Should People Ask Jesus Christ Into Their Lives???

[AVL1984]

The article I'm linking to here suggests that people SHOULD NOT ask Jesus Christ into their lives. I've had it sent to me, and it is posted in the "Southern Baptists" forum of Facebook. So, should people ask Jesus Christ into their lives or not? Will most automatically understand all the "in's-and-outs" of salvation before they pray and ask Christ into their lives? What is your ideology on this, and what is Scriptural. Isn't Christian belief asking Christ into your life?

“Ten reasons NOT to ask Jesus into your heart” by Todd Friel.

 

[Reformed1689]

I agree that is not the Gospel.

 

[AVL1984]

I agree that is not the Gospel.

Can you back up that statement just for reference sake?

 

[Reformed1689]

Can you back up that statement just for reference sake?

It's in the article. Where in Scripture does it talk about inviting Jesus into your life? Asking him into your heart? It doesn't.

 

[Marooncat79]

The Christian life is about repentance towards God for sin or treason against God (for reference, the Lords Prayer in Matthew where we are told to ask for forgiveness daily and in I John).

I think that we baptize people too soon as well

being a Christian is about being a disciple not praying a prayer

 

[agedman]

Perhaps folks desire to be in control even when it comes to salvation. So, they think they must "do" something.

Belief is not a do, but a statement concerning what one holds as factual.

Personally, I don't have a problem with one expressing, "I trusted (received, believed in, accepted) the Lord as my Savior..." for that is a statement of belief.

Yet, none of that is believable if it comes from a person who has nothing but worldliness as a demonstration of the change that supposedly took place.

However, neither will I go about making a huge issue of this OP thinking, because it is up to the Lord to look upon the heart, He is the one who has or has not redeemed. My job is to be a seed spreader.

 

[Deacon]

It is not found in Scripture however the act evokes trust or belief.
It has an 20th century evangelical ministry feel to it.
I can remember a popular tract (perhaps Bill Bright’s Four Spiritual Laws) describing the new believer placing Christ on the throne of your heart.

I trusted Jesus decades ago as I walked by myself to high school.
I didn’t know any particular words or phrases, not having been a regular church goer. I was no theologian. I simply knew my need and I knew where to go.
It is not any particular words or phrases that the Lord is listening for when a new believer places their trust in him, it is a right heart.

A believer who invited Jesus into their heart is just as saved as one who places their trust in him….

That being said, I would not encourage using the phrase.

Rob

 

[37818]

A little booklet by Michael Patrick Brown,
https://jesus-is-savior.com/BTP/i_never_knew_you.pdf

 

[Revmitchell]

The article I'm linking to here suggests that people SHOULD NOT ask Jesus Christ into their lives. I've had it sent to me, and it is posted in the "Southern Baptists" forum of Facebook. So, should people ask Jesus Christ into their lives or not? Will most automatically understand all the "in's-and-outs" of salvation before they pray and ask Christ into their lives? What is your ideology on this, and what is Scriptural. Isn't Christian belief asking Christ into your life?

“Ten reasons NOT to ask Jesus into your heart” by Todd Friel.

It's interesting that reformed folks who claim to believe in their errant view of election that says we are individually chosen at the beginning of creation and an errant view of God's Sovereignty that says God must control every movement in order to be sovereign makes such stupid claims like is made in this article. Such claims work against the reformed errant view of election and God's Sovereignty.

Honestly sometimes I can make better arguments for Calvinism than Calvinist actually do and I don't believe in it.

 

[Reformed1689]

It's interesting that reformed folks who claim to believe in their errant view of election that says we are individually chosen at the beginning of creation and an errant view of God's Sovereignty that says God must control every movement in order to be sovereign makes such stupid claims like is made in this article. Such claims work against the reformed errant view of election and God's Sovereignty.

Honestly sometimes I can make better arguments for Calvinism than Calvinist actually do and I don't believe in it.

Curious as to what specifically you are referring to? For the record, I don't care to much for the article itself, but rather just the part specifically about asking Jesus into your heart. Todd Friel is not a theologian by any stretch of the imagination. He is a shock jock for all intents and purposes.

 

[AustinC]

Curious as to what specifically you are referring to? For the record, I don't care to much for the article itself, but rather just the part specifically about asking Jesus into your heart. Todd Friel is not a theologian by any stretch of the imagination. He is a shock jock for all intents and purposes.

I attended church with Todd Friel when he was a local Christian radio host on a little AM station. He had two personalities, his radio persona and his real persona. Shock jock is a perfect expression for Todd. I take what he says with a grain of salt, knowing he has no theological training.
"Ask Jesus into your heart" is an free will phrase used by evangelists like Billy Sunday and Billy Graham. It comes with an emotional plea to choose. It tends to fall in the "sinners prayer" camp that is kind of a magical incantation theory, which I dislike. But, some people have been drawn to faith in this fashion.

