The Baptist false gospel: The "sinner's prayer"

Southern Baptist Convention Affirmation Of A “Sinner’s Prayer” As A Biblical Expression Of Repentance And Faith New Orleans - 2012:

"WHEREAS, The Gospel of Jesus Christ offers full forgiveness of sins and reconciliation with God to anyone who repents of sin and trusts in Christ; and

WHEREAS, This same Gospel commands all persons everywhere to believe this Gospel and receive Christ as Savior and Lord (Mark 1:15; John 1:12; 6:25–52; Acts 17:30); and

WHEREAS, The Scriptures give examples of persons from diverse backgrounds who cried out for mercy and were heard by God (Luke 18:13; Acts 16:29–30); and

WHEREAS, The Scriptures also give numerous examples of persons who verbally affirmed Gospel truths but who did not personally know Jesus in a saving relationship (Luke 22:47–48; John 2:23–25; 1 Corinthians 10:1–5); and

WHEREAS, Empty religion and formalism, of whatever kind, apart from personal relationship with Christ, cannot wash away sin or transform a heart (Matthew 7:21; 15:8; John 3:3); and

WHEREAS, The Bible speaks of salvation as including both a confession with the mouth that Jesus is Lord and a belief in the heart that God has raised Him from the dead (Matthew 16:16; Romans 10:9–10); now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the messengers to the Southern Baptist Convention meeting in New Orleans, Louisiana, June 19–20, 2012, reaffirm our Gospel conviction that repentance from sin and personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ are necessary for salvation (Acts 20:20–21); and be it further

RESOLVED, That we affirm that repentance and faith involve a crying out for mercy and a calling on the Lord (Romans 10:13), often identified as a “sinner's prayer,” as a biblical expression of repentance and faith; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a “sinner’s prayer” is not an incantation that results in salvation merely by its recitation and should never be manipulatively employed or utilized apart from a clear articulation of the Gospel (Matthew 6:7; 15:7–9); and be it further

RESOLVED, That we promote any and all biblical means of urging sinners to call on the name of the Lord in a prayer of repentance and faith; and be it finally

RESOLVED, That we call on Southern Baptists everywhere to continue to carry out the Great Commission in North America and around the world, so that sinners everywhere, of every tribe, tongue, and language, may cry out, “God be merciful to me a sinner” (Luke 18:13)."

Chick Publications tracts give this as the plan of salvation in the back of all of their (false) gospel tracts:

"NOBODY ELSE CAN SAVE YOU. 
TRUST JESUS TODAY!

"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. " (Rom. 10:9) 

1.) Admit you are a sinner. See Romans 3:10
2.) Be willing to turn from sin (repent). See Acts 17:30
3.) Believe that Jesus Christ died for you, was buried and rose again from the dead. See Romans 10:9-10
4.) Through prayer, invite Jesus into your life to become your personal Saviour. See Romans 10:13

WHAT TO PRAY
Dear God, I am a sinner and need forgiveness. I believe that Jesus Christ shed His precious blood and died for my sin. I am willing to turn from sin. I now invite Christ to come into my heart and life as my personal Saviour."

Bob Nappier of Local Church Publishers and Parker Memorial Baptist Church gives this plan of salvation:

"How to receive Christ: Here is how you may receive Christ: 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. (Romans 10:9) You must believe with all your heart, and call on the Lord to save you. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. (Romans 10:13)"

John Davis of 'Time For Truth' in the UK says "If you haven‟t asked JESUS CHRIST to forgive your sin & come & save you, you‟re NOT saved; for HE ALONE is the ONLY ONE who can save you!"
(TFT News Issue 28)

As you can see, Baptists believe that you must say a certain special prayer in order to be saved. However, the Baptists are not even united on WHO to pray to. Some of their tracts are addressed to God the Father, as Chick Publications says "Dear God...I believe that Jesus Christ...". However, Bob Nappier of Local Church Publishers says that you should pray to God the Son, "Dear Jesus, please have mercy upon me, a sinner. Please forgive me of all my sins. I believe You died on the cross for me, and I believe that it’s your blood that washes my sins away. I believe You were buried and that God raised You on the third day. Now will you please come in my heart and save my soul? Thank You for saving me Jesus.” (http://www.pmbclansing.org/home/salvation.htm) The Baptists do not agree on who you should pray to for salvation, but the one thing they do agree on is that verbal prayer is required for salvation. Check any Baptist tracts, not all of them will agree on who to pray to.

Telling a lost person to pray audibly and verbally for salvation is a works based false gospel that will not get anyone saved.

Would God hear a lost sinner's prayer? Would God accept the prayers of a lost person? No!

Psalms 34:
[15] The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry.
[16] The face of the LORD is against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.

Romans 3:19 Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.

John 9:31 Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth.

1 Peter 3:12 For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.

Proverbs 1:28 Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me:

Proverbs 15:29 The LORD is far from the wicked: but he heareth the prayer of the righteous.

Proverbs 28:9  He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination.

Verbal, audible prayer is a WORK that will not save anyone. A lost person reciting the "sinner's prayer" means absolutely nothing and it is an abomination to God, a false gospel.

Someone told me one time that audible prayer was not a work. What does the Bible say?

Colossians 4:12 Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.

