Starting today August 7th, 2024, in order to post in the Married Couples, Courting Couples, or Singles forums, you will not be allowed to post if you have your Marital status designated as private. Announcements will be made in the respective forums as well but please note that if yours is currently listed as Private, you will need to submit a ticket in the Support Area to have yours changed.
The problem is when the prayer becomes a "means" of salvation. Too often I hear someone say, "say this prayer, and if you mean it, you will be saved." Well, how much does that person have to mean it? If he means it then, and forgets it later, was it still valid? If salvation were left up to how much we <insert anything>, then we would all be hopelessly lost.jlujan69 said:The reason I ask is that I've heard some say that this type of prayer is known as the "sinner's prayer", and as such, is unbiblical. In other words, even this prayer in itself is a "work" and we're saved by faith and not works. I was wondering if those who object to the "sinner's prayer" object only if it's presented as the means in itself to salvation apart from faith in Christ (which would be unbiblical) or if the sinner's prayer is rejected under any circumstances-(with or without accompanying belief in Christ). To put it another way, will God save someone who believes in his heart that he's a sinner and that Jesus Christ is his only hope and who then asks God's forgiveness and to save him?
Not necessarily. Since true confession is impossible without a God-given faith, then it is only with this God-given faith that one can, and must confess and repent.jlujan69 said:I agree with what you both said. The faith he has has to come from God for it to be saving faith. If it comes from any other source, then the prayer he offered would be useless. Would it be correct to state that what you guys believe is that if a person simply believes (with God-given faith) in the finished work of Jesus, then he's already saved and doesn't need to actually confess this to God?
The Solid Declaration of the Formula of Concord said:in spiritual and divine things the intellect, heart, and will of the unregenerate man are utterly unable, by their own natural powers, to understand, believe, accept, think, will, begin, effect, do, work, or concur in working anything, but they are entirely dead to what is good, and corrupt, so that in man's nature since the Fall, before regeneration, there is not the least spark of spiritual power remaining, nor present, by which, of himself, he can prepare himself for God's grace, or accept the offered grace, nor be capable of it for and of himself, or apply or accommodate himself thereto, or by his own powers be able of himself, as of himself, to aid, do, work, or concur in working anything towards his conversion, either wholly, or half, or in any, even the least or most inconsiderable part; but that he is the servant [and slave] of sin, John 8, 34, and a captive of the devil, by whom he is moved, Eph. 2, 2; 2 Tim. 2, 26. Hence the natural free will according to its perverted disposition and nature is strong and active only with respect to what is displeasing and contrary to God.
Does this help? Or does it confuse matters even more?Augsburg Confession said:Now, repentance consists properly of these two parts: One is contrition, that is, terrors smiting the conscience through the knowledge of sin; the other is faith, which is born of the Gospel, or of absolution, and believes that for Christ's sake, sins are forgiven, comforts the conscience, and delivers it from terrors. Then good works are bound to follow, which are the fruits of repentance.
Small Catechism said:[font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][size=+2]Confession[/size]
[/font]Small Catechism said:[font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]How Christians should be taught to confess.[/font]
[font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]What is confession?
Confession has two parts. First, that we confess our sins, and second, that we receive absolution, that is, forgiveness, from the pastor as from God Himself, not doubting, but firmly believing that by it our sins are forgiven before God in heaven.[/font]
[font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]What sins should we confess?
Before God we should plead guilty of all sins, even those we are not aware of, as we do in the Lord's Prayer; but before the pastor we should confess only those sins which we know and feel in our hearts.[/font]
[font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Which are these?
Consider your place in life according to the Ten Commandments: Are you a father, mother, son, daughter, husband, wife, or worker? Have you been disobedient, unfaithful, or lazy? Have you been hot-tempered, rude, or quarrelsome? Have you hurt someone by your words or deeds? Have you stolen, been negligent, wasted anything, or done any harm?[/font]
[font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]A Short Form of Confession [/font]
[font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][Luther intended the following form to serve as an example of private confession.] [/font]
[font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]The penitent says: [/font]
[font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Dear confessor, I ask you please to hear my confession and to pronounce forgiveness in order to fulfill God's will. [/font]
[font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]I, a poor sinner, plead guilty before God of all sins. In particular I confess before you that as a servant, maid, etc., I, sad to say, serve my master unfaithfully, for in this and that I have not done what I was told to do. I have made him angry and caused him to curse. I have been negligent and allowed damage to be done. I have also been offensive in words and deeds. I have quarreled with my peers. I have grumbled about the lady of the house and cursed her. I am sorry for all of this and I ask for grace. I want to do better. [/font]
[font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]A master or lady of the house may say: [/font]
[font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]In particular I confess before you that I have not faithfully guided my children, servants, and wife to the glory of God. I have cursed. I have set a bad example by indecent words and deeds. I have hurt my neighbor and spoken evil of him. I have overcharged, sold inferior merchandise, and given less than was paid for. [/font]
[font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][Let the penitent confess whatever else he has done against God's commandments and his own position]. [/font]
[font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]If, however, someone does not find himself burdened with these or greater sins, he should not trouble himself or search for or invent other sins, and thereby make confession a torture. Instead, he should mention one or two that he knows: In particular I confess that I have cursed; I have used improper words; I have neglected this or that, etc. Let that be enough. But if you know of none at all (which hardly seems possible), then mention none in particular, but receive the forgiveness upon the general confession which you make to God before the confessor. [/font]
[font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Then the confessor shall say: [/font]
[font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]God be merciful to you and strengthen your faith. Amen. [/font]
[font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Furthermore: [/font]
[font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Do you believe that my forgiveness is God's forgiveness? Yes, dear confessor. [/font]
[font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Then let him say: [/font]
[font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Let it be done for you as you believe. And I, by the command of our Lord Jesus Christ, forgive you your sins in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Go in peace. [/font]
[font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]A confessor will know additional passages with which to comfort and to strengthen the faith of those who have great burdens of conscience or are sorrowful and distressed. [/font][font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]This is intended only as a general form of confession. [/font]
We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:
Do you accept cookies and these technologies?
We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:
Do you accept cookies and these technologies?