Salvation is the defining moment in an Evangelical’s life: the understanding that Jesus died for our sins, and the prayer that saves us from eternal damnation. “Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner. I believe you died for my sins and rose from the grave. Come into my heart, so that I may be saved and rejoice with you in Heaven.”
I said this prayer, or something like it, when I was thirteen years old. Some people remember the exact date and time of their salvation. I do remember the location—it was right before a youth rally—but honestly, the whole experience was anticlimactic.
For years I thought I’d done it wrong. Was I not supposed to repeat exactly what the youth pastor had said? What if I didn’t say the right words? I did know that Jesus paid the ultimate sacrifice, but I didn’t feel Saved with a capital S. There was no lifestyle change. There were no tears of joy. I went to the youth rally, and I felt pretty much the same as I had before.
In college, when I started getting serious about God again, I renewed my vow. I said the prayer again, in my own words, which did bring a sense of joy this time—I’d come to Him on my own, without the prodding of a youth pastor. But still, it didn’t feel like enough. Still, I was doing something wrong.
Until years later. Until I researched this so-called “sinner’s prayer” and learned it has no Biblical foundation.
Hold up. What?
Yes, we are to “repent, and believe in the gospel.” (Mark 1:15) We are to “believe in the Lord Jesus, and [we] will be saved.” (Acts 16:30) But that’s not all. Don’t get me wrong—accepting Jesus is important. But this acceptance isn’t the end of our duty as Christians.
“What does it profit, my brethren, if a man says he has faith but has not works? Can his faith save him?” —James 2:14
The Evangelical will say this isn’t really “works.” You don’t have to do anything after you’re saved. You should want to do good, but it’s not required. But if you do do good things in His name, you’ll be rewarded in Heaven!
I guess. However:
“for God is at work in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.” —Philippians 2:13
If it’s our own desire to “do good,” it gives us all the glory. But it’s God at work, not us. When we truly and wholly accept Him, He will do works through us for His sake.
Previously, I’d wanted to do good things so He’d be proud of me. Maybe this includes Heavenly rewards, though I’d never admit to doing anything simply for praise. But that’s not exactly how this works. It’s not a conscious decision. I’ve radically changed over these past few months, and it’s not because of any decision I made. It’s God’s work through me. This is how I was supposed to feel when I said the sinner’s prayer, but it never clicked. Maybe this is what some Evangelicals experience when getting saved. But it was never me. Even at the ripe old age of thirteen, I knew there was something more to this.
(We’ll discuss my grand revelation of “finding what’s missing” at a later date.)
I don’t know if this makes a shred of sense. All I know is that for years, I didn’t feel His presence. I was trying to fit Him into this little salvation box that I’d been told He’d fit into. And that box would be tucked into my heart, where I never really had to touch it, but that’s okay because I’m guaranteed a spot in Heaven.
I didn’t realize it at the time, but that made me unbearably sad. What’s the point of the rest of this life, if that one little prayer is all it takes? True salvation began when He trampled down that box, and then the real work—His work—came pouring out.
