The sinner’s prayer, often what we call the words that have become the standard
formula to securing Salvation, our entryway into the kingdom of heaven. However, those very
words mean absolutely nothing if we do not comply with every word we
state in that prayer because we are consumed with whether or not it was worded accordingly. Whenever anything is done out of a ritualistic measure, it will soon lose its luster and not last long.
Saying the sinner's prayer is more than mere words. It is understanding completely what those words mean. This is displayed
in the transformation of our lives, which generates on the inside--our hearts-- and displays outward--in our lives.
There is assurance of salvation found only in the Lord Jesus
Christ; it is spelled out in these following verses:
Believe
on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved.(Acts 16:31)
If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is
Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be
saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it
is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. (Romans 10:9-10)
“The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come
near. Repent and believe the good news!”(Mark 1:15)
The
one who comes from above is above all; the one who is from the earth belongs to
the earth, and speaks as one from the earth. The one who comes from heaven is
above all. He testifies to what he has
seen and heard, but no one accepts his testimony. Whoever has accepted it has
certified that God is truthful. For the one whom God has sent speaks the words
of God, for God gives the Spirit without limit. The Father loves the Son and
has placed everything in his hands. Whoever believes in the Son has eternal
life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on
them.(John 3:31-36)
My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow
me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch
them out of my hand.(John 10:27-28)
I
write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you
may know that you have eternal life.(1 John 5:13)
The instructions are clear and simple when it comes to
salvation. The choice is up to every individual contemplating
salvation, whether they will choose to believe or not believe.
Salvation resides in the
simple act of belief.
Salvation brings about repentance, a change from the person you used to be into living a life that is pleasing in the sight of God. The desire to change is not because you have to but because you want to! Salvation is more than quoting the right Scriptures and saying the appropriate prayers. Salvation is wrapped completely in our words, actions, and deeds.
Believing in the Lord is concrete. Salvation is concrete. Assurance comes when you believe.
There are only two categories: The person who believes in Jesus and the person who does not believe in Jesus.
If
anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold,
all things have become new.(2 Corinthians 5:17)
What a wretched man I am! Who will
rescue me from this body that is subject to death? Thanks be to God, who
delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself in my mind am a
slave to God’s law, but in my sinful nature a slave to the law of sin.(Romans 7:24)
“Then He said to them all: Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny
themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.”(Luke 9:23)
Why do
you call me ‘Lord, Lord’ and do not do what I say?(Luke 6:46)
Pose this question to yourself: Do You believe or Not?
It is up to us to
ensure that we know without a shadow of a doubt that we are saved. Therefore, my brethren and sisters, make every
effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you
will never stumble, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal
kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ
(2 Peter 1:10)
If there ever comes a time in your life when you're faced with uncertainty regarding your salvation read:
(John 3:36) “He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”
The display of salvation is exhibited in the way you live your life…with salvation comes a dramatic life- change. It resides in your way of thinking….your desires….how you wish to live the life God has gifted to you. These are just a few examples that explain fruit in your life after being saved.
Excerpts from the Book:
“When you have been
born again, you begin to avoid sin not just because it is keeps you from God.
You begin to seek God because you love God; you begin to do righteousness
because you crave righteousness. Your spiritual tastes have changed. The Spirit
of God transforms our spiritual tastes. Your obedience is less about duty and
more about delight. Christians do not cease to pursue sin because they have
developed wills made out of indestructible iron; they cease sinning because they
have been given a new nature which loves what God loves. When God’s Spirit
lives in you, you feel the tension of that struggle every day. The struggle is
not an indication that you’re not saved; it is, in fact, the evidence that you
are.”
For a righteous man may fall seven times and
rise again, but the wicked shall fall by calamity.(Proverbs 24:1)
Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence-continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling,(Philippians 2:12)
Establishing a relationship with Christ through prayer and reading the Bible on a daily basis. Joining a local church. Getting Baptized. Surrounding yourself around like-minded people.
These are the steps we take to work out our salvation.
In closing, I will leave a compilation of excerpts from this book which I found to be very enlightening:
“We could never be
good enough to earn God’s forgiveness. God doesn’t forgive us on the basis of
what we will do, but on the basis of what Jesus has done. There is one hope for
sinners: the finished work of Christ. We do not need to add to it; we could not
if we tried. We were so bad He had to die for us; He was so gracious He was
glad to die. When we repentantly believe that, we receive eternal life.
