Many times I have shared the gospel with someone, only to have them tell me, “Oh, I’ve already done that…I prayed the prayer when I was seven-years-old…” (or “I walked the aisle…”). It’s as if Christianity is a one-time inoculation against all things bad and the dosage never needs to be repeated (or enjoyed). In recent years, I have begun thinking that much of this is because of an overuse and over-dependence on “the sinner’s prayer” when we share the gospel. So, typically, I have stopped using that prayer in gospel presentations.
Apparently, I’m not the only one to think that way. David Platt has also written on this topic, offering a number of cautions and corrections. Justin Taylor offers a summary at, “How Do You Evangelize If You Don’t Ask Someone to “Pray the Sinner’s Prayer?” Here’s an excerpt from Platt:
I don’t want people to look to me or even to a “prayer they prayed” for assurance of salvation. I want them to look to Christ for this. Assurance of salvation is always based on His work, not ours. Objectively, we look to Christ’s past work on the cross; subjectively, we look to Christ’s present work in our lives; and supremely, we look to Christ’s unshakeable promises regarding our future. This is where books like 1 John biblically ground our assurance as believers. Assurance of salvation is not found in a prayer we prayed or a decision we made however many years ago as much as it is found in trusting in the sacrifice of Christ for us, experiencing the Spirit of Christ in us, obeying the commands of Christ to us, and expressing the love of Christ to others. I want to be careful not to give a person blanket assurance regarding their eternal destiny apart from the fruit of biblical faith, repentance, obedience, and love.
Words of Grace 