According to the false doctrines of Churchanity, people in the first century AD had to wait for the New Testament to be written, and organization religion to invent "the sinner's prayer" before they could receive salvation.
The phrase
"get saved" and "altar call" occur zero times in zero verses in the King James Version of the Bible.
Yet "get saved" and "altar calls" is all Churchanity preaches. Like so many doctrines and practices that goes on in denominational Christianity, altar calls are an emotional appeal that are man made traditions. Jesus does not beg, or force, people to "get saved." Neither does He threaten people with eternal torture.
When Jesus gave instructions to his Disciples about preaching the Gospel
of the Kingdom, he was not concerned about altar calls. "If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, leave that home or town and shake the dust off your feet."
~ Matthew 10:14
Jesus simply says here's your free gift, take it or leave it. ~John 3:17
What did Jesus Command His Disciples to Preach?
1. Matthew 4:23
And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people.
2. Matthew 9:35
Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.
3. Matthew 24:14
And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.
4. Mark 1:14
Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God
5. Mark 1:15
and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.”
6. Matthew 6:33
But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
Jesus
never once gave an altar call after any of His sermons. Salvation is a free gift to ALL who
accept it. The "sinner's prayer" is no where to be found in the teaching
of the gospel of the kingdom. Any person who wants to enter the Kingdom
of God must do so by entering through The Door.
Jesus Christ is The Door, not a Church building door. The
true Church that Jesus established is made of Godly people, not
denominations. God's people can have fellowship with one another, but
their spiritual walks are independent paths sovereignly directed by
their Heavenly Father.
“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.
I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.
Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.
What is Salvation?
The KJV translates the word salvation in the following manner: salvation (65x), help (4x), deliverance (3x), health (3x), save (1x), saving (1x), welfare (1x).
The Bible definition of the word salvation it is not the same as eternal life. "But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.” ~Matthew 19:17
And all flesh shall see (better translated: perceive, understand) the salvation of God. How is that Possible?
Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil. ~ Ecclesiastes 12:13-14
The purpose of this post is to get people to think about what they believe and why they believe it, not debate who's right or wrong.
To
learn the revealed truth of God we must know and understand the true
meaning of the words God inspired to be written. Use Strong's
Concordance to check the original word before it was translated. Do your own research, make up your own mind, rely on the Holy Spirit to guide you.