For What, And Why, Should A Sinner Pray
It seems to be a very common idea among religious people that the alien sinner is to "pray through" to salvation. They think that prayer is first and foremost for the sinner, and that in prayer the beginning and end of salvation is found. Many teach that all a sinner must do to be saved is pray. Hence, they provide the "mourner's bench" or the "alter" in their services and instruct all who desire to be saved to come and pray. There are many good, honest people who thus believe; and such teaching should have our careful consideration. We desire only the truth as found in God's word. If God's word instructs the sinner to pray in order to be saved, well and good. But if God's word does not so teach, then it is the doctrine and commandment of men, hence, vain and sinful!
Now if a sinner is to pray, I raise the question: For what and why should he pray? Surely this is only a reasonable and fair question. If a sinner is to pray, there must be some reason why, or something for which he must pray; otherwise, it would be mockery. Of course, the sinner cannot reasonably ask for something that he already possesses. Nor can he consistently ask God to give him the blessings which God has promised on certain conditions while he refuses or neglects to meet those conditions! God has established a law — "The law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus" (Rom. 8:2); the gospel of our salvation, and he promises salvation to every one who will obey it. Now if the sinner turns his ear away from this law, and for salvation independent of it, his prayer will be an abomination to God. "He that turneth his ear away from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be an abomination." (Prov. 28:9) Surely we must conclude that God will not answer the prayer of one who so acts. This fact must be learned: God does not set aside his law nor violate his own will to answer the prayer of any sinner, regardless of how sincere he may be! Jesus puts it like this: "Why call ye me Lord, Lord, and do not the things that I say?" (Luke 6:46) He simply says that it is foolish and useless to call him Lord, Lord, (to pray) while refusing to obey Him. These are truths and fundamental principles that those who believe in the "praying through" system of religion have overlooked. But let us press the question: For what can a sinner reasonably and consistently pray?
Should the sinner pray for light? Of course, we realize that the sinner needs light, and especially if he is praying to be saved. When Saul was "down" praying in Damascus, he needed light. So the Lord sent a messenger to give him light. (Acts 9:1-19) And the sinner now needs the same light, the light that comes through God's word. David said: "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path....The entrance of thy word giveth light." (Ps. 119:105, 130) So God in his goodness has given us His word as a "lamp unto our feet" to guide us from earth to heaven. God's word will enlighten the sinner on the subject of salvation; furnish him all the "light" needed, telling him exactly how to be saved. One should not therefore, close his eyes and stop his ears to God's word, and pray for light independent of it. Let him read and study the Bible for it gives light.
Shall the sinner pray for God to love him? No one can be saved without God's love to be sure, but is it necessary for the sinner to pray for God to love him? Why, the sinner should know that God loves him whether he prays or not "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son...." (John 3:16) And again, "God commendeth his own love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." (Rom. 5:8) So why should a sinner pray and beg God to do what Inspiration declares He already does? Surely it is foolish. What the sinner needs is to love God. And "this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments." (1 John 5:3) Read that again! It says that to love God means to keep His commandments. Do you love Him?
Shall the sinner pray for grace? Everyone that is saved will be saved by God's grace, so we are dependent upon it for salvation. But why should a sinner pray for that which has been offered so freely to all? "For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men." (Titus 2:11) Since God's grace has already appeared — even the grace that brings salvation to all men — the sinner need not pray for it. The sinner needs to appropriate this grace to himself by obeying the gospel.
Shall the sinner pray for a pure heart? Jesus said: "Blessed are the pure in heart; for they shall see God." (Matt. 5:8) Therefore, without a pure heart no one can see God, but how is the heart purified? Shall the sinner pray for it? Listen to Peter: "And God which knoweth the hearts....put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith." (Acts 15:8-9) So the heart is purified by faith. But when? "Seeing you have purified your souls (hearts) in obeying the truth." (1 Peter 1:22) The "truth" is the word of God. (John 17:17) Hence, the sinner, instead of praying for a pure heart, should obey the word of God, and thus purify his heart by faith.
Shall the sinner pray for faith? Faith is an absolute necessity to salvation. (Heb. 11:6) But how can the sinner have faith? There is but one way. "So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." (Rom. 10:17) So faith is produced by God's word. Again: "These are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God...." (John 20:31) Peter said: "God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe." (Acts 15:7) Faith does not come in answer to prayer 1 It comes as a result of hearing and studying God's word.
Many times sinners are told to pray for faith, but such teaching appears absurd in the light of God's word. Observe these facts: (1) God will only hear and answer a prayer of faith — a prayer of one who already has faith. (2) Faith is a condition of acceptable prayer. (Matt. 21:22; Heb. 11:6; Mark 11:24) James says: "Let him ask in faith, nothing wavering." Then he says of one who does not pray in faith: "For let not that man think he shall receive anything of the Lord." (Jas. 1:5-7) So if we pray without faith, we will receive nothing. Now observe: (1) One who prays without faith will receive nothing from the Lord. (2) A sinner who prays FOR faith, does not have faith; hence, prays without faith. (3) Therefore, he does not receive anything (faith) in answer to his prayer. Friend, surely we can see how absurd it is to teach sinners to pray for faith.