 

[Reformed1689]

I attended church with Todd Friel when he was a local Christian radio host on a little AM station. He had two personalities, his radio persona and his real persona. Shock jock is a perfect expression for Todd. I take what he says with a grain of salt, knowing he has no theological training.
"Ask Jesus into your heart" is an free will phrase used by evangelists like Billy Sunday and Billy Graham. It comes with an emotional plea to choose. It tends to fall in the "sinners prayer" camp that is kind of a magical incantation theory, which I dislike. But, some people have been drawn to faith in this fashion.

Yes I do not doubt that some who used the sinners prayer are indeed converts. But this asking Jesus into your heart thing shouldn't be taught. It is not biblical. They can't produce a single reference for it because it isn't there.

 

[Revmitchell]

Curious as to what specifically you are referring to? For the record, I don't care to much for the article itself, but rather just the part specifically about asking Jesus into your heart. Todd Friel is not a theologian by any stretch of the imagination. He is a shock jock for all intents and purposes.

"It is not in the Bible."

Romans 10:9-10

"What does it mean to ask Jesus into your heart? If I say the right incantation will He somehow enter my heart? Is it literal? Does He reside in the upper or lower ventricle?"

A childish question that does not make for intelligent discussion

"In order to be saved, a man must repent (Acts 2:38).Asking Jesus into your heart leaves out the requirement of repentance."

No it doesn't now he is misrepresenting it. No one ever says just say "Jesus please come into my heart" and nothing more. He is either ignorant or presenting a caricature a lot like Jonc often does.

"n order to be saved, a man must trust in Jesus Christ (Acts 16:31).
Asking Jesus into your heart leaves out the requirement of faith."

See my last response

"5. The person who wrongly believes they are saved will have a false sense of security."

Honestly I almost didn't have the patience to answer this one its so stupid. Having to explain this one is like having to explain why 1+1=2. No one ever says the prayer is what saves you. Romans 10:9-10 says to confess with our mouth. Plain and simple.

6. "The person who asks Jesus into his heart will likely end up inoculated, bitter and backslidden."

Does it matter, even though this isn't true, since God is both completely sovereign over every movement in salvation and only the elect will be saved anyway according to reformed doctrine. This statement acts as if none of that is true.

"It presents God as a beggar just hoping you will let Him into your busy life."

This is one of those bad arguments reformed people often make. Here is the response plain and simple. The fact that God designed salvation in such a way that man can choose to receive or reject salvation negates his argument. If God designed it that way then no it doesn't make God a beggar. This is nothing more than a bombastic statement based on a caricature of the view with whom he disagrees with. Its childish.


"The cause of Christ is ridiculed. Visit an atheist web-site and read the pagans who scoff, “How dare those Christians tell us how to live when they get divorced more than we do? Who are they to say homosexuals shouldn’t adopt kids when tens of thousands of orphans don’t get adopted by Christians?” Born again believers adopt kids and don’t get divorced.

People who ask Jesus into their hearts do. Jesus gets mocked when false converts give Him a bad name."

First if that is what atheists say it is incorrect. Here it seems he went out looking for another reason to be against and found one rather than sticking with a biblical foundation. What atheists believe or not believe have no bearing on the truth of this matter.

"he cause of evangelism is hindered."

Wait is he not reformed in doctrine? how could any reformed person even come close to making this claim? How can they believe in election as they do and think that anything man can do can hinder evangelism?

"Here is the scary one. People who ask Jesus into their hearts are not saved and they will perish on the Day of Judgment."


Here once again he tries to isolate "asking Jesus into your heart" from the whole of what is really presented to people. He, again, is either ignorant or just trying to be bombastic because he doesn't like the view of someone else. Its childish.

 

[Reynolds]

It's in the article. Where in Scripture does it talk about inviting Jesus into your life? Asking him into your heart? It doesn't.

I think "asking Jesus into your heart" has evolved as a misguided outward symbol of repentance.
I personally believe John Macarthurs " Lordship Salvation" model is the most accurate description of the Salvation process. Oddly enough, if all you knew about him was this teaching, you would have no idea he was a Calvinist.

 

[Reformed1689]

Romans 10:9-10

Notice that passage says nothing about asking Jesus into your heart.

No it doesn't now he is misrepresenting it. No one ever says just say "Jesus please come into my heart" and nothing more. He is either ignorant or presenting a caricature a lot like Jonc often does.

