Mark 1:14-15
Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, 15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.”
There are many who believe that if you just say a simple sinner's prayer, you will be saved and born again. Even though it is good to pray to ask God to save you, salvation is not hinged on a prayer alone.
The Gospel according to Mark, among others in Scripture, to include the Apostles, did not tell anyone in order to be born again and saved, is to just pray a little prayer. Our salvation comes in the form of a gift, not conditional on anything to include a sinner's prayer. The sinner's prayer is good only to satisfy the heart on the gift that has been given by grace alone, by faith alone, in Christ alone.
Mark writes that Jesus said, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand, Repent, and believe in the gospel." In fact, Jesus never once said, "If you pray this simple prayer, you will be saved." What He did say is, "REPENT, and BELIEVE in the gospel."
Faith in Christ does not come only by a prayer. It comes by hearing the word of God, that is
the gospel, or good news. Meaning, in order to hear it, someone has to speak it. Too many people are being offered salvation by way of just a prayer, and not being convicted of their sins and a need of a savior, because the gospel and the truth about sin is never fully explained.
I think that is why many fall away (apostate) from the faith. There was not a true regeneration that took place in their heart. No words of sin and the condemnation sin brings had brought them to true repentance. No word of God sending His only Son as a satisfactory offering through the pouring out of His blood to save mankind from their unholy and sinful lives, and reconcile us back to Him. Our sins, without the grace and forgiveness which Jesus died for, demands our death and eternal separation from God as punishment.
We must consider the fact that without repentance, how can one be saved? It is not a work, but a change of heart. It's more than saying, "I'm sorry." Nothing we could ever do apart from Christ's death and resurrection can save us on our own. However, repentance is key if salvation is ever going to be the real deal. If our sins do not break our hearts and lead us into godly sorrow, it will never produce repentance that leads to salvation.
2 Corinthians 7:10 For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.
Matthew 9:13 "But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice.’ For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”
Paul describes how unfit our own righteousness is for salvation, and how God has given everyone a pathway to being saved:
Romans 10:1-13
Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved. 2 For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. 3 For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God. 4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. 5 For Moses writes about the righteousness which is of the law, “The man who does those things shall live by them.” 6 But the righteousness of faith speaks in this way, “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’ ” (that is, to bring Christ down from above) 7 or, “ ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’ ” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). 8 But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith which we preach): 9 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. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. 13 For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
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