Why does this teaching matter?
Washer's provocative statement challenges the most widespread assumption in American Christianity — that a one-time prayer guarantees salvation. Scripture teaches that salvation produces transformation, not merely verbal assent. Jesus warned that many who call Him 'Lord' will be turned away because He never knew them.
What did Paul Washer teach?
"The greatest heresy in the American evangelical and protestant church is that if you pray and ask Jesus Christ to come into your heart, He will definitely come in."
Speaker: Paul Washer
Source: Shocking Youth Message, 2002
What does Scripture confirm?
Matthew 7:21-23
"Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!'"
— NKJV
Jesus explicitly warns that calling Him Lord — even performing religious acts in His name — does not guarantee salvation. The determining factor is doing the Father's will, which requires genuine transformation, not merely repeating a prayer.
James 2:19
"You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble!"
— NKJV
James demolishes the idea that intellectual belief alone saves. Demons believe in God with perfect orthodoxy and it profits them nothing. Saving faith produces obedience and transformation.
2 Corinthians 5:17
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new."
— NKJV
Genuine conversion produces a 'new creation' — visible, radical change. If praying a prayer produced no transformation, there is no biblical basis for assurance of salvation.