What the Scriptures Should Say If….

I recently completed a book titled, A Place Called Heaven by Dr. Robert Jeffress. Although I purchased it in October of 2019, I just started reading it in October of this year. (The delay is not unusual; a few books I've had more than thirty years and not yet read them.) The reason for the purchase, was: first, the subject matter; second, the author, who had appeared on The O'Reilly Factor a number of times; and, third, the book was half-price.

Jeffress (pronounced Jeff' rees) Is regarded as a religious expert in part because he is the “senior pastor” of the 13,000-member First Baptist Church in Dallas, Texas. Jeffress' predecessor there was W. A. Criswell (134), who held that position for five decades; he was also the president of the Southern Baptist Convention from 1968-1970 (Wikipedia).

Jeffress acknowledges that his favorite professor (and former president) of Dallas Theological Seminary was John Walvoord (189), who influenced many Baptists toward premillennialism in the last century. Walvoord made a scholarly case for the false teaching; afterward, Hal Lindsey popularized it with The Late, Great Planet Earth. Later still, Tim LaHaye and various co-authors wrote the Left Behind series.

The Sinner's Prayer

All of these details are recorded to make certain that the reader understands that Jeffress is one of the most prominent Baptists of this era. He influences many. In his next-to-last chapter, he decided to include a sinner's prayer for his audience. He acknowledges the words do not comprise a magic formula, but rather it is “a way to open your heart and receive God's offer of forgiveness” (203). Below is his version of a sinner's prayer, which is addressed to God.

Thank you for loving me. I realize that I have failed You in many ways, and I'm truly sorry for the sin in my life. But I believe that You loved me so much that You sent Your Son Jesus to die on the cross for me. I believe that Jesus took the punishment from You that I deserve for my sins. So right now I'm trusting in what Jesus did for me—not my own good works—to save me from my sins. Thank you for forgiving me and helping me to spend the rest of my life serving You. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen (203).

That is all it takes, apparently, in order to be saved from sin. Jeffress almost got to repentance. He mentions sorrow for sin, which is not repentance, but rather it leads to it (2 Cor. 7:9-10). The promise to live one's life for God is good. It implies changes in one's life, but nowhere does the person praying say that he will repent and forsake sin. Certainly, nothing was mentioned about being baptized to remove one's sins.

Now we have no intent to denigrate Dr. Jeffress personally; we disagree with much that he teaches, but he comes across as both likable and sincere. And there are not many religious leaders who command the respect he does from a great number of people claiming to be Christians. We cannot, however, help but wonder, “Has it never crossed his mind, and the minds of others like him, that his presentation of the sinner's prayer is absent from the Scriptures?” We know that he knows the Bible. Has he not noticed all the verses that speak of baptism? Following is the way that those believing in the efficacy of “the sinner's prayer” must read the text. They must think that Peter's sermon on Pentecost reads as follows:

Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” Then Peter said to them, “Bow your heads and pray this prayer. 'Dear God,

Thank you for loving us Jews. We realize that we have failed You in many ways over the centuries—and especially in crucifying the One Who came to save us from our sins. We put Him on that cross and are so sorry for our sins. So right now we're trusting in what Jesus did for us—not our own good works—to save us from our sins. Thank you for forgiving us and helping us to spend the rest of our lives serving You. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.'”

Then those who gladly received his word said the sinner's prayer, and the same day three thousand souls were added to them. Furthermore, many continued daily with one accord, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were saying the sinner's prayer.

What is stated above is precisely what Baptists and others believe. Why doesn't the text teach it this way? It's what they tell people to do, as if the text read this way. They ought to ask themselves, “Why doesn't this text agree with our doctrine?”

Why did Peter tell the multitude to repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of their sins (Acts 2:38)? Why does the text make a point of saying 3,000 gladly received his word and were baptized (Acts 2:41)? Why does the sinner's prayer routinely ignore baptism altogether? The Holy Spirit made it part of salvation, but “the sinner's prayer” takes it out. Does that sound like the proper attitude?

Does Jeffress believe that if a person is baptized, he would be counting on his own good works? Surely not—since baptism is the work of God—not man (Col. 2:13). For whatever reason, he omits baptism.

