CONVERSIONS AT CORINTH

Paul arrived at Corinth and as was his custom he preached that Jesus was the Christ. (Acts 18:1-11) “And many of the Corinthians hearing believed and were baptized.” (Acts 18:8) This is in accordance with Jesus’ instruction to the apostles: “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.” (Mark 16:16) These Corinthians heard the gospel preached, believed and were baptized. Therefore according to Jesus’ promise they were saved.

 

In this Bible story of the conversion of the Corinthians there is a conspicuous absence of the “Sinner’s Prayer.” We are told that the many of the Corinthians believed and were baptized but nothing is said about the “Sinner’s Prayer.” In fact the Sinner’s Prayer is not found in any of the stories of conversion in the Bible. In Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost the people were told to “Repent, and be baptized.” (Acts 2:38) The people of Samaria “believed” and “were baptized.” (Acts 8:12) Cornelius and his house were commanded “to be baptized.” (Acts 10:48) Lydia after hearing Paul teach, “was baptized and her household.” Acts 16:14-15) The Jailer at Philippi, after Paul and Silas had spoken unto him the word of the Lord, was baptized in the middle of the night. (Acts 16:31-34) And finally Saul of Tarsus was told, “And now why tarriest thou? Arise and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.” (Acts 22:16) In none of these Bible accounts of conversion is the Sinner’s Prayer even mentioned.

 

From where than did the Sinner’s Prayer come? It’s the invention of modern religious teachers. It’s not in the Bible and therefore should be rejected…

Claude