David and Sinners Prayer

David is widely used as the basis of faith only theology by Baptists and other groups like the Assembly of God. He is also used as the basis for a sinner's prayer theology because of the multiple prayers in the Psalms.

Rom 4:6  Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without (Apart from) works,

Rom 4:7  Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.

Rom 4:8  Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.

chōris

kho-rece'

Adverb from G5561; at a space, that is, separately or apart from (often as preposition): - beside, by itself, without.

Apart from works here is not speaking of us working to be perfect, but us being separated from bad works through forgiveness. Forgiveness from sin is the main context in v.7, not whether David was saved with no works of faith at all. He had many works of faith that contributed to justification, such as prayer and confession. Prayer and confession are works in and of themselves. He had a life history of faith in God. He was forgiven without going through Mosaic law, which called for death.

In Romans 4:9 it uses the word "also", this blessedness came upon the circumcised and uncircumcised "also", so that our state of Jewish works has no bearing on men with this blessedness. Men can receive forgiveness even if their life does not follow the Jewish idea of works such as circumcision or the different commands of the law. Works of the law was not a bad thing, but works of the law were not required in such instances where faith applied.

This verse from Psalms 32 is quoted by Paul. Upon further examination it actually disproves sinner's prayer theology. It, as Psalm 51, shows prayer was for those in a previous relationship, prayer was not to start a new relationship. It is referring to the relationship David had well before the sin with Bathsheba.

1. David was already a prophet when the confession in Psalms 32 was spoken. He wasn't entering into a new conversion toward God, but was already in this blessed relationship when he committed adultery with Bathsheba.

2. The blessed relationship started long before, and it was this relationship that allowed his sin to be covered through confession and prayer.

3. Apart from works doesn't mean without works, it is speaking of forgiveness, so apart from the works that would condemn us and apart from works of the law..

If you look at I Samuel 16 you see David was chosen by God, anointed with oil by Samuel, and received the gift of the Spirit long before the prayers of Psalms 5, Psalm 32, and Psalm 51 were spoken and written. It wasn't by a sinners prayer David began his original relationship as prophet. David received his position through the anointing God used through Samuel.

1Sa 16:13  Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah.

David was chosen before the anointing, so his relationship began before the anointing. David received his official position through the process. We could conclude it was consummated when Samuel and then God anointed him.

The prayers of Psalm were possible because David was a righteous man who fell into sin, he acknowledged his guilt and God forgave him. Prayer was a blessing for the righteous in a relationship with God. The Psalms clearly show the different standing between the righteous and sinners. The ungodly are described as those who are habitual sinners who deny God's law, the righteous may sin but deep inside love God's law.

Psa 1:1  Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.

Psa 1:2  But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.

Psa 1:4  The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.

Psa 1:5  Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.

God does not hear the prayer of the ungodly who refuse God's counsel. They have little if any love for God's word and law.

Psalms clearly depicts prayer as a right for the righteous who honor God.

Psa 5:1  To the chief Musician upon Nehiloth, A Psalm of David. Give ear to my words, O LORD, consider my meditation.

Psa 5:2  Hearken unto the voice of my cry, my King, and my God: for unto thee will I pray.

Psa 5:3  My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up.

Psa 5:4  For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness: neither shall evil dwell with thee.

Psa 5:5  The foolish shall not stand in thy sight: thou hatest all workers of iniquity.

Psa 5:6  Thou shalt destroy them that speak leasing: the LORD will abhor the bloody and deceitful man.

Psa 5:7  But as for me, I will come into thy house in the multitude of thy mercy: and in thy fear will I worship toward thy holy temple.

Psa 5:8  Lead me, O LORD, in thy righteousness because of mine enemies; make thy way straight before my face.

Psa 5:9  For there is no faithfulness in their mouth; their inward part is very wickedness; their throat is an open sepulchre; they flatter with their tongue.

Psa 5:10  Destroy thou them, O God; let them fall by their own counsels; cast them out in the multitude of their transgressions; for they have rebelled against thee.

Psa 5:11  But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee.

Psa 5:12  For thou, LORD, wilt bless the righteous; with favour wilt thou compass him as with a shield.

The example of Psalms 32 isn't of David being converted to God through a prayer, but a prayer based upon a long-held righteous relationship.

This is true of I John chapter 1 where those in fellowship through Christ have the right to confession and prayer.

1Jn 1:3  That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.

1Jn 1:6  If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:

1Jn 1:7  But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

The blood cleanses those in fellowship with Christ and the Apostles.

There is no example of establishing fellowship through a sinner's prayer, only through obeying the Gospel.

The prayer of Psalms 51 proves David was still in fellowship despite the sin with Bathsheba.

Psa 51:9  Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.

Psa 51:10  Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.

Psa 51:11  Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.

David never lost the Spirit, and it was by the Spirit the Psalms were written. David never lost his position as God's prophet.

II Samuel 7 calls David a servant before his sin with Bathsheba in Ch 11, that relationship never changed, God gave David the opportunity to acknowledge his sin and ask forgiveness.

So, Romans 4:6-8 describes the blessed state  a man who God accepts apart from works, who is in a relationship with God.

We could ask when David was acceptable to be called as a prophet, certainly God knew his heart, that he was devout and loved God; but he still had to be called and anointed. We could incorrectly conclude David was called because of belief alone, but David had exhibited Faith through his bravery before the calling. God knew his heart through the trials David faced before being chosen. David declared God had saved him, giving God glory for what he had accomplished.

1Sa 17:37  David said moreover, The LORD that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said unto David, Go, and the LORD be with thee.

Many of the acts of bravery after David's anointing were from the Holy Spirit, but the Lion and bear account were prior to his anointing. God knew David glorified him. David had a relationship with God a long time before Psalms 32 was spoken.

Cornelius also had a heart that loved God, but he had to be called and baptized as well. All of his previous prayers as a man with faith did not save him. Acts 10:1-4.

Sinners prayer theology just doesn't match the historical record God documented for us.