Samaria

Eventually, the gospel left Jerusalem; Philip went down to Samaria “and preached Christ to them” (Acts 8:5). One would expect that Acts 8:12 would say, “But when they believed Philip as he preached the things concerning the kingdom of heaven and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women said the sinner's prayer instead of, “Both men and women were baptized.” Why doesn't the Bible read the way modern religious leaders like to “preach” it?

Philip next spoke to a eunuch from Ethiopia. Philip began discussing the text of Isaiah 53, which the eunuch was reading, and he “preached Jesus to him” (Acts 8:35). Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, “See, here is water. What hinders me from saying the sinner's prayer?” Now, “after the eunuch had finished the sinner's prayer, the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away, so that the eunuch saw him no more, and he went on his way rejoicing” (Acts 8:36-39). Why doesn't the text read this way?

Cornelius and his friends were gathered together to hear the gospel preached by Peter when “the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word” (Acts 10:44). Of course, everyone was astonished. Then Peter said, “Can anyone forbid the sinner's prayer to those who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have? And he commanded them to say the sinner's prayer” (Acts 10:44-45).

As Peter recounts this event in the next chapter, he explains. “As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them as upon us at the beginning. Then I remembered the word of the Lord, how He said, 'John indeed baptized you with water, but you shall say the sinner's prayer instead'” (Acts 11:15-16). Those teaching the sinner's prayer must minimize and discount all of these passages in order to eradicate baptism from the gospel that truly saves mankind.

Philippi

Paul met a certain woman named Lydia, whom he taught. “And when she and her household had said the sinner's prayer,” she begged them to stay. The reality is that Acts 16:15 reports, “And when she and her household were baptized,” she begged them to stay. Thus, we have been highlighting two problems. The first is that baptism had been removed from all of these passages—although it is in the text. Second, the sinner's prayer is in none of them, but the doctrine taught by modern religious teachers must be assumed to be present. If not, why do Jeffress and others teach the sinner's prayer and omit baptism when they teach on salvation?

Paul and Silas had been put in prison—their feet were fastened in the stocks (Acts 16:23-24). At midnight, the two soldiers of the cross were praying and singing hymns to God (v. 25). After an earthquake, concerning which the jailer thought his prisoners had escaped, Paul reassured him of their presence. The man spoke to them, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” (v. 30). One would think they answered, “Say the sinner's prayer, and you will be saved, you and your household” (v. 31).

However, what they actually said was, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household” (v. 31). “Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house” (v. 32). So, is that when they all said the sinner's prayer? No, that was when they were baptized (v. 33). No prayer by this group is mentioned.

Saul of Tarsus

No one had tried any harder to destroy the church (in its infancy) than Saul of Tarsus. He talks about his conversion in Acts 22. Jesus revealed himself to Saul while he was traveling to Damascus: “I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting.” Saul, a devout and zealous Jew, must have been shocked beyond his imagination to hear these words (Acts 22:8). He asked, “What shall I do, Lord?” Jesus did not tell him to say the sinner's prayer. Instead, he told him to go into the city of Damascus (v. 10).

Jesus then sent Ananias to Saul to restore his sight (vv. 12-13). Ananias did not tell Saul to arise and say the sinner's prayer; instead, he said, “And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized…” (v. 16). Someone might respond, “Well, Saul had already asked for forgiveness and received it—maybe even at the very spot where Jesus confronted him!” If such were the case, why did Paul still have his sins? Notice the remainder of the verse: “And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord” (v. 16). No one's sins are washed away in the sinner's prayer. They are washed away when someone believes and is baptized (cf. Mark 16:16).

Conclusion

Much more could be said on this subject. Should we rewrite 1 Peter 3:21 to say: “There is also an antitype which now saves us—the sinner's prayer”? It would be difficult for a sinner's prayer to be the antitype of the Flood, but some zealot is certain to try to make it fit.

Jeffress laments that some people will be surprised on the Day of Judgment that they are not included among the saved, and he cites Matthew 7:21-23. Might not this number of people include those who were told to pray the sinner's prayer instead of being baptized for the forgiveness of their sins (Acts 2:38)?

If every person who taught the sinner's prayer were thoroughly honest, along with those who prayed it, not a thing would be changed. Praying that prayer would still not be the truth and it, therefore, cannot save. We plead with everyone, “Read the Bible verses for yourself. Determine what actually is the truth.”