A quote from Charles Finney…

“The church has always felt it

 necessary to have something of this

 kind to answer this very purpose.

In the days of the apostles,

 baptism answered this purpose. The    

 gospel was preached to the people, and

 then all those who were willing to be on

 the side of Christ, were called out to be

 baptized.

 It held the place that the anxious

 seat does now as a public manifestation

of their determination to be Christians.”

                   Charles Grandison Finney (1792-1875)

 

 

Note: The term “anxious seat” is what religious leaders call today “the sinner’s prayer” or “the altar call.” Finney admits that in the days of the apostles, the Gospel was preached, and the people responded in baptism (see Mark 16:15-16). He goes on to admit that the “anxious seat” -- also know as the “sinner’s prayer” -- replaced the purpose baptism held. God’s Word says baptism is for the remission (forgiveness) of sins (Acts 2:38), yet, many religious groups today teach that the “sinner’s prayer” is for the forgiveness of sins. Mr. Finney is right in saying, “It [baptism] held the place that the anxious seat does now...”