Before you lead a person in the ‘Sinner’s Prayer’ to be saved, stop and ask yourself “Is what I am about to do biblically correct?” Then go and read the entire New Testament and search for the answer to that question. See if you can find one example of the apostles or disciples doing such a thing.
You may be very shocked to find the answer is...NO! No where in scripture will you find the apostles or disciples leading a person in a ‘Sinner’s Prayer.’ Search for it, you will not find it. The ‘Sinner’s Prayer’ is a man made evangelizing technique which is unbiblical and actually usurps the authority and work of God the Holy Spirit.
Furthermore, this technique can give a person a false sense of security. He is led in a prayer by someone else, given the very words to pray. Afterwards he is told something like “Congratulation, you’ve been born again.” or “Welcome to the family, you’re now a Christian.” He believes he has done what was necessary to become a Christian. He is assured that all is well with his soul. But, in fact, it is not. He has been converted by men but not the Spirit of God.
Certainly it is true that all who call upon the Lord shall be saved. But, calling upon the Lord goes way beyond simply repeating by rote some words given to you by another person to pray. It is not some quick “Repeat after me” prayer man has invented. Rather, it is the work of God! Consider Jacob of old who wrestled with the Lord through the night until he received the blessing and Saul (later named Paul) who was blinded and in agony of soul for three days.
For a person to be born again, he must be born by the power of God, not the crafty persuasions of man! The Bible says:
"Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” and “It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing" (John 6:63, John 1:13)
"For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but 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:" (Romans 8:14-16)
When the Spirit of God converts a man, that man does not need someone else to tell him how or what to pray. The Holy Spirit will do that. Neither does he need man to assure him that he has been born again. The Spirit will do that also. Truly, salvation is the work of God!
Consider this before you lead another person in the “Sinner’s Prayer” and remember that only God has the right to tell someone he is His child. We have no right to usurp His sovereign authority and will in this matter. Salvation is of the Lord!
As Paris Reidhead said: “No one in the universe has the right to tell a person they’re born of God except the Holy Spirit who is the Spirit of adoption. He has never ceded that right to anyone. He reserves that as His sovereign prerogative. The only one that has the right to tell a person they’re born of God is God the Holy Ghost.”
Would you dare usurp the Holy Spirit?
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Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Are You Sitting In Darkness?
The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up. Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, “I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.”
And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. This is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.
Take heed therefore that the light which is in thee be not darkness. But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!
(Matthew 4:16, 6:23; Luke 11;35; John 1:5, 3:19, 8:12, 12:46; Acts 26:18; Romans 13:12; 2 Corinthians 4:6; 1 John 1:6)
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And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. This is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.
Take heed therefore that the light which is in thee be not darkness. But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!
(Matthew 4:16, 6:23; Luke 11;35; John 1:5, 3:19, 8:12, 12:46; Acts 26:18; Romans 13:12; 2 Corinthians 4:6; 1 John 1:6)
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Wednesday, June 03, 2009
Who Drew You To Jesus?
"… Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish." (Luke 13:3)
The word except is a conjunction with the same meaning as the word unless. It is a word that indicates the circumstance. With it’s use, one condition is stipulated by another. Therefore, the condition of perishing is determined by the condition of repentance. If one repents, he will not perish. Likewise, if he does not repent, perish he will.
We see this also in the following verse:
"… Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." (John 3:3)
The stipulation for seeing the kingdom of God is that one must be born again. If a man is not born again, he will not see the kingdom of God.
Now, consider what Jesus said in the gospel of John.
“No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.” (John 6:44)
You will note that Jesus did not say “no man will come.” Rather, he said “no man can come.” For one to be able to come to the Son, he must be drawn by the Father. If he is not drawn by the Father, he can not come to the Son.
That is a serious stipulation!
Too many people think they have come to Jesus, when the truth is they have not. They have been coaxed or pressured by men to come. They have been told by men what to believe, what to do, and how to do it. They have simply accepted a religion passed on to them by family or friends. They have been taught by men and not by God. (John 6:45) Yet, no one can come to Jesus unless the Father draws him.
Have you not read that those who are born again are born of God and not by the will of man? (John 1:13) Do you not know that that which is born of the flesh is flesh and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit? (John 3:6)
Conversion is a work of God in a man’s heart. Jesus said, “This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.” (John 6:29)
I urge you to "Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?" ( 2 Corinthians 13:5)
Who drew you to Jesus?
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The word except is a conjunction with the same meaning as the word unless. It is a word that indicates the circumstance. With it’s use, one condition is stipulated by another. Therefore, the condition of perishing is determined by the condition of repentance. If one repents, he will not perish. Likewise, if he does not repent, perish he will.
We see this also in the following verse:
"… Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." (John 3:3)
The stipulation for seeing the kingdom of God is that one must be born again. If a man is not born again, he will not see the kingdom of God.
Now, consider what Jesus said in the gospel of John.
“No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.” (John 6:44)
You will note that Jesus did not say “no man will come.” Rather, he said “no man can come.” For one to be able to come to the Son, he must be drawn by the Father. If he is not drawn by the Father, he can not come to the Son.
That is a serious stipulation!
Too many people think they have come to Jesus, when the truth is they have not. They have been coaxed or pressured by men to come. They have been told by men what to believe, what to do, and how to do it. They have simply accepted a religion passed on to them by family or friends. They have been taught by men and not by God. (John 6:45) Yet, no one can come to Jesus unless the Father draws him.
Have you not read that those who are born again are born of God and not by the will of man? (John 1:13) Do you not know that that which is born of the flesh is flesh and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit? (John 3:6)
Conversion is a work of God in a man’s heart. Jesus said, “This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.” (John 6:29)
I urge you to "Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?" ( 2 Corinthians 13:5)
Who drew you to Jesus?
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