Dr. Ruckman on Hyper Dispensationalism and the sinner's prayer

Someone wrote me recently and said that it is "Hyper Dispensationalists" that are against the sinner's prayer. However, one's dispensational position has no bearing on what they believe about the sinner's prayer.

Dr. Ruckman said that it was "Bible believing Christians" and "Bible Believing Baptists" that are against the sinner's prayer. In fact, when it comes to "whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord" in Acts 2:21, Dr. Ruckman said that it is the Hypers that have the best of the argument. 

"Realizing this, a new group of heretics (in this case, Bible Believing Baptists) have come up saying that if a man prays to get saved (or more specifically prays the sinner's prayer), then he is lost." 
(Page 405 of The Book of Romans, The Bible Believer's Commentary Series, by Dr. Peter Ruckman)

"There is a movement among Bible believing Christians today that says if you pray to receive Christ, that is a work, and you aren't saved by works (Eph. 2:8-9; Tit. 3:5). The logical conclusion to such an argument is that if you prayed to get saved, that you are lost and need to be saved (again!). It is the Baptist version of the Brownsville Revival retreaders." 
(Page 566 of The Book of Luke, The Bible Believer's Commentary Series, by Dr. Peter Ruckman)

" "...whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved" (vs. 21). The verse is often linked to Romans 10:13 to prove that Peter, here, is preaching "the plan of salvation"; however, this is not the case, and again the "Hypers" have the best of the argument."
(Page 81 of The Book of Acts, the Bible Believer's Commentary Series, by Dr. Peter Ruckman)

By the way, if you check page 130 of Dr. Ruckman's commentary on Matthew you will see that he did not believe "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find" was written about repeating the so called "sinner's prayer". Dr. Ruckman said it was "more Old Testament than New" and said that it was instruction for a "Jew praying to the Father". Dr. Ruckman then said that the passage has "spiritual truth" that can be applied to Christian prayer. He did not believe it was referring to lost Gentiles in the present dispensation of grace. 

It is impossible for Matthew 7:7 to be referring to lost people because "God heareth not sinners" (Isa. 59:1-2, Ps. 34:15-16, Matt. 7:21, John 9:31, 1 Pet. 3:12, Prov. 15:29, 28:9). The passage plainly says that the prayer is addressed to the "Father which is in heaven" (vs. 11), a lost person's father is the devil (John 8:44). 

Besides that, Matthew 7:7 would contradict Romans 10:20 if it were referring to lost Gentiles... 

Romans 10:20 But Esaias is very bold, and saith, I was found of them that sought me not; I was made manifest unto them that asked not after me.

Robert Breaker has an excellent video dealing with the sinner's prayer and Matthew 7:7. 

Also check out Mr. Breaker's ebook, The heresy of the sinner's prayer
http://www.rrb3.com/mypub/books/hrsy_sin_pryr.htm

And also "The Reasons Why We Left Our Old Home Church"
http://www.rrb3.com/Left/reasons_left_church.htm

As I have said many times, this is my position on the "sinner's prayer":

"Therefore, since salvation is received by faith alone without any mixture of works, prayer has absolutely no part whatsoever in salvation. To tell someone they will be saved by "repeating after you" is a false gospel that denies the truth that Christ is the only mediator between God and men (1 Tim. 2:5). To tell someone to pray in order to be saved is to be telling them to offer their works to God in order to be saved (Col. 4:12, Heb. 5:7). 

I fully understand that all people pray when they get saved, for the Bible says that when we got saved that God "sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father" (Gal. 4:6). And "ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:" (Rom. 8:15-16). 

And thus begins a lifelong communion with God by the Holy Ghost whereby we have access to the Father (Eph. 2:18). 

Everybody prays (whether in their heart, mind, or mouth) WHEN they get saved. However, nobody gets saved BY praying. No apostle, preacher, or evangelist in the Bible ever told anyone to repeat a prayer after them to be saved. It was simply "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved" (Acts 13:38-39, 16:31). "  
http://av1611studyblog.blogspot.com/2016/06/calling-upon-name-of-lord-romans-109-13.html

--Eli "Hoss" Caldwell