“How To Pop the Top”
I finished this chapter exactly 36 years to the day after I prayed a Prayer, something like those listed here.
Last time, we looked at “Pop the Top.” Now I want to show you how to do just that. The Word of God tells us, through the Apostle John, that this is undoubtedly the most quoted verse in the Bible. But I am asking you to personalize the verse, because it was recorded in Scripture for you.
John 3:15-18 That if I believe in Him (Jesus), I should not perish but have eternal life. For God so loved me that He gave His only begotten Son, that if I believe in Him, I should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son to me to condemn me, but that I through Him might be saved. If I believe in Him (Jesus), I am not condemned; but if I do not believe, I am already condemned, because I have not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
These verses are part of a conversation with a man named Nicodemus. We read in the writings of John the Apostle;
John 3:1-21 (NKJV) 1 There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2 This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.” 3 Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 4 Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” 5 Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.” 9 Nicodemus answered and said to Him, “How can these things be?” 10 Jesus answered and said to him, “Are you the teacher of Israel, and do not know these things? 11 Most assuredly, I say to you, We speak what We know and testify what We have seen, and you do not receive Our witness. 12 If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things? 13 No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven. 14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. 16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. 18 He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19 And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.
21 But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.”
As Jesus said, ‘You must be born again.’ Have a new life! Pop the Top and drink the contents.
There is no other way, Jesus is the only way;
John 14:6 “I am the way, the truth, and the life:
no man comes to the Father but by me.”
The way to heaven is through Jesus Christ
What must you do to be saved?
We must believe that Jesus died for our sins. We must accept Jesus, that He forgave our sins. He lived a sinless life, died on Calvary’s cross, rose from the dead three days later, and then some days later He ascended into heaven and sits at God the Father’s right hand interceding for us.
When Jesus is your Lord, you seek to make decisions based on the Bible
which is God’s Word.
Here are some examples of what is called the Sinner’s Prayer, saying these words WILL NOT SAVE YOU!!! But “Pop the Top” and make Christ Jesus your Savior will.
Here is the way to “Pop the Top.” And once you “Pop the Top,” drink it in and make it a part of your life. Again, these are just examples of what you might want to try to say.
The Sinner’s Prayer in Scripture
The Sinner’s Prayer is a prayer that is said when someone seeks to repent of their sin, accept God’s forgiveness, and state their belief in the life, death, and saving resurrection of Jesus Christ. The sinner’s prayer is sometimes also known as the “salvation prayer” or “Consecration Prayer.” In scripture, there is a reference to a process of repentance, faith, and salvation in the book of Romans. And we will see the “Roman Road.” In just a moment.
A Prayer for Salvation
A Prayer to Accept Jesus as Savior
Dear Heavenly Father,
I believe that Jesus died for me.
I believe that Jesus paid for my sins on the cross.
I believe that Jesus rose from the dead.
I ask you to forgive me of my sins. I ask you to wash me clean of all sin.
I put my faith and trust in Jesus as my only hope for living eternally with you in heaven.
I ask Jesus to be my Savior and my Lord. I want to live my life for Christ.
I understand that my salvation is not based on my works but on the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross.
Thank you for saving me!
Amen!
Father God, I am a sinner, and I ask you to forgive me, and I accept that all sins are already forgiven. I believe your Son, Christ Jesus, died and then rose to live again so I might be forgiven. I now receive and confess him as my Lord and Savior. Amen
1 John 3:5 (NIV)
5 But you know that he appeared so that he might take away our sins. And in him is no sin.
1 John 3:5 (HCSB)
5 You know that He was revealed so that He might take away sins, and there is no sin in Him.
1 John 3:5 (NKJV)
5 And you know that He was manifested to take away our sins, and in Him there is no sin.
PRAYER
Three ways that we Pray, I believe every prayer falls into one of these categories
- Prayer of Penance and acceptance; (Salvation) Repent, turn 180 degrees. Confession (acknowledge you have sinned) = verb: feel or express sincere regret or remorse about one’s wrongdoing or sin.
- Prayer of Petition: Asking for something.
- Prayer of Praise. Adoration (Thanking Him for who He is), Thanksgiving (Thanking Him for what He has done)
- Prayer of Penance and acceptance; (Salvation)
This is what we have to start with, without the “Prayer of Penance,” we don’t get through to God in Christ Jesus.
pen·ance /ˈpenəns/ noun. = A voluntary outward expression of repentance for having done wrong:
Again, “The Sinner’s Prayer” is a Christian name relating to any prayer of repentance, prayed by individuals who believe convicted of the presence of sin in their lives and have the desire to establish or renew a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ. The Apostle Paul wrote in the book of Romans in the Bible what is called the Romans Road. Going down this road will lead you to Christ.
