The Sinners Prayer Can Not Be Found In Scripture
The so-called “sinner’s prayer” simply cannot be found in Holy Scripture, neither by similarity nor by example. Never will you find our Savior Yahshua using a formula “prayer” such as this, nor teaching one to His Apostles. Then, where does the “sinner’s prayer” come from? When did it become popular? Apparently, the “sinner’s prayer” was reintroduced from Gnosticism in our lifetime into the set formula it is today.
Back in the 1800’s during Charles Finney’s great call of repentance, sinner’s who came to the altar were called seekers. Seekers were encouraged to wait before God repenting of all their sins past and crying out to be saved. Others would pray and counsel them; and only the sincere seeker willing to live a changed life was considered a new believer.
In this age of much occultism, however, the people are told to simply repeat a few “magic” words, and believe that they have their ticket punched for heaven’s train. Repentance is old hat to these microwave instant Christians. Change of life is optional. Obedience is optional. All that is required is a mental belief that “Jesus rose from the dead, and He is Lord”. Is this true? Is it just repeating a formula, just giving mental assent, just agreeing with the truth????
Please note that Gnosticism has as it’s core belief that “gnosis”, which is knowledge, is all that is required to be saved. Just the knowledge of whatever “god” is sufficient unto salvation and eternal life. Both the Father’s words and His Son’s words can in no way be construed as mere Gnosticism, “knowledge” only.
Hear now from the Bible what James the brother of Yahshua said in James chapter two, verse…
17 Even so faith, if it has not works, is dead, being alone. 18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: show me thy faith without thy works, and I will show thee my faith by my works. 19 You believe that there is one God; you do well: the devils also believe, and tremble. (so much for just believing!) 20 But wilt you know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
So, what will your contemporary preacher, or, your modern Christian answer you (if they deign to answer kindly), if you question them concerning the validity of the so-called “sinner’s prayer”, or where it might be found? Most of the time you will hear them quote a passage from Romans Ten verses 9-10 to give basis and support to their formula. Let’s turn to Romans Ten to investigate. We have never met a single person who knew that this famous passage in Romans is Saul/Paul quoting the Bible out of context, perverting its original intent. Even to the extent of totally reversing the truth, as it was so clearly laid out in Deuteronomy 30. In fact, the entire section from the last few verses of Romans Nine and Chapter Ten twists many scriptures, torturing and forcing them to say exactly opposite.
This horrible desecration of Scripture goes unnoticed by nearly all Christians because:
(a) Most Christians do not study the true scriptures in the Bible
very much — little to none.
(b) Those who do read or study stay out of the Old Testament – except Psalms and Proverbs (or, isolated scriptures on prosperity and healing).
It is important here to notice one huge point larger than an elephant. Saul/Paul in all his writings does not ever attribute the Laws and Commandments as being written (and ordained) by God the Father, YAHVAH. Saul/Paul denies the Divine authorship of the Torah!!! Paul continually maligns the Torah, the Holy Laws & Commandments of the Creator, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Paul calls the Law of YHVH “Hagar” in Galatians. Paul commands “Cast out the bondwoman, and her son“, which would be who? Yahshua?
Paul calls the Laws of Israel’s God YAHVAH a curse, a yoke of bondage, and the teaching of them witchcraft (Galatians). Paul’s list of slanderous garbage goes on. His words are an atrocity committed against the Most High God who wrote those Commandments! The Creator Himself wrote those Laws and Commandments from His heart of love. How dare Paul and his followers speak such insulting libel against the writings of Holy Scripture preserved for us throughout the ages! What is doubly shocking is that so many have believed it!!!
To see this with greater clarity, it is suggested that you lay out two Bibles with one open to Romans Ten, laid next to one open to Deuteronomy Thirty. Laying them side by side and comparing true verses to Pauline error makes it much easier to grasp the enormous difference. Please pray first asking for truth (if you sincerely seek truth) and use the King James version for both readings.
Let’s begin with Deuteronomy 29:29 and read from there.
