I have heard that the church of Christ does not believe in the “sinners Prayer”. The sinners prayer is something real that we are living today, and you people insist in denying it. My question is, what is wrong with that prayer that you keep saying is not valid or Biblical? God is not about methods, but about how sincere the person in his heart is. What explanation can you give in taking that position of denying that prayer?

Do you see it brothers? People today are calling “white black, and black white”. Calling “sweet bitter, and bitter sweet” We are not mean. We speak where the Bible speaks, and keep silent where the Bible is silent. And see, that saying is not popular, it is unloving, it is judgmental, is not Christ’-like according to the many! What people want to hear today is that all they are doing, in pretext of religion is just fine and God is so pleased with all they are doing.

WHAT MUST I DO TO BE SAVED?

An Example of the Sinner’s Prayer "Dear Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner, in need of your forgiveness. I believe what Your Word tells me, that You died on the cross, bearing all my sins, and that You arose from death, so that I could be forgiven. I thank You, Lord, for this precious gift, and I pray that You will help me turn away from my sins, so that I can live a life that is pleasing to You. I turn my life over to You now, as I accept You into my heart. Thank You, Jesus, for saving me, and for being Lord of my life. In Jesus name I pray, Amen."

home in heaven"Congratulations! If you prayed this prayer earnestly, from your heart, you are now a Christian. Your sins have all been washed away by the precious blood of Jesus. And now you have a home in heaven with your wonderful Savior! PRAISE THE LORD!" Claimed Results of the Sinner’s Prayer

THE SINNER’S PRAYER An obvious factAn obvious fact: If the sinner’s prayer is required by God for salvation, it would be included in the Bible as a command and example for us to follow. An indisputable fact:An indisputable fact: THE SINNER’S PRAYER IS NOT IN THE BIBLE! Neither Jesus, the apostles, inspired evangelists or any first century Christian ever told a alien (non-Christian) sinner to pray for salvation.

TERRIBLE SIN TO QUESTION ANYONE’S RELIGIOUS BELIEFS? This subject is of eternal consequences. Acts 17:11 Bereans “…searched the scriptures daily, to find out whether these things were so.” –With this attitude - less error John 8:32 Only the truth can set us free! –Error, if believed and obeyed will keep us in the bonds of sin and result in our losing our souls.

SINNER’S PRAYER? (Acts 2) "Men and brethren, what shall we do?" (Acts 2:37) –“Repeat this prayer after me and you will receive the forgiveness of your sins” –“Receive Christ as your personal Savior and repeat this prayer after me.” “Then Peter said to them, ‘Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins‘” (Acts 2:38).

SINNER’S PRAYER? (Acts 2) “Receive Christ as your personal Savior.” – PERSONAL = “of, affecting, or belonging to a particular person.” (Webster). – If Jesus is your personal Savior, He cannot be the Savior of anyone else. – Jesus came to save the world (John 3:16; 4:42; 12:47; 1 John 4:14). – Jesus came to save the church (Ephesians 5:23) It is wrong to refer to Jesus as your personal Savior (Hebrews 7:25).

“Do you understand what you are reading?” (30)...“How can I, unless someone guides me?” (31) Acts 8:32-35 "The place in the Scripture which he read was this: 'He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and as a lamb before its shearer is silent, so He opened not His mouth. In His humiliation His justice was taken away, and who will declare His generation? For His life is taken from the earth.' So the eunuch answered Philip and said, 'I ask you, of whom does the prophet say this, of himself or of some other man?' Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at this Scripture, preached Jesus to him." ( Acts 8:32-35 ). SINNER’S PRAYER? (Acts 8)

Acts 8:36 - "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?'" –“You don’t have to be baptized right now.” –“Just receive Christ as your personal Savior and say this prayer…” But Philip didn’t say anything about a sinner’s prayer!But Philip didn’t say anything about a sinner’s prayer! SINNER’S PRAYER?

"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.' So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him. 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." SINNER’S PRAYER?

Was the Eunuch converted to Christ? YES! Did he receive salvation? YES! Did he receive salvation as a result of prayer? NO!

SINNER’S PRAYER? The Eunuch was saved when he did what Philip taught him to do when he preached Jesus to him! – “See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?”

This account specifically mentions three things that the Eunuch did to receive salvation. –FAITH – “If you believe with all your heart you may…” –CONFESSION – “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.” –BAPTISM – “...here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?... And he baptized him…” No mention of prayer! SINNER’S PRAYER?

