graham, Christ & His Apostles! • Billy Graham: "Join the church of your choice and glorify God."  (Billy Graham, "My Answer," Dec. 15, 1955) • Jesus Christ: "...other sheep I have, which are not of this (Jewish KET) fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear My voice; and there shall be one fold (the church ket) and one shepherd." (Jesus Christ ket) (John 10:16). • God speaks to us today through Christ (Hebrews 1:1-3). Christ speaks to us through the apostles to whom He sent the Holy Spirit to guide into "all truth" (John 14:25- 26; 16:12-13; Acts 2:42; Acts 15:24).  Failure to follow the apostle's teachings is a failure to "hear Christ's voice" as is taught that one must in (John 10:16). Jesus said, "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me" (John 10:27). Compare what Jesus said in another passage; "He who rejects Me, and receives not My word, has one that judges him: the word that I have spoken, (through the apostles KET) the  same shall judge him  in the last day" (John 12:48). To hear the apostles was to hear Christ and to hear Christ was to hear the Father. Jesus put it in the following language; "He that receives you receives Me, and he that receives Me receives Him that sent Me" (John 10:40). • The apostle Paul: "...that He might reconcile both (Jew & Gentile KET) unto God in one body (church Col. 1:18,24 KET) by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:" (Ephesians 2:13-17 please read it all KET). • Billy Graham: "Real competition serves purpose, even in religion-If they were all united into one congregation and under one organization, they might not reach as many people or put as many people to effective work for Christ."  (Billy Graham, "My Answer," March 12, 1954)

6. Billy Graham Teaches • "WE MUST RECEIVE HIM  John 1:12, page 194 •     "But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name." •    "When you receive Christ into your heart, you become a child of God" (Billy Graham's Crusade edition of the New Testament KJV fly leaf page 7 bottom of page).    "Eternal life is yours the moment that you believe" (IBID, page 8, bottom paragraph). •     Earlier on the same page of the same New Testament fly leaf Billy said the following: •       "You can invite Jesus Christ into your heart, right now, praying to God something like this:"

7. Billy Graham Teaches • Prayer of commitment: • "I know that I am a sinner and need Your forgiveness; I believe that Christ died in my place, paying the penalty for my sin; I am willing to turn from my sin; I now invite Jesus Christ to come into my heart and life as my personal Saviour; I am willing, by God's grace, to follow and obey Christ as the Lord of my life." (IBID pg 8 top of page). • After these statements he wants his readers to list the date, day and year of their claimed "conversion."  Question?  If one is saved "the moment one believes", why must they then "invite Christ to come into their heart as personal Savior?" Why pray a prayer asking for forgiveness if one is "saved the moment one believes?" See not only the contrast between the Biblical cases of conversion and Billy's teaching about conversion but notice also he contradicts himself.  Another question: Where in the New Testament cases of conversion under inspired teachings were people told to pray for anything at all? Answer. No where! Saul of Tarsus who was fasting and praying was told not to tarry but to "arise and be baptized and wash away his sins" (Acts 22:16). In other words stop praying and do what the Lord's word commands the penitent believer who has confessed faith in Jesus Christ, be baptized to have your sins washed away.

8. Billy Graham Teaches • The Usual Baptist Confession Prior to Immersion • I have never been present at a "Baptist baptismal service," but I have been told that they have the persons who accepted Christ  to make the following confession: "I believe that God for Christ's sake has forgiven me of my sins." Which clearly shows that they believe one is saved prior  to baptism and hence Baptist baptism is not done "for the remission of alien sins," but is of one who believes himself to be saved already. I have good reason to believe this. 1). The New Testament from which I gleaned some of the quotes in this lesson was given to me by a lady whom I taught and "baptized into Christ" upon her confession "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God" (Acts 8:37; Matthew 10:32; Romans 10:10). She gave me this "Billy Graham Crusade Edition" of  the New Testament. 2). This lady  told me that this was the confession she was asked to make prior to her baptism.  Also it should be noted that Baptist baptism is "into the local Baptist church," and is not "into Christ" as the Bible teaches (Romans 6:3-6; Galatians 3:26-29; 1 Corinthians 1:10-13). Hence Baptist, just like those folks of whom we read in (Acts 19:1-7) are in need of Scriptural baptism "into  the one  body" of Christ  (1 Corinthians 12:13; Ephesians 2:13-17).

9. Where Did It Come From? • Not from the Scriptures •  It is important to establish that the Sinner’s Prayer is not from the Scriptures. • No where in the New Testament is anyone told to pray to receive salvation and become a Christian. • Since the Sinner’s Prayer doesn’t come from God’s Word, then it must have originated with men.

