A phrase heard throughout the Christian world - and probably heard in Blanco every Sunday, is the admonition to “Accept Jesus as your personal savior,” or “Do you know the Lord as your personal Savior?” Perhaps one is encouraged to recite the “sinner’s prayer,” which may be something like, “Heavenly Father, I know that I am a sinner and that I deserve to go to hell. I believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross for my sins. I do now receive him as my Lord and personal Savior. I promise to serve you to the best of my ability. Please save me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
As disciples of Christ we should want to be Biblical in everything we do. So, where do we find the idea of “accepting Jesus as my personal Savior” in the Bible? There is no command to “accept” Jesus or an example of such in the New Testament. Nor is the idea of a “personal” Savior found in the New Testament. Where do we read that Jesus or any of his apostles told anyone to recite “the sinner’s prayer” to be saved? It might be found in the paper, on the internet, or even in a tract in a church building, but it is not found in the Bible.
We ought to be bothered if we cannot find Scripture for the very phrases the religious world uses to teach people how they are saved. Surely it should concern us if we can’t find justification for what we do in the scriptures. What does it mean to “accept Jesus as your personal Savior?” Or, better yet, how do I “accept Jesus as my personal Savior?” Since there are no examples in the New Testament, how do I know how to do this? Can I simply say the words that “I accept Jesus as my personal Savior?” Is it as simple as acknowledging Him as Lord? Can I find this practice supported by Scripture? I can save you a lot of time by telling you the answer is no. When we open our New Testaments, we do not find this practice anywhere. We find no reference to “accepting” Jesus; we only find direction on how we can be accepted by Him. We find commands (not mere suggestions) to believe (Mark 16:15), repent of one’s sins (Acts 2:38, 3:19), confess the name of Jesus (Romans 10:9) and be baptized for the forgiveness of one’s sins (Acts 2:38).
Getting back to “knowing Jesus as one’s personal savior,” is ”calling on the name of the Lord” or “acknowledging Him as Lord” the Biblical proof we’re looking for? In Matthew 7:21-25, Jesus is quite blunt about some who had claimed to be his disciples. They’d prophesied, done great wonders and performed miracles in His name. Were they approved by God? Jesus says “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. 22 Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, in Your name did we not prophesy, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name do many miracles?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you who practice lawlessness.’ Not obeying what is commanded or doing what we think is OK as opposed to what God thinks is OK, is lawlessness. Jesus was unambiguous when he said “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.” (John 14:15) John was equally clear when he wrote, “The one saying, ‘I have known Him,’ and not keeping His commandments, he is a liar, and the truth is not in him.” (1 John 2:4)
Finally, let’s look at a New Testament example of a “sinner’s prayer.” In Acts 9, Saul (later called Paul) is on the way to Damascus to persecute Christians when Jesus appears to him, telling him to go into the city “and it will be told you what you must do.” (Acts 9:6). The prophet Ananias is told to find Saul and lay his hands on him to restore his vision. When Ananias arrives, we learn Saul is blind and has been praying for three days. If reciting the one minute “sinner’s prayer” saves, why wasn’t Paul saved after three days of prayer? Ananias knows Saul isn’t saved yet and tells him, “And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name.” (Acts 22:16). Saul’s sins were not forgiven by a “sinner’s prayer.” His sins were washed away through baptism.
Unfortunately, many well-meaning people accept the teaching that they can become right with the Lord by reciting a simple phrase or short prayer. Unfortunately, neither are scriptural. The Bible is very clear on what one needs to do to be saved. Recognize we are accountable to God. Your pastor, priest, reverend, minister, or preacher will not be there on Judgment Day to argue for you. You’ll be on your own. “So then each one of us will give an account of himself to God.” (Romans 14:12); “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.” (2 Corinthians 5:10). Paul told the brethren at Ephesus, "Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.”(Ephesians 5:17). Don’t take anyone’s word for it when it comes to the destiny of your soul; pay attention to what God has said.
You are invited to attend our weekly Bible study of the prophecies of the Bible at 10am on Sunday followed by worship at 11. On Wednesdays at 5pm we are currently studying Peter’s epistles and will soon start studying John’s epistles.
Buz Turk
Blanco Hills Church of Christ
blancohillschurch.com
830-554-0701