What is the sinner's prayer used by the Sago miners?

In reading accounts about the Sago mine disaster, I read that Mr. McCloy said the sinner's prayer was prayed, what is this prayer?

What is the sinner's prayer used by the Sago miners?
The sinner's prayer is a prayer that some churches use as a means of salvation. You may hear a sermon and the preacher tells you to pray the sinner's prayer to be saved and to have faith in God. Some of them may start like this "Dear God, have mercy on me a sinner...." etc.





The origins of this prayer may be come from the late 1700s idea of a mourner's bench. The preacher would have the sinners sit on a bench and pray for salvation. This probably eventually evolved into what is modernly called the sinner's prayer.





I encourage you to read the Bible on matters of salvation if you are interested. I have found no concept of the sinner's prayer in the Bible and I believe it to be a man made practice. Paul, for instance, when on the road to Damascus, was blinded and prayed to God for three days. Yet, after the three days, he is said to still be in his sins (Acts 22). If he was praying for 3 days then according to the beliefs of some Christians today, he would have been saved. But the bible says he wasn't.





The bible lays out the plan on salvation in many verses: Matthew 28:16-20; Mark 16:15-18; Acts 2:14-47; Acts 9; Acts 10:34-48; Acts 16:11-15; Acts 16:16-40; Acts 22:1-16. I pray that you will read these verses (I know there are a lot :) ) and come to know what God's plan of salvation. If you want to contact me my email is musicabonita_2000@yahoo.com
Reply:I looked at various sites, but the explanation I liked the best is on this one:


http://www.brothermike.com/sinner.html#A...





It says:





"Only ONCE in the Pauline epistles is the term "calling upon the name of the Lord" mentioned in the context of salvation, and we will see that even on that occasion the Bible does not teach "the sinner's prayer" as it is taught today.





Where, then, is "the sinner's prayer" to be found?





"The sinner's prayer" is usually found at the end of a gospel tract or a printed sermon. It is often given at the close of a public message or a personal presentation of the gospel.





It takes on various forms:





"Dear God, have mercy on me and save my soul, for Jesus' sake, amen."





"Dear Lord, please forgive me of my sins and come into my heart. Amen."





"Heavenly Father, I know that I am a sinner and that I deserve to go to hell. I believe that Jesus died on the cross for my sins. I do now receive Him as my personal Lord and Savior. I promise to serve you the best I can. Please save me. In Jesus' name, amen."





"Dear Jesus, I am sorry for my sins. Please forgive me and give me a new heart. Amen."





"The sinner's prayer" is sometimes done in a "repeat-after-me" fashion. This is done in hope that saying the words will somehow bring salvation to the heart. "





There is more information there as well.
Reply:The Sinner's Prayer is a typical prayer for salvation. The versions I have heard usually run "Dear Jesus, I know I am a sinner, and undeserving of forgiveness. But I believe that You came to die for my sins so I could go to Heaven with You. I ask that you would take my sins on Yourself and let Your death pay for them. I will love You and live for You the rest of my life. I pray in Your Name, Amen."





The exact words don't matter. What matters is that when a prayer such as this is prayed sincerely, without any intent of bargaining or tricking the Lord out of something, He is gracious and will completely forgive the person's sins.





This is how a person becomes a born-again Christian; this is the step of the new birth. This begins a life-long process of becoming conformed to Christ, learning to obey Him, and become like Him in His moral character.





In the case of the miners, their lives were likely to end shortly, and in fact for most of them they did. But Jesus doesn't expect people to do great thngs after they are saved. He just wants them to turn to Him in faith and trust Him and ask Him for forgiveness and salvation, so that they can enjoy Eternity with Him.





Jesus will give them the strength and courage to live for Him afterward, if He chooses not to bring them to be with Him right away.





Another example is that of the repentant thief on the cross next to Jesus. He staked his eternal salvation--everything-- on Jesus, saying "Remember me, when You come into Your kingdom." If Jesus didn't rise from the dead, he'd be out of luck. If Jesus was only crazy or pretending to be the Messiah, the thief was out of luck. If Jesus wasn't going to return in glory to be King over us all, that thief would have no other recourse. He was risking it all on Jesus.





In return, Jesus promised him, "Today you will be with Me in Paradise." It was salvation offered, accepted and confirmed.





The media don't like to be specific about sinners' prayers, because they don't want to (gasp, horrors!) look like they are supporting Christianity over, say, Islam.





But I would like to encourage everybody to commit themselves to Jesus, trusting that he is able to do what He has promised-- to save completely and forever from their sins everybody that trusts in Him. Jesus alone is the Merciful and Compassionate One. Pray to him now, you can do it right where you are. Ask Him to forgive you.





He would rather not have to give us what our sins deserve, but He will if we ignore His gracious offer. So many people are afraid that if they become born-again Christians they will miss out on the things they could have had. But Jesus is worth it all. He has never let me down in times of trouble. Trust Him. Pray to him, now. He will listen.

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