In today’s world, a common religious conversation goes something like this: “Just accept Christ in your heart and you will be saved.” Some say, “Pray the Sinner’s Prayer and Jesus will come into your heart.” In Romans 10:16, Paul says, “But they have not all obeyed the gospel.” Is there something a person has to do to partake of Christ’s plan of salvation? In John 15:10, Christ tells us “If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in His love.”
Jesus commands us to:
Hear: Romans 10:11-18; Rev. 2:7; cf. Mark 9:7; Acts 17:11
Believe: John 20:31
Repent: Luke 13:3; Acts 2:38; Acts 8:22; Acts 17:30, Mark 1:15
Confess: Matthew 10:32; Philippians 2:11
Be Baptized: Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; cf. Acts 18:8
Be Faithful: Revelation 2:10; 2 Peter 2:20 cf. Matthew 5:23
We have examples of “unsaved believers” in the Scriptures:
- The demons believed on Christ, yet were “unsaved believers.” James 2:19 reads, Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
- Thousands of Jews believed on Pentecost, but were “unsaved believers.” They asked, What shall we do?” The answer is found in Acts 2:38: Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you…
- Saul of Tarsus believed on Christ after being blinded on the Damascus Road, but he was an unsaved believer and asked, “What will thou have me to do?” [Acts 9:6] He was told to “Go into the city and it shall be told thee what thou must do.” Ananias, following the Lord’s instruction, told Saul, “Arise and be baptized and wash away thy sins.” [Acts 22:16]
- In John 12:42, we find among the Jewish chief rulers many believed on him, but did not confess him, fearing they would be cast from the synagogue. Jesus tells us in Matthew 10:32-33, that if one does not confess Him, he will not be confessed before the Father. Only those that do the Will of God will inherit the kingdom. “And being made perfect, He became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him.”
Does a “Sinner’s Prayer” exhort to “obey” Christ’s plan of salvation? Does God answer a sinner’s prayer? “Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth.” [cf. James 5:16b; 1 Peter 3:12]