Saul - "...and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?' And he said, 'Who are You, Lord?' Then the Lord said, 'I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads.' So he, trembling and astonished, said, 'Lord, what do You want me to do?' Then the Lord said to him, 'Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do'" (Acts 9:3-6). – Why didn’t Jesus tell him to pray right there for salvation? SINNER’S PRAYER? (Acts 9, 22, 26)

Saul - "Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus named Ananias; and to him the Lord said in a vision, 'Ananias.' And he said, 'Here I am, Lord.' So the Lord said to him, 'Arise and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus, for behold, he is praying. And in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and putting his hand on him, so that he might receive his sight.'" (Acts 9:10-12). – “You have been saved by praying.” SINNER’S PRAYER?

"'What shall I do Lord?' And the Lord said to me, 'Arise and go into Damascus, and there you will be told all things which are appointed for you to do.'“ (Acts 22:10). –Something appointed for Saul to do. –Was it to pray for salvation? SINNER’S PRAYER? (Acts 22)

"'Then a certain Ananias, a devout man according to the law, having a good testimony with all the Jews who dwelt there, came to me; and he stood and said to me, 'Brother Saul, receive your sight.' And at that same hour I looked up at him. Then he said, 'The God of our fathers has chosen you that you should know His will, and see the Just One, and hear the voice of His mouth. 'For you will be His witness to all men of what you have seen and heard. And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.'“ (Acts 22:12-16). SINNER’S PRAYER? (Acts 22)

If sin is washed away as a result of prayer, then why was Saul still in his sins? –“…behold, he is praying.” –Saul was praying – but still in his sins. When did he have his sins washed away? –When he complied with what Ananias told him to do –“Arise, and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.” (Acts 22:16). SINNER’S PRAYER? (Acts 22)

Is “Calling on the name of the Lord” Prayer? –Could not be because Saul was already praying. “Calling on” –means: “to call upon for one’s self, in one’s behalf; to appeal unto” (Thayer). – Not done by prayer but obedience. –1 Peter 3:21 (ESV) - Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, SINNER’S PRAYER? (Acts 22)

WHAT ABOUT THE SINNER’S PRAYER? 3 Conversions – No sinner’s prayer. True of all the conversions in the N.T. Never any mention of alien sinners (non- Christians) being told to pray for salvation. If it’s not in the Bible why teach it? How can we teach it and still claim to be teaching the Bible and honoring Jesus?

WHAT DID FIRST CENTURY PEOPLE DO TO BE SAVED? Pentecost – faith, repentance, baptism. Eunuch – faith, confession, baptism. Saul – faith, baptism. Taken altogether? – Faith – Repentance – Confession of faith – Baptism If this is what they did, this is what we must do to receive salvation and become a Christian.

The only sinners who were ever told to pray for forgiveness were Christians who had sinned. – Simon – Acts 8:5 Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ to them. – Acts 8:12 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. – Acts 8:13 Then Simon himself also believed; and when he was baptized he continued with Philip… WHAT DID FIRST CENTURY PEOPLE DO TO BE SAVED?

Acts 8:14-15 Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them, who, when they had come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. Acts 8:18-19 And when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money, saying, "Give me this power also, that anyone on whom I lay hands may receive the Holy Spirit." WHAT DID FIRST CENTURY PEOPLE DO TO BE SAVED?

Acts 8:20-22 But Peter said to him, "Your money perish with you, because you thought that the gift of God could be purchased with money! "You have neither part nor portion in this matter, for your heart is not right in the sight of God. "Repent therefore of this your wickedness, and pray God if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you. Then Simon answered and said, "Pray to the Lord for me, that none of the things which you have spoken may come upon me.“ Repent – pray. (1 John 1:9 – confess). WHAT DID FIRST CENTURY PEOPLE DO TO BE SAVED?

NO! This is another men’s made doctrine that will take many people who believe in it, to eternal Hell! The Bible does not mention any sinners prayer. If your not a Christian this evening we can help you to become one. Hear-Believe-Repent-Confess and Be Baptized Hear-Believe-Repent-Confess and Be Baptized and…. Is that all? and…. Is that all? NO! Be faithful to God, live a faithful life till the end! NO! Be faithful to God, live a faithful life till the end! Do we believe in the “sinners Prayers”?