truth on eternal salvation

The heart may be the very last thing we should trust^1,5 as it is where evil thoughts and deeds are spawned.⁴ We must focus on God’s will and not our own^2,5 and should be asking God for help.³

There is literally no passage we can find that describes a “sinner’s prayer” or any prayer related to or connected with one’s being saved or converted. The only passage used to justify such a prayer¹ actually connects “calling on the Lord” to being saved.

Defining this action as a prayer or a “sinner’s prayer” is not how Paul himself is using it in the context. In this case, he ties it to belief (heart) and confession (mouth), but in fact we can go to other passages to see its complete definition including in Paul’s own conversion.

An individual must hear the gospel in order to know God’s will^1,6. Not only does Paul tell us this plainly in his letters, but we see it played out in conversion stories in Scripture^2,3,4,5. Interestingly, we see visions playing a role in all of these examples^2,3,4 – even visions of Jesus, Himself⁵ – yet, in every case the fundamental pattern¹ is followed (e.g. preacher sent, hearers hear, believers “call on him“), thus fulfilling what Isaiah writes, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!”¹

It should also be noted the role that prayer plays in each of these examples:

• In Philippi², Scripture says that Paul and Silas met an eventual convert at a “supposed place of prayer” (vs 13); presumably, Lydia was there praying when Paul and Silas met her,
• The Ethiopian eunuch is coming from Jerusalem where he had journeyed specifically to worship God³ – no doubt praying during that time,
• Cornelius is told by the angel of God in his vision that his prayers have been answered⁴ – Cornelius was praying,
  
• Ananias⁵ is told by Jesus to “look for a man of Tarsus named Saul, for behold, he is praying” (vs 11)

If there were such a thing as a “Sinner’s Prayer” to recite for one’s salvation, why was it necessary for all of these ‘praying people’ to hear the gospel (and be baptized)?

If we are to follow all Scripture without Scripture weighting, we understand that our salvation is not simply one thing. It’s not grace³ (alone). It’s not faith¹ (alone). It’s not baptism⁵ (alone). It’s all of these (and more) working together (the very point James makes¹²)!

It’s all made possible with God’s grace³ and the sending of His Son¹. But even in the immediate context of these “anchor” passages^1,3, we see that it’s more. There and other places we see the necessity for obedience to His word^{1,2,3,6,8,9,11,12,13}. We see the working/setting apart by the Holy Spirit^7,8,13. We also repeatedly see the critical role that baptism plays. Scripture does not present anything optional or ceremonial about baptism, but rather connects it directly with grace and faith – it is, in a sense, the very first act of obedience^4,7,8. Just as Paul emphasizes grace in one passage³, Peter emphasizes baptism in another⁵.

God has made provision for our salvation^{1,2,3,6,7,8,10}; things we can only understand from His word^2,9,10,11,13. It’s up to each of us to respond^{1,2,3,4,5,6,8,9,10,11,13}.