Repeating the sinners prayer

Is it right to have someone repeat a “sinner’s prayer” in order for them to receive salvation?

While this is a common practice in our day, there is no example of such a method being used in the Word of God. The clear instruction from the Word of God is for sinners to repent and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ. This was the command Jesus and the Apostles gave to their listeners. (Consider John 3:1-21, Acts 2:14-39, Acts 3:12-26, Acts 8:26-38, Acts 10:34-43, Acts 13:14-41, Acts 16:19-34, and Acts 17:22-31.)

Consider this illustration: Imagine a husband comes to you and shares with you that he has broken his marriage vows with his wife by committing adultery. He is deeply sorry about his actions and the pain that he has caused his wife. He hates his sin, and he wants to be reconciled to her. This husband comes to you for counsel. Could you imagine standing beside him as he approaches his wife and saying, “Repeat after me. Dear Honey…..I am so sorry…..I was really wrong…..”? That is crazy! If the husband is truly sorry for his sin, he would not need to be told what to say. His wife would not want to hear mere words. She would want to see where genuine sorrow has produced a change of heart (a.k.a. “repentance”). Yet, the absurd scenario that I have just described is an accurate illustration of the modern technique used to obtain “decisions for Christ”. The alarming problem is that this technique is not found used anywhere in the Bible. It has been manufactured by man to create "decisions".

Friend, stick with the Word of God. Teach sinners about sin, the judgment of God, and the love that has been shown to us through Jesus Christ. Teach them the necessity of repentance and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. In doing this, you are a faithful steward of the Gospel and you follow in the footsteps of Jesus and the Apostles.

For more information on this topic, please read Just Ask Jesus Into Your Heart?

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