The “Romans” Road to the Gospel of Jesus Christ
The Problem of Sin
Romans 3:10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
Romans 3:23 For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God…”
The Wages of Sin
Romans 5:12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
Romans 6:23a “For the wages of sin is death…”
The Love of God
Romans 5:8 “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
The Free Gift of Salvation
Romans 6:23b “But the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Accepting the Free Gift
Romans 10:9 & 13 “That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
For whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.
Millions, if not billions, have established a saving relationship with Jesus Christ through Church services, friends, and family guiding them in a prayer for salvation. However, it is not solely the words in a prayer that save us eternally. We are “justified by faith” in Jesus and saved by our genuine belief in Him.
It is what we examined in the last installment. “Pop The Top.”
Far more than just saying words, it is making Jesus a part of us with the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.
James David “J.D.” Greear is an American Baptist pastor. He is the pastor of The Summit Church in Durham, North Carolina. He describes it well –
“It’s not the prayer that saves; it’s the repentance and faith behind the prayer that lays hold of salvation. My concern is that over-emphasizing the prayer has often (though unintentionally) obscured the primary instruments for laying hold of salvation: repentance and faith.”
Here are some more “Sinner’s Prayer” Examples
A Simple Sinner’s Prayer
Dear God in heaven, I come to you in the name of Jesus. I acknowledge to You that I am a sinner, and I am sorry for my sins and the life that I have lived; I need your forgiveness.
I believe that your only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, shed His precious blood on the cross at Calvary and died for my sins, and I am now willing to turn from my sin.
You said in the bible that if we confess the Lord our God and believe in our hearts that God raised Jesus from the dead, we shall be saved.
Right now, I confess Jesus as my Lord. With my heart, I believe that God raised Jesus from the dead. This very moment I accept Jesus Christ as my own personal Savior and according to His Word, right now I am saved. Amen.
Prayer of Salvation
Dear Lord, I admit that I am a sinner and have done many things that do not please you. I have lived my life for myself only. I am sorry, and I repent. I ask you to forgive me.
I believe that you died on the cross for me, to save me. You did what I could not do for myself. I come to you now and ask you to take control of my life; I give it to you. From this day forward, help me to live every day for you and in a way that pleases you.
I love you, Lord, and I thank you that I will spend all eternity with you. Amen.
Sinner’s Prayer for Children
Jesus – I know that you made me and want me to obey you with all my heart. I know I have disobeyed and wanted to be my boss. I have thought and done things against your directions. For this, I am sorry. I know that you gave up your life to save me from these sins and make me your child again. I accept your promises and ask you to please save me now and forever. Amen.
Or
All you must do is Pray and say something like this, but in your own words.
“God, thank you for sending Jesus to take my place and forgiving me of my wrong doings, so please I accept that forgiveness and help me to live a better life, so He won’t have so much more to pay for, and come and live in my heart, so I can be with you in Heaven someday, Amen””.
Sinner’s Prayer from Scripture
“Have mercy on me, O God,
according to Your unfailing love;
according to Your great compassion
blot out my transgressions.
Wash away all my iniquity
and cleanse me from my sin.
For I know my transgressions,
and my sin is always before me.
Against You, You only, have I sinned
and done what is evil in Your sight,
so that You are proved right when You speak
and justified when You judge.
Surely I have been a sinner from birth,
sinful from the time my mother conceived me…
Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean;
wash me and I will be whiter than snow…
Create in me a pure heart, O God,
and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Do not cast me from Your presence
or take Your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of Your salvation
and grant me a willing spirit to sustain me.
Then will I teach transgressors Your ways,
and sinners will turn back to You.”
– (Psalm 51, King David)
The Sinner’s Prayer (by Dr. Ray Pritchard)
Lord Jesus, for too long I’ve kept you out of my life. I know that I am a sinner and that I cannot save myself. No longer will I close the door when I hear you knocking. By faith, I gratefully receive your gift of salvation. I am ready to trust you as my Lord and Savior. Thank you, Lord Jesus, for coming to earth. I believe you are the Son of God who died on the cross for my sins and rose from the dead on the third day. Thank you for bearing my sins and giving me the gift of eternal life. I believe your words are true. Come into my heart, Lord Jesus, and be my Savior. Amen.
I pray that the one reading this does as the scripture says and follows after
Christ Jesus and Pops the Top, and just drinks it in.
It is just that simple.