Deut 29:29 The secret things belong unto YAHVAH our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this Law. (Notice the words: forever, DO, and this Law.) 30:1 And it shall come to pass, when all these things are come upon you, the blessing and the curse, which I have set before you, and you shall call them to mind among all the nations, whither YAHVAH your God hath driven you, (speaking of that future time, the last days, when Israel has been scattered throughout the earth)
Deut 30:2 And shall return unto YAHVAH your God, and shall obey His voice according to all that I command you this day, you and your children, with all your heart, and with all your soul; 3 That then YAHVAH your God will turn your captivity, and have compassion upon you, and will return and gather you from all the nations, whither YAHVAH your God hath scattered you. 4 If any of yours be driven out unto the outmost parts of heaven, from thence will YAHVAH your God gather you, and from thence will He fetch you: 5 And YAHVAH your God will bring you into the land which your fathers possessed, and you shall possess it; and He will do you good, and multiply you above your fathers. 6 And YAHVAH your God will circumcise your heart, and the heart of your seed, to love YAHVAH your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, that you may live. 7 And YAHVAH your God will put all these curses upon your enemies, and on them that hate you, which persecuted you. 8 And you shall return and obey the voice of YAHVAH, and do all His Commandments which I command you this day. 9 And YAHVAH your God will make you plenteous in every work of your hand, in the fruit of your body, and in the fruit of your cattle, and in the fruit of your land, for good: for YAHVAH will again rejoice over you for good, as He rejoiced over your fathers: 10 If you shall hearken unto the voice of YAHVAH your God, to keep His Commandments and His statutes which are written in this book of the Law, and if you turn unto YAHVAH your God with all your heart, and with all your soul.
[Notice that our Father in Heaven, God of Israel, always equates loving Him with obeying Him. These two qualities are inseparable throughout scripture.]
Question: What is the subject of the following sentence? Answer: This Commandment, His Laws, His Torah.
Deut. 30:11 For this Commandment which I Command you this day, it is not hidden from you, neither is it far off.
The next two verses are MIS-QUOTED by Paul in Romans 10:6-8 as Paul tears out the subject, changes it, and makes it say something else. The subject is all that the Father commanded us to obey. The Almighty says…
Deut. 30:12 It (Subject: Commandments He has given) is not in heaven, that you should say, Who shall go up for us to heaven, and bring it (Commandments) unto us, that we may hear it (Commandments), and do it (Commandments)?
Here is a major alteration in Pauline twisting what was said. Notice that Paul leaves out “THAT WE MAY HEAR IT AND DO IT” – the Commandments. In Paul’s religion there is no room for the Commandments, the Law, the Torah of the Creator Almighty.
Paul changes the subject from the Commandments to Christ (who is this Christ?). Beware here, for Paul does not speak of YAHSHUA Messiah the Living Torah. Paul speaks of Christ as an inner godhood quality which he claims can belong to anyone who believes his teaching – “Christ in you the hope of glory“.
By the way, important side note here, the Serpent in Genesis 3 promised Eve the same godhood. Paul changed the original verses leaving out the Commandments and the doing.
He also leaves out verse 13 of Deut. 30 which again says, “hear it and do it”.
Deut. 30:13 (again, referring to the Torah) Neither is it beyond the sea, that you should say, Who shall go over the sea for us, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it?
Paul adds a verse of his own making in place of Deut. 30:13 which reads “Or, who shall ascend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.)” Romans 10:7.
Now, hang on tight, because Paul really gets boastful, full of self-exaltation in his next “verse” Romans 10:8. Not only does he remove all references to the Commandments which God ordained, Paul further increases his brash boldness by saying “the word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart; that is the word of faith WHICH WE PREACH.”
Not the Creator’s Commandments! Paul’s teaching is exalted over the entire Bible. Continuously, Paul exhorts his followers to only adhere to the word which he preached and none other. He never exalted the Bible, never said “Listen to the Apostles of the Lamb”, never said anything about listening to anyone else but himself. He even had the gall to say that on Judgment Day we would all be judged “according to MY GOSPEL !” Exact quote from Romans 2:16.
That is really a huge ego when a man thinks his gospel is above all that the Prophets have written straight from the mouth of the Father, straight from the Creator Himself, i.e. the Bible.
The Father says in Deut. 30:14 But the word is very nigh unto you, in your mouth, and in your heart, that you may do it.
Whose word? The Father’s word ~ YAHVAH’s Laws.
As the Father continues speaking, He says that His Laws and Commandments are life, good, and blessing. The Creator says that anything else deviating from His Word constitutes death and evil.