10. FROM HISTORY….. • Mourner’s Seat 1700s • In 1730's and 1740's a preacher named Eleazar Wheelock used a technique called the Mourner’s Seat. • He would target sinners by having them sit in the front bench (pew). During his sermon he would tell these front row sinners that “salvation was looming over their heads.” • After his sermon those in the hot seat were usually open to further counsel and exhortation. False conversions were multiplied. • Cane Ridge Revival 1801 called Second Great Awakening • In Cane Ridge Kentucky a “revival” lasted for weeks. • In response to the preaching, the intense heat and long periods without food people rolled in the aisles, barked liked dogs and became delirious. • All of these responses were said to be the Holy Spirit. • One wonders whether people affected their reactions to escape the long periods of preaching.

11. The Anxious Seat Mid-1800s Charles Grandison Finney (1792‑1875) took Eleazar Wheelock=s AMourner=s Seat@ and renamed it the AAnxious Seat@ and developed a conversion system around it. •  Finney wrote about his system. AThe church has always felt it necessary to have something of this kind to answer this very purpose. In the days of the apostles, baptism answered this purpose. The gospel was preached to the people, and then all those who were willing to be on the side of Christ, were called out to be baptized. It held the place that the anxious seat does now as a public manifestation of their determination to be Christians.@ •  Many accepted Finney=s AAnxious Seat@ and others objected. •  The practice was essentially a psychological technique. It manipulated people=s emotions to make a tearful profession of faith without a true conversion. Its success was dependent upon the ability of the preacher to stir up their audiences emotions. •  John Nevin, a Protestant minister, wrote a book called The Anxious Bench. He described Finney=s Anxious Seat as Aheresy,@ a ABabel of extravagance@ Afanaticism,@ and Aquackery.@

12. The Inquiry Room & Prayer Late 1800s to Early 1900s • 1.      In the 1860s Dwight Moody (1837‑1899) modified Finney=s Anxious Seat and modified it. Moody asked those who responded to his message to join him and his counselors in a room called the AInquiry Room.@ • 2.      In the Inquiry Room some questions were asked, some Scripture was read and then counselors prayed with potential converts. Prayer was considered the last step of Moody=s conversion process. • 3.      R. A. Torrey succeeded Moody in 1899 and he modified Moody=s system to include Aon the spot@ street conversions. Torrey=s method made popular instant salvation with no strings attached.

13. Billy Sunday Popularizes “Crusades” Early 1900s • .       Billy Sunday was a well‑known baseball player from Iowa. After a conversion experience in a Dwight Moody Chicago mission, Billy left baseball to preach. • b.      Billy Sunday was a very popular and entertaining speaker. He preached fire and brimstone sermons with a great deal of antics, show and humor. • c.       Sunday preached that one could be saved by simply walking down his tent=s  Asawdust trail@ to the front where he was standing. Latter people were said to be saved if they publicly shook Sunday=s hand and said that they would follow Christ.

14. Sinner’s Prayer 1940s to Present • Billy Graham became the next big crusade preacher. • 2.      Graham=s descended from Moody & Sunday. He used counselors to tell those who responded to his Aaltar call@ to pray. • 3.      Graham=s conversion method began with a prayer from what he called His AFour Steps to Peace with God@ which originated in a tract called AFour Things God Wants You to Know@ 50 years earlier. • 4.      In the 1950s Bill Bright coined the expression AThe Four Spiritual Laws@ which ended with the so called ASinner=s Prayer.@ ALord Jesus, I need You. Thank You for dying on the cross for my sins. I open the door of my life and receive You as my Savior and Lord. Thank You for forgiving my sins and giving me eternal life. Take control of the throne of my life. Make me the kind of person You want me to be.@

15. Passages Used to Support the Sinner’s Prayer • A.     John 1:11-13 • 1.      For years many denominational folks have used the phrases Ajust receive Christ into your heart@ and ATrust Jesus as your Personal savior.@ And the method of doing this is often the ASinner=s Prayer.@ • 2.      AEven in his own land and among his own people, the Jews, he was not accepted. Only a few welcome and received him. But to all who received him, he gave the right to become children of God. All they needed to do was to trust him to save them. All those who believe this are reborn! ‑‑not a physical rebirth resulting from human passion or plan‑‑but from the will of God@(John 1:11‑13, Living Bible, italics added). • a.       The words in italics are not in the original Greek. • b.      They are inserted by the translator, Kenneth Taylor. • 3.      While we are to trust in Jesus and receive Jesus by faith into our hearts, nowhere does the Scriptures say that=s all one needs to do to be saved.