I would say there are definitely people who use it as a "fire insurance policy" and do nothing else with it. I have personally witnessed that.

As to the rest of the quotes, like I said, I think Todd Friel is nothing more than a shock jock.

 

[Jerome]

I don't care to much for the article itself, but rather just the part specifically about asking Jesus into your heart.

It has an 20th century evangelical ministry feel to it.

"Ask Jesus into your heart" is an free will phrase used by evangelists like Billy Sunday and Billy Graham.

Oh brother.


For your edification:

Hanserd Knollys, The World to Come (1681)

"Secondly, Open your hearts to Christ, when he knocks at the Door of your Souls, and calls you to come to him, to receive him, and let him come into your hearts, and dwell in your hearts by his holy Spirit, and sanctifying Grace, Rev. 3.20. Behold I stand at the Door and knock, if any man hear my voice, and will open the Door, . . I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. If the Sinner be willing to open the door of his heart, Christ will come in by his holy Spirit, and HE will communicate of his Grace to his Soul."


Benjamin Keach, The Glory of God's Rich Grace Displayed (1694)

"O know you, Sinners, this Day, that Jesus Christ, this glorious King, and Prince of the Kings of the Earth, this mighty Saviour is come to your Doors: Behold, I stand at the Door and knock: Rev. 3.20. Will you not open the Door, nor cry to him to help you to open to him, to enable you to believe in him? What do you say, shall the Son of God stand at your Doors, and you not so much as ask, Who is there? Who is at my Door? Shall Christ be kept out of your Hearts, and stand at your Doors, whilst Sin commands the chiefest Room, and has absolute Power over you, and rules in you? How will you be able to look this Blessed Saviour in the Face another Day?"


Charles Spurgeon, "Knock" (1883)

"There stands the Ever-Blessed, knocking at the door of the soul, but the hinges are rusted, the door, itself, is fast bolted and wild briars and all kinds of creeping plants running up the door prove that it has been along time since it was moved. You know what it all means—how continuance in sin makes it harder to yield to the knock of Christ and how evil habits creeping up, one after another, hold the soul so fast that it cannot open to the sacred knocking. Jesus has been knocking at some of your hearts ever since you were children—and still He knocks. I hear His blessed hand upon the door at this moment! Do you not hear it? Will you not open?"

 

[Jerome]

reformed folks...Calvinist

Seems it's a certain sort of Calvinist who rankles at preaching like this.

 

[Reformed1689]

Oh brother.


For your edification:

Hanserd Knollys, The World to Come (1681)

"Secondly, Open your hearts to Christ, when he knocks at the Door of your Souls, and calls you to come to him, to receive him, and let him come into your hearts, and dwell in your hearts by his holy Spirit, and sanctifying Grace, Rev. 3.20. Behold I stand at the Door and knock, if any man hear my voice, and will open the Door, . . I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. If the Sinner be willing to open the door of his heart, Christ will come in by his holy Spirit, and HE will communicate of his Grace to his Soul."


Benjamin Keach, The Glory of God's Rich Grace Displayed (1694)

"O know you, Sinners, this Day, that Jesus Christ, this glorious King, and Prince of the Kings of the Earth, this mighty Saviour is come to your Doors: Behold, I stand at the Door and knock: Rev. 3.20. Will you not open the Door, nor cry to him to help you to open to him, to enable you to believe in him? What do you say, shall the Son of God stand at your Doors, and you not so much as ask, Who is there? Who is at my Door? Shall Christ be kept out of your Hearts, and stand at your Doors, whilst Sin commands the chiefest Room, and has absolute Power over you, and rules in you? How will you be able to look this Blessed Saviour in the Face another Day?"


Charles Spurgeon, "Knock" (1883)

"There stands the Ever-Blessed, knocking at the door of the soul, but the hinges are rusted, the door, itself, is fast bolted and wild briars and all kinds of creeping plants running up the door prove that it has been along time since it was moved. You know what it all means—how continuance in sin makes it harder to yield to the knock of Christ and how evil habits creeping up, one after another, hold the soul so fast that it cannot open to the sacred knocking. Jesus has been knocking at some of your hearts ever since you were children—and still He knocks. I hear His blessed hand upon the door at this moment! Do you not hear it? Will you not open?"

That is not what we are talking about.

 

[AVL1984]

Yes I do not doubt that some who used the sinners prayer are indeed converts. But this asking Jesus into your heart thing shouldn't be taught. It is not biblical. They can't produce a single reference for it because it isn't there.

The problem is that you can't produce a single piece of Scripture that says it's NOT acceptable. So, it goes both ways.

 

[AVL1984]

Jerome...this ISN'T a Calvinism thread....If you want one...start your own.