ask Jesus into your heart

I don't think it's the wrong method, but I think putting all of one's salvific eggs in one basket is not what the overall Gospel is calling for.

 

Massdak, I read the article. A lot of food for discussion is there. Interestingly enough, I have the booklet, "My Heart Christ's Home" which was given to me several years ago by a teen in a youth group where I spoke, but I never read it. I did not realize it was a sermon.

I had often wondered where the idea of "ask Jesus into your heart" came from since I did not see it in the Bible.

I can see the point of the article but I think he goes too far the other way in some cases. For example, he says preachers should preach the law and that since the law convicts of sin, we are led to Christ that way. But those things were said only to the Jews. The Gentiles did not have or know the law (Rom. 2) though it's written on their hearts, but that is not the same thing as when the Jews knew the law. So I am not sure about his point on that.

I never use the "ask Jesus into your heart" for people. I have quoted Rev 3.20 and I realize it was said to a church, but I like to use it to point out the personal relationship one has with Christ when one believes on Him. Maybe that is not a completely correct thing, but I don't think it is all that out of context to use it that way.

What bothers me about the "ask Jesus into your heart" is that it can become a formula, which this article points out, and people can think when they pray it they are then saved by praying. I think the prayer could be said after belief has occurred, not as a means of salvation, although I would not tell someone to pray and ask Jesus "to come into your heart." What I say is more along the lines of, "You must believe in Jesus and turn your life over to Him," (this is after discussion of who Jesus is, why we need him, etc. and if the person is asking or is believing."

I do not know about the article's assertion that Jesus is not in our hearts. I know literally He is not, but didin't He say he would be with us and not forsake us? Because He is in heaven, does that mean He cannot be with us??

 

"Ask Jesus into your heart", is as good a phrase as any, if you know what it means. I, myself, said something along the lines of, "Jesus, will you come into my heart and be my Lord and Saviour?" Serious question follows, "Was I not saved at the end of that simple prayer?" I'm serious. If y'all know something I don't and can convince me of it, I will be eternally grateful, literally.

 

I remember hearing that phrase all the time as a child. I don't remember being confused by it, but then I was the daughter of a Sunday School teacher and I guess I had a better chance at understanding.

In my work with children these days, I say "Ask Jesus to let His puninshment count for you." and "have God make you His child." More literal.

 

Simply saying a prayer doesn't save a person. What saves us is when we begin having a relationship with Jesus. Although, saying a prayer may put us on that road, it is not a cure-all (this is what I was referring to earlier when I said we should not put all our salvific eggs in one basket).

 

I don't disagree with that in the slightest. One cannot have a relationship with the Lord until one is born again.

Also, one cannot "try" to have a realtionship with the Lord. One either has one or doesn't have one. Not all saved peoples' relationsips with the Lord are the same as each other, but all saved people have a relationship with Him.

 

"It" being a prayer, no. That would be like some sort of magical incantation invoking mystical powers. However, my simple prayer of asking Jesus to be MY Savior and whatever else He says goes along with that (He's the Lord, He gets to do that), seems to be sufficient. A sincere simple prayer isn't the "heart" of salvation but it is the method.

 

No two Christians have the same life's experiences. Hence, no two people have the exact same "type" of relationship with the Lord. Also, the longer one's walk with the Lord, the more that relationship with Him changes and develops. Much like one's relationship with a parent or spouse changes over time and with life's experiences.

 

No disrespect intended, but, don't ask us what we know. Look at the Bible and see where any of the Apostles or any member of the early church told someone to "just ask him into your heart, and he will come into your heart". If it's not there, forget about using it.

 

Posted by Massdak:

I am not sure but I tend to think it is both. I think we are drawn to Christ but also must believe. Looking back on when I was saved, I still can't answer though I know for sure God drew me to Christ. But I knew about Christ before and had rejected him (as a Savior).

I did not pray when I was saved -- I simply turned my life over to Christ after reading a passage in Matthew 8. It's a long story -- on my site under "Marcia's story."

I think if the prayer is said with faith in Christ having come before or as something that triggers the prayer, a prayer is okay. But it seems that too often people may see the prayer as the means of being saved and think they are saved when they say it when they really are not saved.

 

Jesus said to those He called to come follow Him. I think scripture talks about counting the cost. People must be reminded and told about the cost of following Jesus not come forward and go to heaven.