But someone can go forward, pray an appropriate prayer, and still leave unconverted. This sounds reasonable, but it breeds confusion. Those who haven't gone forward may think they cannot be saved, and those who have gone forward think they are saved because of their courageous act of walking in front of several hundred people. There are times when I must conclude that invitations can obscure the issues of the gospel. The reason is obvious.
Unconverted people think they are saved simply because they came forward.
I realize however, that many have received Christ as Savior when they responded to an altar call. Some even say that deciding to walk forward was a test of their sincerity in surrendering to the Holy Spirit's conviction. But we should never give the impression that the two actions are inseparately linked. God's part in salvation is to convict the sinner, draw him, and grant him the gift of repentance. All man can do is to respond to what God is doing and cast himself on God's mercy that he might be saved.