A Salvation Prayer, also known as the “Sinners Prayer,” is a prayer said aloud when repenting from their sins, asking God for His forgiveness, confessing one’s belief in Jesus Christ, and accepting Him in one’s heart as their Lord and Savior. Saying a Salvation Prayer is the first step in your relationship with God.

It’s important to understand that Salvation is only received by His grace upon us, given to us through our act of faith. There’s nothing we did, or ever can do to earn it nor will it ever be deserved. Salvation is solely a gift from God. All that must be done is to accept and receive it!

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. (Eph. 2:8-9 ESV)

Psalm 51 (ESV), King David asked God for forgiveness as he repented from his sins.

¹Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. ²Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin! ³For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. ⁴Against You, You only have I sinned and done what is evil in Your sight, so that You may be justified in Your words and blameless in Your judgment. ⁵Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me. ⁶Behold, You delight in truth in the inward being, and You teach me wisdom in the secret heart. ⁷Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. ⁸Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that You have broken rejoice. ⁹Hide Your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities. ¹⁰Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. ¹¹Cast me not away from your presence, and take not Your Holy Spirit from me. ¹²Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit. ¹³Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will return to You. ¹⁴Deliver me from blood guiltiness, O God, O God of my salvation, and my tongue will sing aloud of Your righteousness. ¹⁵O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare Your praise. ¹⁶For You will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it; You would not be pleased with a burnt offering. ¹⁷Sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, You will not despise. ¹⁸Do good in Zion in Your good pleasure; build up the walls of Jerusalem; then will You delight in right sacrifices, in burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings; then bulls will be offered on Your altar.

Jesus told the Jews in the temple:

²⁴Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life. ²⁵Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. (John 5:24-25 ESV)

The apostle Paul told the Romans:

⁹because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. ¹⁰For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. (Rom. 10:9-10 ESV)

Often, we ponder with exhaustion how to receive this precious gift. Yet, its simplicity yields to the heart of the One that delivered it. No elaborate or sophisticated words are needed.

When you’re ready to repent, seek forgiveness, and receive Jesus Christ into your heart and declare the way to salvation, just say this prayer aloud.

Dear Lord,
I admit that I am a sinner. I have done many things that don’t 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.

Congratulations! This is the first step to become a Christian! Next step is to find and visit a Bible teaching church and introduce yourself to the Pastor.