In comes the Sinner's Prayer.

Essentially, the Sinner's Prayer becomes the cure all. It comes is three quick doses, (1.) simply acknowledge God, (2.) admit you are a sinner, (3.) accept Christ. And it can be administered to multiple people at the same time.

I would argue the two top prescribers of the Sinner's Prayer are Bill Bright (Campus Crusade For Christ) and Billy Graham. Bill Bright becomes the traveling evangelist of learning institutions. Billy Graham becomes the traveling evangelist of entertainment, and by default political, institutions. Political institutions rely on entertainment institutions for their support. Between the two they soon have millions and millions of sin-sick souls taking the Sinner's Prayer prescription.

The Sinner's Prayer has to be recalled.

Why?

The Sinner's Prayer is not a prescription for a sin sickness cure, it's a placebo. A placebo is a sugar pill designed to make one THINK they have been cured.

Nowhere, not one single time, in the sin-sick cure protocol of the New Testament is there ANY example of the Sinner's Prayer curing sin in ANY way shape or form. Not one. There are numerous effective examples of dealing with sin sickness in the New Testament but not one mention of a Sinner's Prayer.

Relying on the Sinner's Prayer to cure the sin problem and the separation from God, family and friends it causes does nothing to cure the problem. It only gives one a false sense of security.

If the Sinner's Prayer was an actual medical medicine prescription it would not make the minimum test for distribution.

The Bible teaches salvation, or the cure from the effects of sin sickness, consists of more than a simple acknowledgement and belief on Jesus the Christ, the Savior of the world. The Sinner's Prayer is a man concocted prescription of convenience.

Here is God's salvation prescription taken from the scriptures...

Step one, Romans 10:17, is hearing.

"So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God."

We hear the word of God from verses found in the Bible, verses such as John 3:16, Mark 16:16 and others.

Step two, John 8:24, is believing what we hear...

" I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins. "

Step three and step four, Acts 2:38, is turning from your sins AND being baptized for the remission of sins.

"Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission (washing away) of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost."

That was Peter's answer to the question posed to the Apostles in Acts 2:37 by those who were convicted of crucifying Christ...

"Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?"

Step five, Romans 8:1, is walking after the Spirit (seeking God's will)...

" There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. "

My friend, our little study has shown it is not enough simply believe in Christ for everlasting life.   One must believe in Christ, repent of one's sins, confess him, be buried with him in baptism for the remission of sins and walk after the Spirit.

Are you in Christ?

Romans 6:3"Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?

Have you put on Christ?

"For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ." (Galatians 3:27)

Are your sins washed away?   Here's what Ananias said to Saul the former persecutor of the Christ's church...

"And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord." (Acts 22:16)

Here are the plain words of Jesus...

"Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. " (John 3:5)

I have had people tell me that the water mentioned in John 3:5 is not regular water but the water that makes up our bodies.   The word translated water in John 3:5 from the original New Testament Greek is the same word translated water in every other place where water is mentioned in the New Testament.

My friend, if you have not put on Christ according to the New Testament pattern please do so.   To rely on the Sinner's Prayer devised by man is risking your eternal destination.

If I can assist you in this matter please call on me if I can be of service or if you have any questions or comments or you would like to discuss this further.