16. Passages Used to Support the Sinner’s Prayer • Revelation 3:20 • 1.      ABehold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.@ (Rev. 3:20). • 2.      Consider how this passage is misused as a basis of evangelizing non‑Christians. AHere is a promise of Union to Christ; in these words, I will come in to him. i.e. If any Sinner will but hear my Voice and open the Door, and receive me by Faith, I will come into his Soul, and unite him to me, and make him a living member of that my mystical body of which I am the Head@ (John Webb, Christ=s Suit to the Sinner, 14, mid 1700s). • 3.      Many denominational preachers base their plea to sinners Ato let Jesus come into your heart@ upon this passage. • 4.      Jesus= words are not to those lost in sin outside of Christ, but to lukewarm Christians. A(14) And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write, >These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God: (15) I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. (16) So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. (17) Because you say, >I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing=Cand do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and nakedC(18) I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. (19) As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent. (20) Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me=@ (Rev. 3:14‑20). • 5.      This passage cannot be used to appeal to those who are not Christians.

17. Passages Used to Support the Sinner’s Prayer • Romans 10:9-10 • 1.      AThe basis of the sinner's prayer comes from Romans 10:9‑10@ http://www.sonserver.com/sinners.htm • 2.      A(9) That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. (1) For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation@ (Rom. 10:9-10). • 3.      Notice that nothing in this passage mentions praying for salvation or a Sinner=s Prayer. • 4.      What it does say is one must confess Jesus as the Lord and believe from one=s heart that God raised up Jesus from the dead. • 5.      If one argues that this passage states the only things necessary for one to be saved they would have a problem. • a.       There is no mention of recognizing one is a sinner. • b.      There is no mention of repentance or turning from sin. Jesus said, AI tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.@ (Lk. 13:3). • c.       And there is no mention of baptism for sin. Jesus also said, AHe who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned@ (Mk. 16:16). • 6.      Belief and confession are Aunto salvation@ or lead to salvation but are not complete until and unless one truly repents of their sins and is baptized into Christ for the remission of their sins.

18. Passages Used to Support the Sinner’s Prayer • .     Romans 10:13 • 1.      AFor >whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved=@ (Rom. 10:13). • 2.      This text is not instructing prayer for salvation. • 3.      Paul is quoting a promise of the Old Testament of the availability of salvation with the coming of Christ. • 4.      The action of Acalling on the name of the Lord@ does not refer to prayer but belief and obedience to the commands of the Lord. • 5.      Calling on the name of the Lord includes • a.       Belief (Rom. 10:9) • b.      Confession (Rom. 10:9) • c.       Repentance (Acts 2:21, 37-38) • d.      And baptism (Acts 22:16).

19. Passages Used to Support the Sinner’s Prayer • .      Luke 18:13 • 1.      A(13) And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, >God, be merciful to me a sinner!= (14) I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted@ (Lk. 18:13-14). • 2.      Is this an example of the Sinner=s Prayer that saves and makes one a Christian? • 3.      This prayer was offered by a Jew who lived under the Law of Moses. • a.       As a Jew he would have already been a child of God. • b.      As a Jew he was in covenant to God. • c.       As a Jew he could pray and receive forgiveness for his sins from God. • d.      As a Jew he lived before the death of Christ and the offering of salvation through Christ. • 4.      The prayer of the tax collector is not an example of a prayer that a sinner might pray today to be saved.

20. .       No One Was Ever Told To Say the Sinner’s Prayer To Be Saved • Those on Pentecost • 1.      ANow when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, AMen and brethren, what shall we do?@@ (Acts 2:37). • 2.      And Peter said, ASay the Sinner=s Prayer and you shall be saved from your sins and become a Christian.@ No, that=s not what he said. • 3.      Why not? That is exactly what you will hear over and over again from so many preachers. Why can=t these denominational preachers simply give the answer Peter gave? • 4.      AThen Peter said to them, >Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit=@ (Acts 2:38). • 5.      The reason so many denominational preachers can=t give people Peter=s answer is they don=t believe it!

