The Baptist Rosary

ByPastor Wynn

Does saying a prayer produce salvation?  If I say, “Lord, I know I am a sinner and I believe you died for my sins, and I want you to save me,” does that save me?  I realize that I am treading upon ground that can be very volatile and, yet, this is an issue that must be addressed among those who care about the souls of men.

It is my belief that my early ministry left many people more lost than I found them.  As I would go out door-knocking, I would apply the principles I had been taught in soul-winning class.  You know the drill. . .Knock the door. . .slide your foot into the door opening so they could not close it again. . .lead them down the Roman’s Road. . .and, ultimately, lead them in the Sinner’s Prayer.  The number of people that I lead through the “Sinner’s Prayer” is many.  Yet, they did not experience the changed life that Second Corinthians 5:17 speaks of.  They never darkened the door of the church.  They never forsook their wicked lifestyles.  Yet, if you asked them today if they were saved, they would probably say, “Yes I am. . .I prayed a prayer years ago when a preacher came by.”  Thus, they were left more lost than I had found them.

I know a man that had such an experience.  Yet, his lifestyle of drunkenness and immorality are clear evidences that he has not be saved.  However, he insist that he has “done all I know to do!”  He is depending on a day when, after hearing J. Harold Smith preach “God’s Three Deadlines,” he went forward and said a prayer.  Like so many, he is depending on a day when he “said a prayer.”  Oh, that he would realize that saying a sentence of words is not salvation.  How many people, who “said a prayer,” will find themselves being sentenced to eternal damnation?  Oh, that people would realize that one must come to Christ, by faith alone.  Too many have made the “Sinner’s Prayer” nothing more that the Baptist Rosary.  If praying prayers saved a person, then a faithful Catholic person would assuredly be saved.  Yet, it is not mere mouth confession that produces salvation (James 2:17-18).  Salvation begins within the heart, and then proceeds to the confession of the mouth (Romans 10:10).  I pray for this man’s salvation.

The problem is that the “Sinner’s Prayer” has become nothing more than a Baptist Rosary.  To have a sinner “pray,” when there has been no conviction, is unbiblical.  Salvation is not merely an mental acceptance of the facts of salvation (cf. James 2:19).  Satan believes that Jesus is the Son of God, and that He died and rose again.  Satan was there when it all happened.  Yet, Satan will not ever be saved, even though he mentally agrees with the facts.  There must be a conviction of one’s lost and sinful condition, before they will ever believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.

Therefore, we must get back to presenting the gospel of the death, burial and resurrection of Christ, as Paul set forth in First Corinthians 15:1-6.  It is this gospel that will produce conviction in the hearts of sinful men, and then genuine confession and conversion will take place.  When the man who is convicted of his sinful state prays,  it will be his prayer to God, and not a rote “Sinner’s Prayer.”  It will be from his heart and not merely his mouth.

What are your thoughts on this issue?  Please feel free to comment below.

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41 Comments

  1. I doubt many would argue that “saying a prayer” saves anyone. Certainly, there must be a mental acknowledging of the truth (2 Tim. 2:25) and genuine faith from the heart (Rom 10:9-10). Surely, there are some who do not take the time to present the gospel or make sure that the person even understands because they want a notch on their report. My problem is that we seem to think that unless a new convert becomes a great, obedient Christian, they must not have truly been saved. The Bible teaches that a truly born again person can live in the flesh, the same flesh they had before they got saved. They can still have the same addictions, the same poor character, and the same tendencies.
    As I’m sure you have, I’ve had folks come forward in church with tears, get shown the gospel at the altar, pray and ask Christ into their hearts, and even get baptized – and still went back to their former ways. I’ve had folks do the same when I’ve led them to the Lord in their living room or on the street. And we’ve seen some from both get into church and grow for the Lord.
    I use the sinner’s prayer both inside and outside of the church, and believe that it is a scriptural way to help someone to call upon the name of the Lord. However, I understand the point of your post and believe that soulwinners should always strive to make sure that the person they are talking to understands the gospel and is willing to receive Christ by faith. Thanks for writing.

  2. Yes sir, brother, I agree that is not the “Sinner’s Prayer” that is the issue. Rather, it is the misuse of it that is so dangerous. Unfortunately, I have spoken with men who claimed that “as long as they prayed that prayer, they’re saved!” The abundance of this kind of teaching is what caused me to write the “Baptist Rosary” article.

    Likewise, I agree that getting saved does not always settle someone’s addictions or other past issues. No one becomes perfect at salvation. We had a fellow that got saved through our Reformer’s Unanimous program. He only lived about one year after that, and he still struggled with the problem of alcohol. However, his life became consumed with pleasing God, studying his Bible and getting involved in serving the Lord. The alcohol remained a struggled until the day he died with Cirrhosis of the liver. I believe that I will see him in Heaven when I get there.

    I have helped people pray that prayer, when they were uncertain as to how to pray. However, my favorite way is to just encourage them to pray from their heart and talk to God. As you state, it is imperative that they understand the gospel and to receive Christ by faith.

    Thanks for your comments.

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