Bill
This is Ryan’s testimony from I’ll Be Honest. I challenge you to watch this and then examine your own testimony.
Saved From The Sinners Prayer–Ryan’s Testimony
Posted: May 6, 2009 in doctrine, Missions, Scripture, Theology, VideoTags: doctrine, I'll be Honest, sinner's prayer, testimony
Comments
All Things New 
Wow.
Straight Up.
In Your Face.
We sat for YEARS under a young preacher who continually promised people ON THE AUTHORITY of God’s Word that if they sincerely believed that they were born again, then they definitely were…and not to let ANYONE tell them different…only to soon see his many converts fall back into the world never to be seen again. By God’s grace, our eyes were opened through the ministry of Cross TV.
In reply to Richard, If the young pastor you mention was talking to christians who accepted Christ as their savior then I would agree him. Romans 10:9, 10 come to mind.
They’re is always a danger in telling someone they are a “Christian” based on a “descision” they made, or because they said a prayer. No-one knows for sure that anyone is saved except God himself. Matthew 7:22-27 comes to mind. The bible instructs us to work out our salvation in fear and trembling (Phil. 2:12) and to constantly test ourselves to make sure we are in the faith (2 Cor. 13:5).
For the record I believe Romans 10:9-10 to be true. Question is what gets a person to that point?
sorry for the bad grammer in the last post. It’s 5 am 🙂
Bill, maybe I misunderstand you, but I believe we can know for sure that we are saved. For one, the Holy Spirit gives evidence. 1 John 5:13.
Sorry about that. I should’ve been clearer. I agree that we can know we are saved, I was just saying that we can’t tell for sure if someone else is saved or not. That is between them and God.
If there is a formula to keep us out of hell we will do it.
If there is an aisle to walk to keep us out of hell we will walk it.
If there ia a prayer to pray to keep us out of hell we will pray it.
How much does it cost? What work must men do? When will we stop trying to earn our way out of hell and into heaven? When will we stop giving people the good news that JESUS saves us without works being necessary, then tell them to do the above mentioned things (works) and they will be saved. And once you’ve “prayed the prayer” or “made the decision” whatever you do don’t let anyone tell you any different, or that would be considered a lack of faith. As long as you were sincere…. the most sincere thing we can do is turn from our sin, cry out to Jesus, and trust Him to save us. We all want to love and live in our sin and somehow pray a little prayer, or do some work to lull ourselves into some morbid sort of zombie like christianity that says live like the devil on earth and live with Christ in heaven. There must be a change that only Christ can bring about in our lives. No trust in works, or some so called decision we’ve made. But CHRIST ALONE!!! This means we must repent, turn from our sin we all love so much, trust, and love Christ for our salvation.
Very well said Randy. Thank You.
Ditto Randy…That’s the long version of what Richard would say. Salvation has been watered down to walk an aisle, pray a little prayer, grab your fire insurance and go on about your daily life…no change, no growth and certainly no regeneration. When church members (like a pastor or leader) are more concerned with having people pray a prayer and build up the church rolls instead of seeing people truly repent from the sin in their lives and live wholely for Christ, there IS a major problem. And then these same ‘converts’ who are not of Christ infiltrate the church and turn it into a social club or event … or fall away after a very short period of time because…there IS NO GROWTH IN CHRIST! As Christians, true believers in Christ, we MUST be careful when accepting people into the faith…that they are truly making a genuine decision with a penitent heart…and how do we see that? By the fruit they begin to show. And yes, you CAN see fruit in someone who is of Christ…and they will also have the assurance from Christ of their salvation…not because of their works…but because of His Grace…and His work of fulfilling the law that we could never fulfill…
And now I must run…mother duties call…God bless to each! cmk
Amen Sister preach it!
If we continue with this kind of watered down salvation message we will have more and more false converts in the church…to our shame and possibly to their damnation. Lord help us to preach, witness, and speak with boldness and love to everone with the gospel.
Thanks Bill this was a subject that needs to be talked about in the church.