Deut. 30:15 See, I have set before you this day life and good, and death and evil; 16 In that I Command you this day to love YAHVAH your God, to walk in His ways, and to keep His Commandments and His statutes and His judgments, that you may live and multiply: and YAHVAH your God shall bless you in the land whither you go to possess it. 17 But if your heart turn away, so that you wilt not hear, but shall be drawn away, and worship other gods, and serve them; 18 I denounce unto you this day, that ye shall surely perish, and that ye shall not prolong your days upon the land, whither you pass over Jordan to go to possess it. 19 I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both you and your seed may live: 20 That you may love YAHVAH your God, and that you may obey His voice, and that you may cleave unto Him: for He is your life, and the length of your days: that you may dwell in the land which YAHVAH swore unto your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.
How do you choose life? Love YAHVAH, obey His voice, cleave to Him, keep His Laws and obey His Commandments. Follow Yahshua and walk as He walked.
How does Paul say you get life? Just say it with your mouth, and believe it – Rom 10:9. That’s all. Just believe. Gnosticism. It’s an easy religion which can be practiced by anyone at all. Nothing is required of these modern followers of Paul. No more obedience. Eat, drink, and be merry, for you will have life. According to the gospel of Paul. False prophets say “peace, peace, all is well” no matter how you live your life.
God the Father says otherwise. Yahshua the Son says otherwise. The Apostles of the Lamb say otherwise. Who are you going to believe, and obey? Who is your god/God?
Paul promises life to those who simply believe it and say it. Paul is exactly like Ezekial 13: 22 Because with lies ye have made the heart of the righteous sad, whom I have not made sad; and strengthened the hands of the wicked, that he should not return (repent) from his wicked way, by promising him life:
TEST FOR DISCERNING FALSE PROHETS
Deut. 29:18 Lest there should be among you man, or woman, or family, or tribe, whose heart turns away this day from YAHVAH our God, to go and serve the gods of these nations; lest there should be among you a root that beareth gall and wormwood; (Here is the root of bitterness spoken of in Hebrews. Here is the wormwood spoken of in Revelation. It is the great falling away which has taken place.)19 And it come to pass, when he hears the words of this curse, that he bless himself in his heart, saying, I shall have peace, though I walk in the imagination of mine heart, to add drunkenness to thirst:
Deuteronomy tells you the way to life, blessing and good. Wise men have taken that road for thousands of years. Yahshua came living that life before us that we might see the kindness and love of His way of life.
Do we have a right to tear down Paul? You bet we do. Our authority comes from the Bible. Deuteronomy 12:1 These are the statutes and judgments, which ye shall observe to do in the land, which YAHVAH God of thy fathers gives thee to possess it, all the days that ye live upon the earth. (FOREVER)
2 Ye shall utterly destroy all the places, wherein the nations which ye shall possess served their gods, upon the high mountains, and upon the hills, and under every green tree:3 And ye shall overthrow their altars, and break their pillars, and burn their groves with fire; and ye shall hew down the graven images of their gods, and destroy the names of them out of that place.
4 Ye shall not do so unto YAHVAH your God.
Hearken up, people! If it does not agree with the rest of the Holy Book, we are tearing it down.
Deuteronomy 6:25 And it shall be our righteousness, if we observe to do all these Commandments before YAHVAH our God, as he hath commanded us.
Paul tries to make living by the Commandments of God sound bad by saying in Rom. 10:5 For Moses describes the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them.
Moses did not say that, the Father YHVH said it… IT IS WRITTEN in Leviticus 18:4 Ye shall do My judgments, and keep Mine ordinances, to walk therein: I am YAHVAH your God.
5 Ye shall therefore keep My statutes, and My judgments: which if a man do, he shall live in them: I am YAHVAH. — (The obedient will find life in them.)
Paul said you would have life in his gospel. The Father and the Son say you will find life in His Commandments. Who are you going to believe?
IT IS WRITTEN: Proverbs 7:2 Keep My Commandments, and live; and My Law as the apple of thine eye.
IT IS WRITTEN: Yahshua, God’s Son said in Matthew 19:16-17 “Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal Life?” And He (Yahshua) said unto him, …”If you will enter into LIFE, KEEP THE COMMANDMENTS.”
Paul said that circumcision did not count for anything nor uncircumcision, but a new creature – Gal. 6:15. THAT IS NOT WHAT THE FATHER SAID! [Later, in the article on “godhood”, we will show how this so-called “new creature” plays into being little gods, “christs”. See also Genesis 3:1-3]
Or, how about Gal. 5:6 For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision avails anything, nor uncircumcision; but faith which works by love?
