sinner's prayer
Repentance spoken aloud
A sinner's prayer is a prayer of repentance and faith recited by someone seeking Christian salvation, typically acknowledging personal sinfulness and accepting Jesus Christ as savior.
The practice is especially prominent in evangelical Protestantism, where it often marks the moment of conversion: I said the sinner's prayer at a revival when I was twelve.
There is no single fixed text—various versions circulate in churches and evangelistic materials.
Entry or confession
- acknowledgmentConfirmation of receipt
- guiltMoral self-reproach
- sinViolation of divine law
- transgressionViolation of law or code
unworthiness · wrongdoing · fault · repentance · contrition · remorse · apology · truth-telling
Deliverance from harm
- repentanceRemorseful rejection of past wrongs
- acceptanceConsent to receive
- born-againSpiritually converted anew
- altar callSummons to public faith
commitment · surrender · decision · moment · turning point · new life · transformation · rebirth
Formal clearing of guilt
- pardonOfficial release from punishment
- mercyCompassion toward offenders
- graceEffortless beauty of motion
- cleansingRemoving dirt or toxins
washing · redemption · reconciliation · justification · atonement · remission · release · freedom
Summons to public faith
- revivalReturn after decline
- crusadeZealous effort for change
- Billy GrahamAmerican televangelist, presidential confidant
- tractArea of land
witnessing · evangelism · outreach · testimony · proselytism · preaching · gospel · invitation
Lowering onto bent legs
- bowing headLowering one's face respectfully
- closing eyesLowering eyelids deliberately
- recitationOral delivery from memory
- invocationCalling upon higher authority
formula · words · spoken · verbal · out loud · scripted · liturgical · formulaic
admission
Entry or confession
- acknowledgmentConfirmation of receipt
- guiltMoral self-reproach
- sinViolation of divine law
transgression · unworthiness · wrongdoing · fault · repentance · contrition · remorse · apology · truth-telling · honesty
salvation
Deliverance from harm
- repentanceRemorseful rejection of past wrongs
- acceptanceConsent to receive
- born-againSpiritually converted anew
altar call · commitment · surrender · decision · moment · turning point · new life · transformation · rebirth · regeneration
absolution
Formal clearing of guilt
- pardonOfficial release from punishment
- mercyCompassion toward offenders
- graceEffortless beauty of motion
cleansing · washing · redemption · reconciliation · justification · atonement · remission · release · freedom · restoration
altar call
Summons to public faith
- revivalReturn after decline
- crusadeZealous effort for change
- Billy GrahamAmerican televangelist, presidential confidant
tract · witnessing · evangelism · outreach · testimony · proselytism · preaching · gospel · invitation · soul-winning
kneeling
Lowering onto bent legs
- bowing headLowering one's face respectfully
- closing eyesLowering eyelids deliberately
- recitationOral delivery from memory
invocation · formula · words · spoken · verbal · out loud · scripted · liturgical · formulaic · rote
sinner's prayerinfant baptism
Christening young children sacramentally
baptism · penance · indulgences · last rites · confirmation
sinner's prayerblasphemy
Irreverence toward the sacred
pact with the devil · apostasy · black mass · deconversion · abjuration
sinner, sinned, sinning, sinful, sinfully, sinfulness, sinless, sinlessness, sinners