But should the sinner pray for religion? Of course, no irreligious man can be saved, so it is absolutely necessary for the sinner to become religious. Just how is the sinner to become religious? Some say that religion is something the sinner should pray for and "get" in answer to prayer. But notice what God's word says: "Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this: to visit the fatherless and widows in their afflictions and keep himself unspotted from the world." (Jas. 1:27) Surely we can see that one cannot reasonably and rationally ask God for this "pure religion," because it is something we must do, not get! The sinner should become a Christian by obeying the gospel and then PRACTICE this pure religion. Shall the sinner pray for God's saving power? All who are saved will be saved by God's saving power for there is none other. But what is God's saving power? Paul tells us (Rom. 1:16): "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth...." God's saving power is the gospel of Christ. This gospel is revealed in the New Testament, so why should sinners pray for that? But HOW does the gospel save? Evidently men are saved by it when they obey it, for Paul declares that Jesus is going to take vengeance on them that know not God and obey not the gospel. (2 Thess. 1:7-9) The sinner should believe and obey the gospel in order to be saved — not pray for God's saving power. The gospel furnishes all the information and direction needed by the sinner in obeying Christ. When such is done "the power of God" is at work unto salvation.
Should the sinner pray for God to be willing to save him? Certainly God will not save the sinner until He is willing to save him. Should we conclude, therefore, that the sinner should pray and beg God to be willing to save him? Certainly not, for the Lord is not "willing that any should perish, but that all men should come to repentance." (2 Peter 3:9) God is already willing to save the sinner and has manifested this willingness in many ways. He sent His only begotten Son to suffer and die on the cross that the sinner might be saved. God is both willing and anxious to save everyone who will turn to Him for salvation. The sinner needs to be perfectly willing to do exactly what God demands.
It seems that the preacher of the "mourner's bench" or "praying through" system of religion practices a deception on the sinner along this line. While he is preaching to the sinner, he tells him that God is anxious to save him, and that all he will have to do is come and give up to God and God will do the rest. He tries to make the sinner believe it is all his fault that he is not saved. Then as soon as he gets the sinner to the bench, he begins to pray to the Lord to get Him in the notion to save the sinner!! When he talks to God, he tries to make it appear that the whole blame rests on Him if He does not save the mourner! It appears that such preachers have difficulty getting God and the mourners in the same notion at the same time! As soon as the sinner gets in the notion to be saved, lo and behold, the Lord has changed His mind on the subject and now they must plead with Him, in order to get Him anxious again! When talking to the sinner it is his fault if he is not saved; but when talking to God this doctrine would blame Him if the sinner is not saved. Such nonsensical absurdities are disgusting!! But such are the ways of men.
Shall the sinner pray for understanding? Surely understanding is necessary, but does it come in answer to prayer? Listen: "The entrance of thy word giveth light; it giveth understanding to the simple." (Ps. 119:130) Then the word of God gives us understanding, and truly it alone can thus furnish us with the proper understanding.
Should the sinner pray to be made clean? Alt will agree to the necessity of being clean — freed from sin. How is this cleansing accomplished? Let Jesus tell us: "Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you." (John 15:3) The word of Christ makes us clean, so the thing to do is to obey His word.
Shall the sinner pray for God to have mercy upon him? All sinners need the mercy of God in order to be saved. WHEN is His mercy extended? Let the Bible tell us: "Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him." (Isaiah 55:7) The thing the sinner should do is forsake his sin and come to the Lord. There mercy is waiting for him.
Should the sinner pray to be born again? One must be born again or he cannot see the kingdom of God. (John 3:3) But how is the new birth brought about? Should the sinner pray for it, expecting it to be miraculously given? Listen to Peter: "BEING BORN AGAIN, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, BY THE WORD OF GOD which liveth and abideth forever." (1Peter 1:23) In the previous verse (v. 22) Peter had just said that they had purified their hearts by obeying the truth. Then he adds: "being born again (by obeying the truth, of course) not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God." So it is perfectly clear that one is "born again," born of the water and the spirit, when he obeys the truth, the word of God. Therefore, the sinner is not to pray for the new birth, because it is accomplished in his obedience to the truth.
Shall the sinner pray for God to accept him? The sinner's present and eternal welfare depends on his inducing God to accept him. Unless God is moved to accept him he is hopelessly doomed. What, then, should the sinner do to induce God to accept him? Shall he pray to God and plead with Him to accept him? The apostle Peter answered this for us long ago. "Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons; but in every nation he that feareth Him and worketh righteousness is accepted with him." (Acts 10:34-35) It is clear from this passage that the sinner, instead of praying for God to accept him as he is, should "fear God and work righteousness." If he will do this, Peter says God will accept him. To "fear God" is to recognize Him as the God who will punish sinners if they do not turn away from their sins. And to "work righteousness" is to keep God's commandments. "Righteousness" is explained by the Psalmist to be the commandments of God. (Ps. 119:172) Paul tells us God's righteousness for men today is revealed in the gospel. (Rom. 1:17) When one obeys God, he works righteousness. If, then, the sinner will fear God and keep His commandments, God will be pleased to accept him.
Now then, in view of the foregoing, can anyone suggest a single thing for which the sinner should pray? We can find no instructions in the Bible telling the sinner to pray or that he needs to pray. The thing the alien sinner needs to do is obey the gospel and thereby become a child of God. Then, and only then, can he lift his voice to God in prayer and make his wants and petitions known to his Heavenly Father.
Are you a child of God? If not, will you believe the gospel with all of your heart (Heb. 11:6; John 8:24; Acts 16:31; Rom. 5:1); repent of every sin (Luke 13:3-5; Acts 17:30-31); and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of your sins (Acts 2:38; Mark 16:15-16; Romans 6:3-5)? Then and only then can you be a child of God. (Heb. 5:8-9; Matt. 2:21-23) Do it today!