The Sinner’s Prayer

Let me apologize for missing last week’s post. My site was down for a few days due to some changeovers and file migrations. Thank you for your patience.

 

In our Sunday school class, we’re in the 10^th chapter of the book of Romans. This is the chapter that contains The Roman Road, or the road/plan to our salvation. (Read Romans 10:9-13).

I was a Methodist and then after marriage being Presbyterian for 47 years, I can say I don’t recall hearing the term, The Roman Road. Maybe, but it isn’t filed away in my memory banks. Something as important and profound as this surely would have been.

After our class a week ago, J (that’s Hubby) asked our teacher about what has become known as The Sinner’s Prayer. Hubby was reared in the Baptist church, so he was familiar with this term. We were surprised to hear our entire lesson this past Sunday based on that one question J had posed.

I don’t know about you, but the things we see and read both on social media, on YouTube channels, and in some podcasts have talked about this prayer quite a bit lately. This is a bit of what we’ve encountered: When one prays it, is one automatically saved, or really and truly saved? Did that prayer guarantee you entry into Eternity, or is there more to it?

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ANSWERS IN ROMANS CHAPTER 10

Well, if you go to the verses I cited above in the 10th chapter of Romans, you will find the answer to that question. Paul lays it out clearly. The first step is belief. But not just belief in a good man who lived on the earth. This is belief in a personal Savior. Belief that Jesus is exactly who He said He is—the Son of God. But it doesn’t end there. We must believe that Jesus was crucified, that He died, that He was buried, and that He rose from the dead.

(Check out C. Marvin Pate’s commentary on Romans, published by Baker Books in 2013. I’ve found it quite helpful.)    https://amzn.to/3Ooymfb

We learned in our class that several denominations don’t even mention a resurrected Christ. What? Isn’t that the essence of Christianity? That we serve a risen Savior, as the old hymn says. Hear that hymn here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6G8F8UzuSGE

BUT WAIT . . . THERE’S MORE

This lesson didn’t end there. As we sat in the church service after our class, we were surprised to hear our pastor repeat this same plan for salvation. He showed videos of massive numbers of people being baptized out in California, of all places. (After the release of the movie, The Jesus Revolution.)

And earlier this week as we scrolled through some YouTube channels we often watch, we came upon a sermon by guest pastor, H.B. Charles, at Grace Community Church, titled, The Sinner’s Prayer. No, we weren’t seeking this title or subject, it just popped up. A God-incidence. Hear/see that sermon here:     https://youtu.be/EfyWnwTC42w?si=iWo7CZilcnK6RBgy

DAVID’S PRAYER OF REPENTANCE

His chosen Scripture was the entire 51^st Psalm. This is the prayer David prayed after Nathan came to let him know that while David thought he had hidden well his sin with Bathsheba, and the ultimate death of her husband, Uriah, God had seen. If you know David’s story and his heart at all, if you’re like me, it’s hard to believe that David would think he could hide anything from God. Had his sin taken such a strong hold on him that he was in total denial? (Read Psalm 51). Is this what we do?

When confronted, David was overwhelmed with contrition. His words in this Psalm are powerful and are a perfect example of how we should come before our Holy God with confession and true repentance of our sins. David takes full responsibility for his sin and ends the Psalm by asking God to give him a new heart and not to take the Holy Spirit from him (vs. 10-11). (David had seen Holy Spirit’s guidance removed from King Saul. He didn’t want this to be his experience.) So, David knew these things. He just needed to be reminded. Thus, the visit from Nathan. The Psalm ends with David praising God and asking for His favor in Jerusalem.

Wow!

About this Psalm, H.B. Charles said this, He prays for mercy not because he deserves it—he prays for mercy with confidence in the character of God. This jumped out to both J and me. David knew God and His character. How else could he have written these repentant, powerful words? He knew he’d wronged God. But he trusted God to hear his broken and contrite heart.

I don’t know about you, but all of this is food for deep thought to this girl. I hope my feeble offering here will take you to your Bibles to read all this for yourself. I’m no Bible scholar by any stretch of the imagination. I’m just on a mission to learn all I can about the God who loves me . . . and you!

Blessings, y’all!

I’m not familiar with this young man, but I’m so glad I found this. I pray it blesses you. Whatever you are burdened with today, take it to the cross. Declare with your mouth and BELIEVE in your heart, Jesus Christ is LORD!  The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness (Lamentations 3:22-23 ESV)