is the belief that a person is saved by coming forward, raising his hand, saying a prayer, believing a doctrine, making a lordship commitment, calling out "Oh Lord Jesus," or other external act.
James 2:19 You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe––and tremble!
Conversion is the work of the Holy Spirit which draws a lost sinner to Jesus Christ for justification and regeneration, and changes the sinner's standing before God from lost to saved, imparting divine life into a depraved soul, giving justification, regeneration and a new direction to the convert.
"Repent, Stop, Turn Around, Restitution," is missing. These do not gain salvation, but surely are evidence of it. Jesus said, "By their fruits, shall you know them." He commands us not to judge according to appearances, but to judge righteous judgment.
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http://www.s8int.com/sinnersprayer.html
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We have a problem with the sales pitch, the formula. All you have to do is pray this prayer with sincerity.
One sodomite in SF a couple weeks ago asked Dinah, "So I just invite Jesus into my heart, right?"
That's what people tell him.
What did Jesus say?
"Deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow Me."
If the sinner's prayer leads to following Jesus, it is going in the right direction. If not, it can lead to a wrong confidence.
1 comment:
The root of the failure of "decisionism" is that it is almost always an emotional response. As such, it does not have the "roots" topersevere and bear fruit, and will die sooner or later (most often sooner...). Conversion, on the other hand, gets at the whole man, grafting into a new root system. Thus, the fruit of one's life begins to change because that one's nature has changed. Sure, the emotions are involved..... but so is the rest of that man. THIS is the change that will last, and lead others as well.
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