Did the Sinner’s Prayer save me?
Have you said the Sinner’s Prayer and you’re wondering if you’re saved? Please allow me to give you some steps in the right direction.
First of all, know that while the intention to say a sinner’s prayer is good, the prayer itself is not what saves you. It’s an oft-repeated prayer, but unfortunately in some circles, it’s held up as a sort of badge of honor, a guarantee of eternal life. It’s not a guarantee.
You can’t have salvation without repentance. One without the other does not add up. God knows the heart and He knows who authentically believes and who is giving lip service.
So, please be careful with this and don’t be fooled into thinking that saying a prescribed set of words is all that’s necessary. That can lead to a false sense of security without the substance to back it up. Too many people have experienced a false conversion.
Anyone can simply repeat the words to ask “Jesus into their hearts” and not actually believe in what the Bible says. It’s the same as certain celebrities wearing crosses around their necks for example and yet, their very public actions do not reflect transformed lives.
That may sound harsh, but it’s true. It is God who saves, not simply a recommended prayer. A transformed life reflects a person’s life-changing faith, commitment, obedience (bearing fruit), and godly character.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. – Galatians 5:22-24.
God will bless you if you sincerely guard your heart (with the help of the Holy Spirit) towards Him. Praise God if it was a certain friend or family member who planted the seed and led you to the authentic saving grace that comes only through Christ Jesus.
Expect some resistance though if you have friends or family who aren’t believers.
Remember, dear friend, that the Bible says in Matthew 5 –
11 “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
– Matthew 5:11-12, ESV
There’s No Free Ride
Christianity is not a free ride. Your life won’t suddenly get better and all of your problems won’t go away. In addition, a newfound faith doesn’t lead to a bigger bank account (despite the false teachings of prosperity preachers).
Life will continue to be hard, but you will be rich in so many other ways. You’ll have the knowledge that our perfect God has chosen you to be a part of His holy family.
Salvation is attainable through Jesus Christ alone.
Your commitment serves as your conscious affirmation that you believe in the saving grace of Jesus Christ and recognize His atonement for your sins.
Here are some commitments to take to heart:
– Find a Bible-believing and teaching church. It can be non-denominational, but they must preach the authentic gospel of Jesus Christ. Not a watered-down version of it that some false teachers think is the only way to help a church grow. Start your search for a bible-believing church by talking with other believers. You can also check each potential church’s website for their mission statement. Unfortunately, the teaching may not line up with the mission statement, so a visit is necessary. If a church is teaching that every religion is basically the same and every cult leads to God, stay clear.
– Buy your own personal copy of the Bible. Until you do, churches have them in the pews so you can follow along with the Biblical preaching. Recommended versions are the English Standard Version Bible, the King James, and the New American Standard Bible.
– Read your Bible. You’ll find that, once you become a Christian, your thirst for Biblical knowledge will increase ten-fold. Have a good commentary to go along with your reading. As a new Christian, you’ll need one and, if you’re a long-time Christian, you’ll still need one. Some are free and online, while some are found for a price, i.e. the John MacArthur Bible Commentary.
– Pray for God’s continued guidance, strength and comfort in your life. He hears every prayer you pray. Speak to God from your heart, not prescribed prayers.
– Learn to memorize Scripture. The verses are the actual inspired words from God the Father. If you can have some of these treasures tucked away in your heart, they’ll come to mind more easily when you’re stressed or going through a difficult trial.
– Read Randy Alcorn’s book, Heaven. It will give you a wonderful perspective, based on an interpretation of Scripture, of what Heaven could be like. It’s a hopeful and thought-provoking work for those who mistakenly believe Heaven is boring. Quite the contrary, Heaven is full of unspeakable joy.
– You may want to consider listening daily to a sermon from OnePlace Ministries on your cell phone or iPad. This website has links to great teaching from wonderful pastors such as Alistair Begg, John MacArthur, and others. It will enrich your life, I promise.
– Check out the website gotquestions.org. You’ll find many answers there to your questions about God and the Christian faith.
– Start listening to Christian music. It will soothe your soul. If you enjoy hymns, there are so many choices. If you like more contemporary, you can find the music of Beckah Shae, High Road III, TobyMac, and others to your liking. Scan through some Christian songs on youtube. You’ll see what I mean.
Through Him, You Become A New Creation
God bless you!
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*All Scripture quotations are from the English Standard Version (ESV), The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.
