Does the Sinner’s Prayer Save Us?

There are a lot of versions of the “Sinner’s Prayer.”  Usually it goes something like the one in the photo above.  I’ve even seen an abbreviated version on a bumper sticker as though reading it at a stop light would save you whether you liked it or not.  That’s not how salvation works, of course.

We aren’t Christians due to what we say but by grace through faith (Eph. 2:8-9).  So, then, what’s the Sinner’s Prayer about?  Well, I think it’s just a point of faith, a place in our lives where we can remember we asked Jesus to come into our hearts and we were saved.  But, I don’t think we’re saved by it. 

The Bible never says we need to say anything to be saved.  The thief on the cross didn’t say the Sinner’s Prayer but Jesus confirmed his salvation.  When the Philippian jailer asked Paul and Silas what he could do to be saved, they told him to “believe in the Lord Jesus” (See also John 3:16, 36, 5:24, 6:35, 40, 47, etc.)

This may be splitting hairs, but I believe this is a heart issue, so I do have some questions.  I’m thinking belief is something that happens to us not something we do.  If we were saved by saying a prayer, we would be saved by a work wouldn’t we?  Scripture says over and over we are not saved by works (Rom. 11:6; Gal. 2:16; Eph. 2:8-9; Titus 3:5).

So, if we’re not saved by works and praying for salvation is a work, then if we need to pray the Sinners Prayer aren’t we involved in the salvation process?  Does God depend on our prayer before saving us?  I think not.  I’m not pushing universalism here, that all will be saved, but I am asking how much a prayer is needed for our salvation.

In my case, and in all cases I think, merely the change of mind to “I need and want Jesus” is enough to save us.  The prayer is simply, as I said above, an event we can point to as the moment we became a Christian.  I think we were already saved when we started the prayer.

When I fell in love with my wife, it was not an act, a work, it was a change in me.  It was nothing I did but something that happened to me.  When I accepted Christ, I came to Him through reasoning but also through His persistent “knock” at my heart.  Eventually He convinced me of my need to turn to Him.  But turning to Him was not what saved me.  It was the change of my mind that turning to Him was needed that changed me: again, not a work.

Let’s look for a moment at the thief on the cross (Luke 23:42-43): “And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Jesus reply: “And he said to him, ‘Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.’”  I think it’s pretty obvious the thief’s heart had been changed before he came to say what he did to Jesus.  The thief recognized Jesus as his Lord and the kingdom of God was His.  It is my contention and belief the thief would have been with Jesus in paradise if he had not spoken up but just believed.

In Acts chapter 10, we see Cornelius and his family being saved without a word from them:  Acts 10:44-47 (ESV)  While Peter was still saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word. ⁴⁵ And the believers from among the circumcised who had come with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out even on the Gentiles. ⁴⁶ For they were hearing them speaking in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter declared, ⁴⁷ “Can anyone withhold water for baptizing these people, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?”  So, at least in this occurrence, no prayer was said which goes to my point of salvation being due to a change of heart or mind and not a prayer we say in desperation.

Why is this important?

This is important because our salvation is not based on works.  I was asked recently if someone was saved even if he hadn’t heard that person ask Jesus into His heart.  As you can see from the above, I think the prayer is unnecessary.

The only objection to my opinion that I can see is prayer may not be a work.  I disagree and think it’s something we do, so I’m sticking with my opinion it’s a work.

Jesus Himself tells us God knows what we will ask for even before we ask:  Matt 6:8 (ESV)  Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.  This certainly doesn’t negate the need for prayer but encourages it.  God wants to hear from us and fellowship with us, He wants to counsel us and guide us.  This is just Jesus pointing out God is all-knowing and the context doesn’t seem to point to salvation since the Lord’s Prayer follows Jesus’ statement.

A third objection might be to say the prayer is required but not sufficient.  I think that would run into the same problem as if it were sufficient: it would mean God’s grace alone is not enough.