Romans 15:30 Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ's sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together with me in your prayers to God for me;

Prayer is a labor. If someone prays for salvation, then they are trying to get to heaven by their own confession rather than trusting Christ's payment for their sins (Rom. 10:1-4). Salvation is not of works, it is by putting your faith in Christ. Where in the Bible did the Lord or one of the apostles tell anyone to pray to be saved? Nowhere!

Bob Nappier of Local Church Publishers says "How to receive Christ: Here is how you may receive Christ: 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. (Romans 10:9) You must believe with all your heart, and call on the Lord to save you. "

How does the Bible say to receive Christ? 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: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. (John 1:12-13)

Bob Nappier says "You MUST...call on the Lord to save you." Is that what the Bible says?

Acts 16:30-31 And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.

According to the Baptists, the believers in John 12:42 were not saved..."Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue:" One Baptist told me recently that he "did not know" if these people were saved. According to the Bible, they were just as saved as anyone: Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. (John 5:24)

The Bible says that audible, verbal prayer with the mouth in your head is a work and that God will not hear it (Col. 4:12, John 9:31). Romans 3:19 says that God wants every mouth to be STOPPED, not 'confessing' the "sinner's prayer".

God will not hear a sinner's prayers nor will saying "Lord, Lord" please Him.....

Matthew 7:
[21] 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.
[22] 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?
[23] And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

John 9:31 Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth.

Doing the will of God is believing on Christ, "And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day." (John 6:40)

God does not hear sinners, therefore the "sinner's prayer" is ridiculous. God hears those who believe on Him, they are "righteous" and have done His will (John 6:40, Rom. 1:16-17, 3:26).  God does not hear sinners because they have not been made righteous by believing on Him. There is no such thing as an efficacious "sinner's prayer" for salvation.

How does the Baptist Cult respond? They say "Oh but haven't you ever read Romans 10:9? Romans 1 makes it clear that you must audibly/verbally confess to Christ if you want to be saved". Does Romans 10:9 teach that? If it does then that means the Bible contradicts itself (John 9:31, Rom. 3:19, Col. 4:12, 1 Pet. 3:12).

What does Romans 10:9-10 say?

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. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

If you take the Baptist Cult's private interpretation of the verses, then that means that someone becomes righteous after believing, but does not get 'salvation' until confession. Does that even make sense? Receiving righteousness and salvation at different times? How can a "righteous" man not have "salvation"? More importantly than that, the Baptists force these verses to contradict what Paul already said in Romans 1:16-17, which says:

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

Romans 1:16-17 says that "salvation" and "righteousness" are unto everyone that believeth, confession has no part of it. Romans 3:19 says "Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God." Does the book of Romans have contradictions in it? Of course not, the answer to this problem in in the CONTEXT of Romans 10.

Romans 10:9 is not referring to the mouth in your head, it is referring to the mouth of your heart.

Romans 10:
[1] Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.
[2] For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.
[3] For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.
[4] For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.
[5] For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them.
[6] But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:)
[7] Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.)
[8] But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;
[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.

The context of Romans 10:9 is saying something with the mouth of your heart, not your head.

"my heart's desire and prayer" (verse 1)

"Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth" (verse 4)

"the righteousness which is of faith speaketh" (verse 6)

"Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven?" (verse 6)

"But what saith it? [your heart]" (verse 8)

The term 'say in thine heart' is used throughout the Bible. Your heart can pray, speak, and laugh:

Genesis 17:17 Then Abraham fell upon his face, and laughed, and said in his heart, Shall a child be born unto him that is an hundred years old? and shall Sarah, that is ninety years old, bear?

Genesis 18:12 Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, After I am waxed old shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?

Deuteronomy 9:4 Speak not thou in thine heart, after that the LORD thy God hath cast them out from before thee, saying, For my righteousness the LORD hath brought me in to possess this land: but for the wickedness of these nations the LORD doth drive them out from before thee.

Psalms 15:2 He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart.

Matthew 24:48 But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming;

(also see: Gen. 24:5, Deut. 7:17, 8:17, 9:4-6, 18:21, Ps. 14:1, 15:2, 35:25, Prov. 23:33, Eccl. 1:16, 2:1, 2:15, Isa. 47:8, 49:21, 5:24, 13:22, 14:13, Zech. 1:12, Zech. 12:5, Matt. 24:48, Luke 12:45, Rev. 18:7, and dozens of other places)

Also note that Nehemiah called upon God in his heart while he was verbally speaking to a king:  

Then the king said unto me, For what dost thou make request? So I prayed to the God of heaven. And I said unto the king, If it please the king, and if thy servant have found favour in thy sight, that thou wouldest send me unto Judah, unto the city of my fathers' sepulchres, that I may build it.(Neh. 2:4-5)

Also, note 1 John 4:2, 15 which state that it is when your spirit confesses Christ that you get saved. Your "spirit" confessing (inward man) is not the same as your body confessing with the mouth in your head (outward man). 

1 John 4:2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: (spirit = heart, see Deut. 2:30)

1 John 4:15 Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.

Also notice Psalms 27:8, "When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek."

Romans 10:9, according to the context, is referring to calling upon God with the mouth of your heart.

As 2 Timothy 2:22 says, Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

See this post: http://av1611studyblog.blogspot.com/2015/08/the-gospel-of-grace-of-god-vs_5.html

Also, here is a good sermon preached by Pastor Bryan Ross on the issue of prayer and salvation:

Why Prayer Won't Save You by Bryan Ross
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7zNY8wIZBdw


--Eli Caldwell