Understanding the ‘gift righteousness ‘ of the gospel is a key component in
obtaining assurance. If you base your assurance on what you do or how well you
do it, you’ll never find assurance. You’ll always be wondering if you are doing
enough. If your assurance is based on what Christ has done, however, you can
rest in His performance. Your salvation is as secure as His finished work.When we want to know if we are saved, we should
look at where our ‘hand’, our hope for heaven, is currently resting. So, when
it comes to assurance, the only real question is: Is your hand resting on
Jesus’ head now? Don’t try to find assurance from a prayer you prayed in the
past; find assurance by resting in the present on what Jesus did in the past.
If you are resting right now in what Jesus did two thousand years ago to save you,
then, if never before, you are saved at this moment, even if you don’t signify
it with a prayer. It is the relationship to Christ that saves, not the prayer
that signifies the beginning of that relationship. Do you believe
that Jesus has paid it all? Do you know that He is Lord, and are you in a
posture of submission to that Lordship? Then rest in Him. It’s okay to say, ‘I
don’t know exactly when I started trusting Jesus, but I know I am now.’ If you
prayed to receive Jesus as a young child, and can’t remember anything about
that, it’s okay to establish another moment later in life where you confirm it.
Belief is the hand that lays hold of the finished work of Jesus. Believing in the Lord Jesus Christ means acknowledging,
submissively, that Christ is the Lord and that He accomplished our salvation,
just as He said He did-and resting our hopes there. At conversion, God changes your spiritual
appetites. You begin to hunger for righteousness, not sin. This change of
desires is first evident by your choice to follow Jesus. A desire to desire God
is the first echo of a heart awakened to God. Repentance is, in its essence, a
Spirit-generated change of mind. Our tears do not wash away our sin. Only
Jesus’ blood does. Godly sorrow is the fruit of a changed heart. Repentance
doesn’t mean we tweak our behavior, it means we begin to pursue God’s will with
reckless abandon. Repentance is not a partial surrender in which we let Jesus
take control of certain areas but not others. Jesus said following Him meant
‘denying ourselves’ and ‘taking up our cross’. Following Jesus means allowing
Him to invade every area of your life, not simply influence it. When those who
believe the gospel fall, they renew their posture of repentance, re-embrace the
gift-righteousness of Christ, thank God for the promise of their victory, and
get back up. True saving faith is a lasting faith. A true
believer can never be lost, but a true believer also will never stop following
Jesus. Perseverance is not perfection, it is a new direction. Perseverance in
the faith assures us we are saved. When you have been born again, you begin to
avoid sin not just because it is keeps you from God. You begin to seek God
because you love God; you begin to do righteousness because you crave
righteousness. Your spiritual tastes have changed. The Spirit of God transforms
our spiritual tastes. Your obedience is less about duty and more about delight.
Christians do not cease to pursue sin because they have developed wills made
out of indestructible iron; they cease sinning because they have been given a
new nature which loves what God loves. When God’s Spirit lives in you, you feel
the tension of that struggle every day. The struggle is not an indication that
you’re not saved; it is, in fact, the evidence that you are. Feelings come from assurance, not assurance from
feelings. Don’t feel your way into your beliefs; believe your way into your
feelings. And when you know for certain that heaven is your inheritance, you’ll
be moved to radical sacrifice and audacious risk for the kingdom of God.”
This book is an amazing read...I highly recommend this book!
Practical applications. Scriptures that explain the plan of salvation in detail is embedded throughout this entire book. I read this book because I was interested in seeing what the author had to say.
There were times within my life I wondered...Did I say the sinner's prayer or didn't I?
I can't remember the exact date....time...day....how old was I again?
Needless to say, I have recollections of saying this prayer plenty of times throughout my life..in church...in my own home...because my questions resided in the--prayer--
Questions thrown my way when sharing my recollection of when I received Christ and re-dedication of my life to Christ caused me to wonder about 'the prayer.'
Once I understood that there was more to salvation than just saying some prayer to secure a place in Heaven when I die, I began securing a relationship with the one who gave His life so that I and everyone else who believes in Him can have a place with Him in Heaven. Once this took place, as questions were hurled my way about my prayer and specific wording, I didn't panic nor question my salvation. I understood that my salvation experience was not about proving to anyone that I am saved because of specific wording. My salvation did not rest in anyone's stamp of approval; verification of whether or not they believe I said the appropriate words. My salvation rests in my belief and confession in the shed blood of Jesus. My salvation rests in my belief that I was born a sinner and Jesus came to this earth to take the world's sins upon His holy body on the cross. His burial...resurrection....and ascension into Heaven was all a part of God's plan. My salvation is secure in my belief in Him; His selfless act(s) and my desire to live my life as the woman He carefully crafted me to be, so when I get to Heaven I will hear His approval and the words...: 'Well done, thy good and faithful servant'.
God Bless!
