Sinners Prayer Quotes

“Saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.” This is the source of the so-called “sinner’s prayer.” Since it is an Old Testament prayer before the Crucifixion, Christians add: “and save me for Jesus’ sake.” This brings up the question of whether it is necessary to pray to be saved. There is a movement among Bible-believing Christians today that says if you pray to receive Christ, that is a work, and you aren’t saved by works (Eph. 2:8–9; Tit. 3:5). The logical conclusion to such an argument is that if you prayed to get saved, that you are lost and need to be saved (again!). It is the Baptist version of the Brownsville Revival retreaders. It’s propagated by pastors who aren’t seeing many people saved in their churches, so they turn on their congregations and try to reconvert them. In one of these churches over in Milton, the associate pastor (who was the son of the pastor) professed to have gotten saved seven times. That was six times past the first time when he prayed to be saved. And you are going to trust a man with no more assurance or stability than that to lead you to Christ? Now is prayer necessary for salvation? No. You can say a prayer and be no more saved than the Pharisee was when he prayed. The touchstone of the Gospel is not Acts 16:31 or Romans 10:13. It is John 1:12. “But as many as RECEIVED HIM, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.” Did you know you can believe on Jesus Christ and still die lost and go to Hell? Simon the sorcerer did; look up Acts 8:13 and READ IT! You can even call on the name of the Lord and be lost. Those exorcists in Acts 19:13–15 did. But you can’t receive Jesus Christ and the free gift of God’s righteousness through Jesus Christ (Rom. 5:15–18) and not be saved. You can believe without receiving, but you can’t receive without believing. The question is not can you be saved by praying, because the Scriptures say you can: “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Rom. 10:13). That calling involves the mouth (Rom. 10:9–10). You are confessing Jesus Christ with your mouth and believing on Him with your heart. The prayer is expressing the faith of the sinner in Jesus Christ to save him. So the real question is what are you doing when you say the sinner’s prayer? If you are repeating it as a ritual (like they do in Russia and the Ukraine due to the influence of the Russian Orthodox Church), that’s not salvation. If you are relying on the prayer itself to save you, that’s not salvation. But if the sinner prays to receive Christ and express his faith in what Jesus Christ did for him, that will do it. Here’s a sinner who comes to Jesus Christ in sincerity and faith, and prays, “Dear God, I know I’m a sinner, and if you don’t do something for me, I’m headed for Hell. I’ve been told that your Son the Lord Jesus Christ can save me, so I’m going to trust Him right now. I believe He died on the cross to take away my sins and rose again to take me to Heaven. Right now I receive Him the best way I know how. Please save me, Lord Jesus, and help me to know I’m saved.” Do you think the Lord is going to tell that sinner, “No, I can’t save you because you just prayed and prayer is a work”? Do you really think the Lord is going to turn down a sinner who comes to Him like that after He said, “him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out” (John 6:37)? From a practical standpoint, it is good for a sinner to pray when he gets saved because it can reinforce the believer’s assurance. The prayer gives him a tangible time to which he can point and say, “That’s the time and place when I trusted Jesus Christ as my Saviour.”
― Peter S. Ruckman, Gospel of Luke Commentary

“It’s very simple. Wherever you are, bow your head and pray a simple prayer something like this:

“Lord Jesus, I know I am a sinner, and unless you save me, I am lost forever. I now come to you, the best way I know how, and ask you to save me. I receive you as my Saviour and trust you to forgive and justify me, and present me without fault before God’s throne in the day of Judgment.”

If you have done this, then you have made the greatest decision of your life.”
― Peter S. Ruckman, The Simplicity of Salvation

“Now if the person needs help praying, offer to have him follow you in prayer, as long as he means business. Again, the prayer is not what saves him; it is trusting Christ, which the prayer represents. Say, “Let’s try this: ‘Our Father which art in heaven’ . . . .” That is the beginning of the so-called “Lord’s prayer” in Matthew 6:9. Of course, the verse isn’t doctrinally given to any Gentile or member of the body of Christ. It is doctrinally to Jews under the law. Nor at that point is God the Father of that person. Don’t worry about any of that. The reason I use that is because most people are familiar with that prayer; it’s a natural opening to the rest of the prayer.

“‘Our Father which art in heaven,’ I don’t want to go to hell when I die . . . .” He’ll go with you that far, or he wouldn’t have talked to you as long as he did. “I know I’m a sinner . . . .” He’ll go that far if you presented the plan of salvation as you should have. “And I believe Jesus Christ died for my sins . . . .” If you presented the gospel correctly, and if the person means business, he will now come all the way through. “I am going to trust you now, Lord Jesus, and receive you as my Saviour. Please have mercy on me and save me and let me know I am saved. For Jesus’ sake, amen.”

Now ask him, “Did you mean that prayer?” “Yes.” “Then let’s try another prayer: ‘Lord, thank you for dying for me. Thank you for suffering for my sins on the cross. Please fill me with the Holy Spirit and give me assurance of salvation. For Jesus’ sake, amen.”
― Peter S. Ruckman, Soulwinning

“If you receive Jesus Christ as your Saviour, then you receive perfect righteousness and holiness, so that you can please God and be acceptable in His sight. Any other attempt to gain God’s acceptance will not work. God “now commandeth all men everywhere to repent” (Acts 17:30). That means you have to give up your old way of thinking and living and turn to God. The Bible says, “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Rom. 10:13). That is the invitation. Neither your church, your baptism, nor your good works can save you; you must trust Jesus Christ alone, by grace through faith (Eph. 2:8–9). It’s very simple. Wherever you are, bow your head and pray a simple prayer something like this:

“Lord Jesus, I know I am a sinner, and unless you save me, I am lost forever. I now come to you, the best way I know how, and ask you to save me. I receive you as my Saviour and trust you to forgive me and justify me and present me without fault before God’s throne in the day of judgment.”

If you have done this, then you have made the greatest decision of your life. Don’t be ashamed of this decision. “Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed” (Rom. 10:11). You should find a Bible-believing church and start attending that you may grow (2 Pet. 3:18). Also begin to read your Bible (Authorized King James Version) daily and talk to God in prayer. God has given you a brand new life (2 Cor. 5:17); live it for Him.”
― Peter S. Ruckman, The Restoration of Israel