Where is the Sinners Prayer in the Bible?

Recently on a Sunday you decided to go to church. This has not really been what you have done your whole life, but it is something that your parents and grandparents did, and still do. You pick a denomination to go and sit in to see what worship is all about. It's been years since you have darkened the door of a church building.

Worship is more interesting than you expected. The people were friendly and welcomed you to their "family." The preacher was more traditional and taught using a lot of scripture. It made sense and you are moved by the message and as the call to action is being given the preacher says, "Do you want to be a follower of God?" Quite frankly you do want that. He continues, "This is all you have to do. Say this prayer with me. 'Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner, and I ask for Your forgiveness. I believe You died for my sins and rose from the dead. I turn from my sins and invite You to come into my heart and life. I want to trust and follow You as my Lord and Savior. In Jesus’ name, Amen.''

Throughout the lesson there was so much attention to scripture that you ask a simple question. "What was that at the end?" Someone lets you know that you had just uttered "The Sinner's Prayer." Furthermore, the discussion is that this prayer is what begins your relationship in Christ. This is how you are saved! Your next question could be; "Where is the sinner's prayer in the Bible?"

This is an honest question. Where is the sinner's prayer in the Bible? If we are to be following the scriptures (James 1:22; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; John 14:23-24), then we need to find where the Bible says how we are saved and compare it to that of the sinners prayer. If the sinners prayer is the way to go then we will have an example of it in the Bible, right?

Unfortunately, we can search through the scriptures and not find a place where this is mentioned. We find that we need to be baptized (Acts 2:38; Acts 8:12-13; Acts 8:36-38; Acts 9:17-18; Acts 10:47-48; Acts 16:14-15), but we do not find prayers that lead to salvation.

The closest reference to what could be considered the sinners prayer is referenced in Acts 9:11, which reads, "And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go to the street which is called Straight, and inquire in the house of Judas for one named Saul, a man of Tarsus: for behold, he prayeth." If there were ever an occassion where someone would pray something akin to what we quoted above, wouldn't it be right here? Is this how Saul/Paul received salvation? By prayer?

No. Paul washed away his sins in baptism. In Acts 22:16, Paul recounts the events that led to his salvation and mentions the words of Ananias to him. "And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on his name." Paul was not saved when he prayed, he was saved when he washed away his sins in obedient baptism.

Where do we find the sinners prayer in the Bible? We simply do not. Unfortunately some preachers teach this falsely, but we should not fall for these things. We should search the scriptures (Acts 17:11) and find the truth.

The truth on salvation is to obey the Gospel Plan of Salvation. You must Hear (Romans 10:17), Believe (John 3:16), Repent (Luke 13:3), Confess (Matthew 10:32-33), Be Baptized (1 Peter 3:21), and Live Faithfully (Revelation 2:10).