Of course Paul changed the definition of love from what the Almighty Father said it is. The Father always connects love with obedience. In other words, actions speak louder than empty words. IT IS WRITTEN in Exodus 20:6 And showing mercy unto thousands of them that LOVE ME, and KEEP My Commandments.
Yahshua the Son said in John 14:15 If you LOVE ME, KEEP My Commandments.
1 John 2:4 Whoever says ‘I know Him’ but does not keep His Commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
Stop believing that empty words are all that you need. Stop believing that it is only necessary for you to condescend, and ask the Creator of all things to come into your heart. What is really important is when He decides to come live with you. “Yahshua answered and said unto him, If a man love Me, he will keep My words: and My Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him” – John 14:23. I want Him to abide with me!
Here is how the Father Creator said He would circumcise your HEART. Deut. 30:6 And YAHVAH thy God will circumcise thine heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love YAHVAH thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, that thou may live.
8 And thou shalt return (repent) and obey the voice of YAHVAH, and do all His Commandments which I command thee this day.
10 If thou shalt hearken unto the voice of YAHVAH thy God, to keep His Commandments and His statutes which are written in this book of the Law, and if thou turn unto YAHVAH thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul.
Deut. 10: 16 Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no more stiffnecked. (also read Jeremiah chapter four on having your heart circumcised)
At times, however, Paul, seeming schizophrenic, says some good things about circumcision. A master of double-speak long before politicians honed it to a fine edge, Paul would say one thing and then another trying to sound very deep and profound, like Romans 2:25-29 plus Rom. 3:1-2 “what profit of circumcision? Much in every way!…”
PART TWO – Dissecting Romans…
Let’s disect a few more verses in Romans regarding what righteousness is. Romans 9:31 But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness. And, yet, through the scriptures we know that Israel, by and large, did NOT keep the Commandments. They broke them repeatedly and were exiled for this.
But we answer Paul, the Tempter, IT IS WRITTEN: “And it shall be our righteousness, if we observe to do all these Commandments before YAHVAH our God, as He has commanded us” – Deut. 6:25.
IT IS WRITTEN: “And what nation is there so great, that has statutes and judgments so righteous as all this LAW, which I set before you this day?” – Deut. 4:8.
YAHSHUA SAID “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven” – Matt. 5:16. Yahshua did not say “you have thereof to boast” like Paul said of good works. Yahshua said that men may glorify your Father when they see your good works. Another passage which was twisted by Paul.
Paul said in Rom. 10:4 “For Christ (who is this Christ? Yahshua never said that!) is the end of the Law for righteousness to every one that believeth.”
But, IT IS WRITTEN and spoken by Yahshua, “Think not that I am come to destroy the Law, or the prophets. I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill, (supply liberally, cause to abound) – Matt. 5:17.
Also, IT IS WRITTEN speaking of Messiah “YAHVAH is well pleased for His righteousness’ sake; He will magnify the Law and make it honorable, glorious.” – Isaiah 42:21.
You cannot make the Law bigger, magnified, and honorable, while at the same time badmouthing it, doing away with it, and calling it ‘bondage’. Doublespeak is Paul’s constant companion.
Paul says Israel did not obtain righteousness because they did not get it by faith; but the Bible says that Israel did not attain to righteousness because they were disobedient and refused to keep the Father’s Laws.
Paul says in Romans 9:32 Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone;
Paul’s “verse” 33 is fragments pulled from Isaiah and Psalms, taken out of context and mismatched. Rom. 9:33 As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and (from Psalms) whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
Paul attributes the stumblingstone to being faith in Christ (who?).
Paul declares that this “faith” is the stumbling stone, BUT YAHVAH SAYS IT IS DISOBEDIENCE. Who will you believe?
YAHVAH said the Stone is Himself, and obedience to Him. YAHVAH explains that disobedience is the act of stumbling. That is the stumbling stone. Even as Yahshua, the Living Torah, came and the people stumbled over Him as He obeyed the Father.