21. No One Was Ever Told To Say the Sinner’s Prayer To Be Saved • .     The Samaritans & Simon • 1.      A(4) Therefore those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word. (5) Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ to them@ (Acts 8:4-5). • 2.      And when they believed Philip=s preaching, they prayed the ASinner=s Prayer@ and received Jesus into their hearts and were saved? • a.       The modern preaching Acrusades@ go out preaching Christ. • b.      What happens when people believe the preaching? What are they told? • c.       They are told to pray to get salvation, but this is not what Philip preached to the Samaritans. • 3.      A(12) But when they believed Philip as he preached the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized. (13) Then Simon himself also believed; and when he was baptized he continued with Philip, and was amazed, seeing the miracles and signs which were done@ (Acts 8:12-13).

22. No One Was Ever Told To Say the Sinner’s Prayer To Be Saved • The Ethiopian eunuch • 1.      A(35) Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at this Scripture, preached Jesus to him@ (Acts 8:35). • 2.      And after preaching Jesus, the eunuch wanted to know how to become saved. And Philip said, AIf you pray the Sinner=s Prayer and ask Jesus to come into your heart, you may.@ And right there in the chariot as they rode down the road the eunuch said the Sinner=s Prayer and received Jesus into his heart and was saved? • a.       How many times do preachers today tell people that wherever they are they can be saved by simply saying the Sinner=s Prayer. • b.      Doesn=t it seem strange that we hear so much about the Sinner=s Prayer today and yet we don=t read about it in the New Testament and Philip didn=t preach it here when it would have been most convenient. • 3.      A(36) Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, >See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?= (37) Then Philip said, >If you believe with all your heart, you may.= And he answered and said, >I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.= (38) So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him. (39) Now when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away, so that the eunuch saw him no more; and he went on his way rejoicing@ (Acts 8:36-39). • 4.      When Philip preached Jesus he didn=t preach the Sinner=s Prayer, he preached baptism. • 5.      Why didn=t Philip tell the eunuch to pray for salvation? • a.       He would not have had to stop the chariot. • b.      He would not have had to go down into the water. • c.       He would not have had to get wet.

23. No One Was Ever Told To Say the Sinner’s Prayer To Be Saved • Cornelius & his household • 1.      Cornelius and his household were the first Gentile converts to Christ. • 2.      Upon the arrival of the apostle Peter at his house Cornelius said, ASo I sent to you immediately, and you have done well to come. Now therefore, we are all present before God, to hear all the things commanded you by God@  (Acts 10:33). • 3.      What a great opportunity to tell all of those gathered how they needed to say the ASinner=s Prayer.@ • a.       After all, Cornelius was a praying man. A(1) There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian Regiment, (2) a devout man and one who feared God with all his household, who gave alms generously to the people, and prayed to God always@ (Acts 10:1-2). • b.      But nothing in the record says Peter told Cornelius to pray some more! Why not? Because that was not how he was to receive salvation • 4.      What things did Peter command by God to Cornelius? • a.       Belief in Christ A(42) And He commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that it is He who was ordained by God to be Judge of the living and the dead. (43) To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins@ (Acts 10:42-43). • b.      And baptism in the name of Christ. AAnd he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then they asked him to stay a few days@ (Acts 10:48). • c.       No prayer for salvation was commanded by God for Cornelius to be saved.

24. No One Was Ever Told To Say the Sinner’s Prayer To Be Saved • .      Lydia & her household • 1.      As Paul was preaching throughout the Roman empire we have several examples of what he instructed people to do in order to be saved. • 2.      There are two conversion examples in Acts 16, the first is Lydia. • 3.      A(13) And on the Sabbath day we went out of the city to the riverside, where prayer was customarily made; and we sat down and spoke to the women who met there. (14) Now a certain woman named Lydia heard us. She was a seller of purple from the city of Thyatira, who worshiped God. The Lord opened her heart to heed the things spoken by Paul@ (Acts 16:13-14). • 4.      And Paul instructed her to say the Sinner=s Prayer and she was saved? • a.       Lydia was in the place of prayer. • b.      Paul was teaching her, why didn=t he tell her to say the Sinner=s Prayer? • 5.      How was Lydia converted. AAnd when she and her household were baptized, she begged us, saying, >If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay.= So she persuaded us@ (Acts 16:15). • a.       How did Lydia become one of the faithful to the Lord? • b.      She responded to Paul=s preaching by being baptized. • c.       No mention of an altar call, a Mourner=s seat, an Anxious seat, an Inquiry room or a Sinner=s prayer.

