The Sinner’s Prayer: Is It Biblical?

The so-called "sinner's prayer" is a popular phenomenon in Protestant circles. It is used at the conclusion of various denominational revival services as an appeal to persuade sincere people to "get saved." It frequently appears at the end of religious services or in literature urging folks to "repeat these words from the bottom of your heart."

The Sinner's Prayer takes various forms, all with the same general thrust. Here is one form of it:

"Heavenly Father, I know that I am a sinner and that I deserve to go to hell. I believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross for my sins. I do now receive him as my Lord and personal Savior. I promise to serve you to the best of my ability. Please save me. In Jesus' name, Amen."

At other times, the prayer is: "Lord Jesus, I acknowledge you as Lord. Please come into my heart."

The following observations concerning this prayer should be carefully considered.

Is the "Sinner's Prayer" in the New Testament?

The sentiments of this prayer are not found anywhere in New Testament literature as it pertains to the alien sinner's responsibility under the law of Christ.

A careful study of the conversions in the book of Acts will reveal that in not a single instance is the lost sinner instructed or encouraged to "pray" for salvation or for Jesus to come into their heart. Rather, those honest souls who longed for redemption were admonished to believe on the Lord (Acts 16:31), to repent of their sins, and to be immersed for the forgiveness of their sins (Acts 2:38; cf. 22:16) in order to enjoy a relationship with Christ (Gal. 3:27) and enter his spiritual body (1 Cor. 12:13).

What about Acts 2:21?

Some claim that Acts 2:21 is a prooftext for the so-called sinner's prayer. Let's compare this verse with several others from the same book and by the same author.

"And it shall be, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved" (Acts 2:21).

"And Peter said unto them, Repent ye, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit" (Acts 2:38).

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

The claim that Acts 2:21 provides authority for the "sinner's prayer" is baseless. The "call" contemplated in this passage was fulfilled when penitent sinners surrendered to the terms of the gospel plan of redemption explicitly announced later on the same occasion.

The "forgiveness of sins" (Acts 2:38) is equivalent to "saved" (Acts 2:21). Accordingly, the "call" in Acts 2:21 is a generic term that embraces the "repent ... and be immersed" commanded of believers in verse Acts 2:38. Moreover, this calling-obedience connection is further established in Acts 22:16. Note that the very act of submitting to the Lord's command to be immersed is the manifestation of "calling" on his name.

Saying "Lord, Lord" Is Not Enough

Scripture elsewhere makes it clear that merely calling out the Lord's name to access divine mercy without obedience is an exercise in futility. "Not everyone who says unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he who does [present tense—persistently does] the will of my Father who is in heaven" (Matthew 7:21).

Again, the Savior pointedly inquired: "And why do you call me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things that I say?" (Luke 6:46).

Prayer Is for the Child of God

Prayer is an avenue of communication between a "child of God" and his heavenly Father. The model prayer begins: "Our Father in heaven" (Matthew 6:9). One becomes a child of the Father through the born-again process (John 3:3-5), not by praying.

Saul's Prayers Did Not Save Him

Saul of Tarsus prayed for three days after arriving in the city of Damascus, yet his sins were not washed away until he was immersed in water in obedience to the divine command (Acts 9:11; 22:16). If there ever was a case of the "sinner's prayer" being exercised, surely this was it. Yet his prayers did not avail in removing his sins.

Where Did the "Sinner's Prayer" Come From?

The sinner's prayer model probably evolved in some form or another in the early days of the Protestant Reformation movement, as a misguided reaction against the Roman Catholic dogma of justification by means of meritorious works.

For example, Jacobus Faber (c. 1450-1536), who has been called "the father of the French Reformation" (though he never formally left the Catholic Church), wrote a commentary on the epistles of Paul in 1512. This was five years before Luther's break with the Roman Church in Germany. In this book, Faber argued that justification is obtained through faith without works (see McClintock & Strong 441).

Later, rebelling against the "merit works" system of Romanism, Luther contended that salvation is based on "faith alone." According to one biographer, Luther exclaimed: "I, Doctor Martin Luther, unworthy herald of the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, confess this article, that faith alone without works justifies before God" (D'Aubigne 56).

So convinced was Luther of this proposition that, when producing his own translation of the New Testament, he altered Romans 3:28 to read: "a man is justified by faith only." The word "only" is not in any available Greek manuscript. Luther even rejected the divine origin of the book of James because of its emphasis on "works" in addition to faith.

To believe, therefore, that a sinner may be justified from sin by simply praying the sinner's prayer as a substitute for obedience to the plan of salvation is to labor under a delusion that is void of biblical support.

Undoubtedly, many who offer the sinner's prayer are exceedingly sincere. Sincerity alone, however, is unavailing (Proverbs 14:12; Acts 23:1; 26:9).

See our article on What Does It Mean to Be a "Born-Again" Christian?