IT IS WRITTEN, (keep this in context, mind you)
YAHVAH says that He is the Rock of Israel. He is the Stone of offense to those who disobey…
“13 Sanctify YAHVAH of Hosts Himself; and let Him be your fear, and let Him be your dread. 14 And He shall be for a sanctuary; but for a Stone of stumbling and for a Rock of offence to both the houses of Israel, for a gin, and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem. 15 And many among them shall stumble, and fall, and be broken, and be snared, and be taken. (the great falling away from the Law) 16 Bind up the testimony, seal the LAW among My disciples.” – Isaiah 8:13-16.
The Father says His Law will stand forever, and His Messiah will magnify His Law. The Creator Almighty, Ruler of heaven and earth, says “Seal the Law among My disciples.” We sincerely desire to be His disciples and none other.
Peter, an Apostle appointed by Yahshua, spoke about the Corner Stone, and explained that to those who refuse to obey, they stumble. See 1Peter 2:7-8. Unto them which be disobedient …v8 And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient.
WHO STUMBLES AT THE WORD? THOSE WHO ARE DISOBEDIENT. Simple, huh?
On to Romans 10:1 where Paul says “Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.” But In Romans 11:26 Paul claims that “all Israel shall be saved, as it is written”. Now, which is it? If you have never even noticed Paul’s strange propensity to say one thing one time, then something totally different later, you have not read much of his writings. Paul speaks like a politician, with much double-talk, and contradictions, going in circles.
Paul also says in Romans 9:1-3 that he was so burdened down for Israel that he “could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh, Israelites.” Now, why would he say this if “all Israel shall be saved”? Puzzling, huh?
Paul is also wont to say “it is written” when it cannot be found in the Bible. So, what written is he referring to??? It is said that Paul quotes a lot from Greek plays, so perhaps it is these he is quoting; because it certainly is not the Bible!
Romans 10:2 we have already analyzed above in the section on righteousness. We have already covered verses 3-9. Remember that many of these “verses” are simply creations of Paul’s own imagination and are not found anywhere else in scripture, like verses 7, 8b, 9 through 12, 14 and 17 ~ all added, conjured up, found nowhere in Holy Verse.
CAUTION: IF YOU DO NOT READ THE BIBLE FOR YOURSELF AND LEARN IT, HOW WILL YOU EVER KNOW WHAT IS WRITTEN THEREIN, AND WHAT IS FALSE?
Do you fear deception? The Bible tells us how to avoid being deceived. It is simple. James, the brother of Yahshua, James the Righteous, Shepherd of Jerusalem said in James 1:22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
Don’t want to be deceived? Then, obey. Read the Holy Scriptures and do them!
IT IS WRITTEN: Yahshua said “If any man will do His will, he shall know of the doctrine, or teaching, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.” John 7:17
In Revelation 2:4 Yahshua commands “Repent”. Repent of what? Sin, of course. What is sin? Very simple ~ Sin is refusing to obey His Laws and Commandments. 1 John 3:4 Whosoever commits sin transgresses also the Law. For sin is the transgression of the Law.
1 John 1:8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
1 John 3:9 No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God’s seed abides in him, and he cannot keep on sinning because he has been born of God.
If you are really His child, you have an inward desire that wants to obey your Heavenly Father. You really want to learn the Bible and DO IT. If that desire is lacking, and there is no interest in His Laws and Commandments, no hunger and thirst for righteousness, you have not received His seed in you yet. You have not yet entered into Covenant with Him. It does not matter what some modern preacher told you, or what magic words you thought you repeated in the so-called “sinner’s prayer”! What matters is what the Almighty God of Heaven says is proof of your relationship with Him.
We are talking about giving God your whole life in obedience and faithfulness ~ in sacrifice if need be. Whatever it takes that you will follow Yahshua and obey His Book. That is real Biblical conversion.
It makes me want to scream when you ask someone if their friend or relative is saved, and they hum-ha around, roll their eyes, and say, “Well, he said the sinner’s prayer, but he’s really not living right. He’s saved, but he’s a baby Christian.” What the heck is that????? You have got to be kidding! Where is that found in the Scriptures? It isn’t!! That is not what the Bible says. You either get in the Covenant with ALL you are and have, or you don’t. You either serve Him out of Love with your whole being, or you don’t. Simple. Period.
All that bunch of excuses and “baby” stuff is just modern Pauline bull-manure. Back a hundred years ago, when a revival started and people got converted, they changed. Simple ~ If there is no change, there is no conversion. Don’t lie to yourself.
This article originally posted here.