25. No One Was Ever Told To Say the Sinner’s Prayer To Be Saved • .     Philippian Jailer • 1.      While preaching in Philippi, Paul and Silas were thrown into jail into the custody of a jail keeper. • 2.      After an earthquake and the jail keeper A(30) And he brought them out and said, >Sirs, what must I do to be saved?= (31) So they said, >Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household=@ (Acts 16:30-31). • a.       Denominational preachers like this particular conversion example and use it often. • b.      They like it because they stop right in the middle of it and insert the Sinner=s Prayer. • c.       And they spoke the word of the Lord to the jailer and all his house and told them to say the Sinner=s Prayer to be saved? • d.      That=s not what happened. They did instruct the jailer on how to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ but nowhere do we find they instructed them to say a prayer. • 3.      A(32) Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. (33) And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes. And immediately he and all his family were baptized. (34) Now when he had brought them into his house, he set food before them; and he rejoiced, having believed in God with all his household@ (Acts 16:31-34). • a.       After preaching the Word of the Lord in Athe same hour of the night@ and Aimmediately@ the jailer and all his family were baptized. • b.      No mention of any instruction to pray for salvation!

26. No One Was Ever Told To Say the Sinner’s Prayer To Be Saved • Corinthians • 1.      When Paul came to Corinth we read of his A(4) And he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and persuaded both Jews and Greeks. (5) When Silas and Timothy had come from Macedonia, Paul was compelled by the Spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus is the Christ@ (Acts 18:4-5). • 2.      And many of the Corinthians heard, believed, confessed and prayed the Sinner=s Prayer and were saved? No that is not what Paul preached, nor what Luke recorded, nor how the Corinthians were saved. • 3.      AThen Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his household. And many of the Corinthians, hearing, believed and were baptized@ (Acts 18:8).

27. No One Was Ever Told To Say the Sinner’s Prayer To Be Saved • .        Men at Ephesus • 1.      When Paul came to Ephesus he found some men who were disciples of John and had received John=s baptism. • 2.      AThen Paul said, >John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe on Him who would come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus=@ (Acts 19:4). • 3.      And when they heard this they knelt down and said the Sinner=s Prayer? • 4.      A(5) When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord@ (Acts 19:5).

28. No One Was Ever Told To Say the Sinner’s Prayer To Be Saved • Saul of Tarsus (Acts 9, 22 & 26). • 1.      The account of Saul=s conversion is found in three places in Acts 9, 22 & 26. • 2.      Saul was on his way from Jerusalem to Damascus. • 3.      Saul had arrest warrants to arrest Christians to bring them back to Jerusalem for trial and to be put to death. • 4.      But on the road to Damascus he was blinded by a great light. And the Lord appeared to him. • 5.      ASo he, trembling and astonished, said, ALord, what do You want me to do?@ (Acts 9:6) and the Lord said ASaul, Saul why haven=t you prayed to me and said the Sinner=s Prayer?@ No. • 6.      AThen the Lord said to him, >Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do=@ (Acts 9:6). • 7.      Saul went into Damascus and for three days Saul did not eat food or drink and he prayed (Acts 9:9, 11). If there was ever anyone who should have been saved by prayer it should have been Saul! • 8.      But the Lord sent Ananias to Saul to tell him what to do as he had promised Saul.

29. No One Was Ever Told To Say the Sinner’s Prayer To Be Saved • 9.      And Ananias said AAnd now why are you waiting? Get down on your knees and pray the Sinner=s Prayer to wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord@? • 10.  Ananias said A>And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.=@ (Acts 22:16). • a.       Saul was told to arise, not get down on his knees. • b.      Saul was told to be baptized to wash away his sins. • c.       Even after three days of praying Saul was still in his sins and in need of cleansing. • d.      The act of being baptized was the act of calling on the name of the Lord. • e.       No prayer is commanded and Saul spoke none to wash away his sins. • 11.  And Saul immediately got down on his knees and prayed the Sinner=s Prayer? • 12.  AImmediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he received his sight at once; and he arose and was baptized.@ (Acts 9:18).

30. Simply Calling on the Lord in Prayer is Insufficient • The closest to the ASinner=s Prayer@ is found in Jesus= words are found in the Sermon on the Mount. • 1.      A(21) Not everyone who says to Me, >Lord, Lord,= shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. (22) Many will say to Me in that day, >Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?= (23) And then I will declare to them, >I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!= (Mt. 7:21-23). • 2.      It is not enough to simply call on the name of the Lord. • 3.      One must do the will of the Father. • 4.      One must not simply prayer something, they must do something. • B.     Jesus gave us an illustration to explain what he meant. • 1.      A(24) Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: (25) and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. (26) But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: (27) and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall@ (Mt. 7:24-27). • 2.      ABut why do you call Me >Lord, Lord,= and do not do the things which I say?@ (Lk. 6:46).

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