"no one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him; then I will raise him to life on the last day." John 6:33 (Weymouth)
All kinds of phraseology and doctrinal concepts abound in the religious world. One of those is “the sinner’s prayer”, but it isn’t the only deceptive language used by the religious hierarchy, who believe they are in control of men’s souls and destinies (for God). As my opening statement of scripture avers, Father is in control of putting the tug on men’s hearts, and there is no lacking in his means. But mouthing the sinners pray (I’m a sinner.....I ask Jesus into my heart right now....) has become the door opener to get you into heaven–according to the evangelical Christian community. Truthfully, it WILL stamp us as approved (like a slab of accepted meat) by that congregation, and they will announce our status as a Christian. The sincerity of the person praying that prayer is not being belittled here, or condemned in any way. But if God hasn’t touched the heart yet–if the field of our earth hasn’t been plowed to accept the Good Seed--nothing else will have happened (yet).
Psychological salvations is what I call them, fired by the doctrine of “altar calls”. The clergy is driven to get men saved. Yes, poor ole grand-daddy God can’t do it without us (or doesn’t care enough), so we must run the kingdom for him. Pretty pathetic to think about, and his “workers” are a pretty poor lot indeed. Every church meeting ends with a call to "make a decision" for God. Come up to the altar and confess him. (Never mind that the true altar is our heart. How do we put that on a bench?) Sometimes people just raise their hand to get the “man of God” to shut up and move on. It’s a ploy of emotional and mental duress. Sadly, each congregation has a criteria for fitting in, so sooner or later, you better get up there to that altar and confess!
Even at funerals--before the casket lid is shut, pastor so and so has to make that call for salvation--just in case: “...just in case you die today, are you prepared to meet God? Will you make a decision for God today?” It’s like taking a vote. And it’s manipulative (witchcraft) with fear tactics. The implication is if you don’t raise your hand--because God will see it--you may die today without him and burn in hell. And--in insinuations between the lines of the sermon--hopefully, the person in the coffin is right with God, for it is too late for them. What fools! What self-righteous charlatans! Oh, how they keep people in hell (the dark)!
Few programs on Christian television close the show without a call to accept Jesus as savior. I have been so saddened over the years to watch the lack of progression in spiritual growth of ministries and men and women of God who I used to get fed from. They have become sucked right into the delusions of the structure of power and control, putting the emphasis on us to do the work for God. I still find it nauseating that the Christian world wants to follow an inferior god who lets his creation run amuck (seemingly), leaving his work in the hands of men, or “it won’t get done”. And, the clergy is knocking themselves out to get gold stars in their make-believe crowns (for all the souls they have “saved”). Yet didn’t my opening scripture plainly state that we cannot come to Father until He calls? Nonetheless, deceived ministers (of religion) still feel that they should get credit for saving the world for Jesus.
“But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself." John 12:32 (NIV)
The above is a back-up scripture for my content, showing that God clearly has all men covered at Calvary. This is where all were reconciled (in spirit) and will have their turn in the line-up to experience the renovating work of soul salvation. Truthfully, Jesus’ death put a credit on the books for all men to receive, correcting the debit against all men from the fall by the first man Adam. We had nothing to do with the transgression, and we likewise had nothing to do with the correction of that situation. In other words, if we had no say in the judgement of the first, why would we be allowed to vote on the second? No, with our loving Father it’s one for all and all for one! Here it is: “For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God's abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ.” Romans 5:17 (NIV)
We must remember that we were blameless anyway, since it was God’s idea for us to slip on that Genesis banana peel. He had a secret plan in the works. And being the wise, loving, and responsible Creator that he is, he had every intention to restore all men back unto himself. And it’s hidden in John 12:32, concerning the “drawing” of all men to himself. The Greek word is “elkusō” and it means “to drag”. That doesn’t sound “iffy” to me. Can we understand that this is not a volunteer situation, and has nothing to do with our choices? We need not make a decision “for Jesus”, for He already made a decision “for us”!
Religion has no power to convert anyone, and no human being can reach into a man’s soul and turn the switch on. Salvation is a process and it begins in God’s time and the avenue is also His, via the cross. All of this said, there is no denying that words will come out of our mouth when we have been enlivened within our spirit and the spirit/soul communication begins. Salvation is real, and we do speak what is in our hearts. Confession of God and to God has nothing to do with “having to” speak anything to any person.
We owe no allegiance to anyone concerning our relationship with God. No human need be the receiver of our contriteness of soul and personal repentance, since Jesus is himself working inside of us as the Holy Spirit. His abiding life will motivate us inwardly to think and speak of Him. The scripture below is about this very reality:
“that if with your mouth you confess Jesus as Lord and in your heart believe that God brought Him back to life, you shall be saved. For with the heart men believe and obtain righteousness, and with the mouth they make confession and obtain salvation.” Romans 10:9-10 (Weymouth)
By all means we will confess Him in so many ways that have to do with words, attitudes, actions, as the love of Jesus wells up inside our heart. We will be manifesting the proof that our spirit was reconciled to God at Calvary and are experiencing the leading of the Holy Spirit to lead us into all truth. Our surrender will become apparent in all we say and do. We are “being” saved. So as our hearts are, so will our mouths speak! And nobody has to help God with it. Nor could they.
Just as God doesn’t dwell in man-made buildings anymore, neither do men of any kind have access to the Holy habitation that our soul becomes when Father calls our name and draws us. Many have been led astray by claims of becoming acceptable to God in the mouthing of a certain group of words in a certain place in front of a certain type of people. It is all religious rhetoric and balderdash, and it has caused much grief and confusion when no spiritual fruit was born on the inside. Nothing happened for those poor souls for it wasn’t their day of visitation. Falling in line with the outward acceptable form (and talk) doesn’t bring us to the throne of God. We just become a conformed product of the religious group we are being controlled by, and will bear it as long as possible.
The stage for true salvation is already set inside each of us, locked into our spirit through the reconciliation that Jesus accomplished with his death and resurrection. He abides secretly and silently in each man as the Holy Spirit, and as he arises in us we will be able to receive the saving work unfolding within our soul. This will most definitely happen; nothing can stop it. And Father has the timing in His hand. All religious statements, all “sinner’s prayers” have no power to convert and transform. But neither have they hindered the plan of God, because we were already fully spoken for and need only await the dragging power of Christ Jesus to pull us to Himself!
