If the invite is not completely biblical, are the sealed by the Holy Spirit?
The gulf between a lost soul (under Satanic control) and the Holy God, is the bridge of God, the Holy Spirit of God!
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Invite Jesus Into Your Heart?
- Thread starter thatbrian
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If the invite is not completely biblical, are the sealed by the Holy Spirit?
The gulf between a lost soul (under Satanic control) and the Holy God, is the bridge of God, the Holy Spirit of God!
Yes I know several John Alden's in that predicament.
Romans 10 shows eternal salvation is by a prayer out of conviction from the Holy Spirit so .. 'invite Jesus into your heart' is maybe an odd statement but praying to receive Jesus into your life is what Romans 10 shows
Galatians 4:6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.
The Spirit of the son comes into our hearts once we become a Christian so what is the means of salvation?
Romans 10:
11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.
13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Those who call upon the Lord shall be saved and those who call are called His children and uponCalling and becoming children the Apieit of the Son comes into their hearts.
Of course most should realize that we have the Holy Spirit enter into us the moment we are saved. But Christ is said to be on us the hope of glory ian’t He?
The Spirit of the son comes into our hearts once we become a Christian so what is the means of salvation?
Romans 10:
11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.
13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Those who call upon the Lord shall be saved and those who call are called His children and uponCalling and becoming children the Apieit of the Son comes into their hearts.
Of course most should realize that we have the Holy Spirit enter into us the moment we are saved. But Christ is said to be on us the hope of glory ian’t He?
I'd be surprised to learn that I'd never used that particular piece of oft-repeated, but not directly biblical, liturgy, being as what it's so oft-repeated even in free protestant churches that apparently don't find much use for set liturgy. It's the sort of thing I pray daily.
But the spirit of the important question is this:
Are you asking *JESUS* into your heart/life? Or are you merely ASKING jesus INTO *YOUR HEART/LIFE*?
Thanks for your reply.
I am not certain what your first sentence is saying. Would you mind unpacking it for me?
John,
Firstly, welcome to BB and thanks for your post.
You have put a fine point on this, and done so brilliantly. There is a vast difference between asking JESUS into you life, and asking Jesus into YOUR life.
Well Romans 1p
It
Okay well.. the Holy Spirit convicts someone of their need for eternal salvation. The person then either rejects the conviction or 'confesses with their mouth the Lord Jesus and believes He has been raised from the dead'
The Holy Spirit then will indwell the person.
BobRyan
Well-Known Member
Not sure why you respond to John 1 and John 12 as if Revelation is being quoted.
BobRyan
Well-Known Member
Maybe it is a short summary of Revelation 3
Rev 3 "20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me. 21 He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne"
BobRyan
Well-Known Member
Well like Yeshua posted.. the 'behold I stand at the door and knock etc... in context is about the local church. It's not an eternal salvation verse.. but the words do have the same meaning if it was in the context of eternal life being given
Katarina Von Bora
Active Member
It would tie into whether the local church would be one that has their light shining bright for Christ, or ones that Jesus takes their lampstands away, as their testimony and witness/fellowship with Him has stagnated and grown spiritual weak, but not that they lost salvation itself!
BobRyan
Well-Known Member
It is about eternal salvation for those who think that not having Christ is a salvation problem (which would be most of us -- when not talking about the fact that this is a problem for Calvinism in Rev 3)
That sentiment cannot be found in God’s Word. Just like “receive Christ and be saved.”
Btw, those that believe and receive Christ have a right “to become” children of God. They aren’t children of God by merely receiving Him. See John 1:12.
I have noticed that text myself KLD.
What is your view as to the meaning.
Does it imply there is a process of or before the new birth and once started is there any chance of failure before regeneration?
Do you know Koine Greek?
ὅσοι δὲ ἔλαβον αὐτόν ἔδωκεν αὐτοῖς ἐξουσίαν τέκνα θεοῦ γενέσθαι τοῖς πιστεύουσιν εἰς τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ
This is a complex word γενέσθαι - infinitive aorist middle (deponent)? Reflexive?
atpollard
Well-Known Member
Actually, I did invite Jesus into my life ... but there was no ‘altar call’ involved.
From the pen of John Gill... The Cause Of God and Truth... Page 250
Revelation 3:20 Behold I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my
voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will
sup with him, and he with me,
From hence it is concluded, that Christ stands and knocks at the
hearts of unregenerate sinners by the ministry of the word, and
that they have sufficient grace and strength to open their hearts
unto him, or else he knocks in vain; for what wise man would
stand at another’s door and knock, if he knew there were not any
within that could open to him? And since it is required of men in
conversion, to open their hearts to Christ, it follows, that the work
is not performed by an irresistible power, or without the consent
and cooperation of the will of man. But,
1. It should be proved that the ministry of the word is ever
signified by knocking at the hearts of unregenerate sinners, or
that God, or Christ, are ever said to knock at men’s hearts by the
ministry of the word. Men can strike the ear, God only can reach
and strike the heart, which is done when the Gospel comes not in
word only, but in power, and in the Holy Ghost; and when God
does this, he does not knock and rap, and then wait till entrance is
made from within; but he strikes home, and at once opens the
door of the heart, as he did Lydia’s, by his powerful and
efficacious grace. It should also be proved, that God, in
conversion, does command and require men to open their hearts
unto him, neither of which can be proved either from this text or
from any other in the whole Bible; nor is it in the power of
unregenerate men, being dead in trespasses and sins, nor in their
will, inclinations, desires, and affections, their carnal mind being
enmity against God and Christ, to open their hearts and let them
in. And supposing that these words do represent Christ standing
and knocking at the door of men’s hearts, by the external ministry
of the word, has he not the key of the house of David, with which
he opens and no man shuts, and lets himself in by the power of
his grace, without offering any violence to the wills of men, since
his people are made a willing people in tie day of his power.
Hence his knocking is not in vain, since to his elect not only
sufficient but efficacious grace is given, by which the door of their
hearts is opened to him, and others are left inexcusable, who are
ready to make such shifts as these; had he knocked, I would have
opened; had I heard, I would have believed; had I known, I would
have done this and the other thing. But,
2. These words are not spoken to nor of unregenerate sinners,
nor have they any reference to the opening of men’s hearts in
conversion, but are directed to the angel of the church of the
Laodiceans, and to the members of that church, persons that
professed the name of Christ; Who, though they were not hot, yet
were not cold, and for whom Christ had a regard, though they
were in this lukewarm state; and, therefore, takes every proper
method to bring them out of it; which was much the same with the
church in Song of Solomon 5:2, I sleep, but my heart waketh: it is
the voice of my beloved that knocketh, saying, Open to me, my
sister, my love, my dove, my undefiled — a place parallel to this
text, and which is the only one besides in which Christ is said to
knock, and require any to open to him. Now his standing at the
door may either mean his near approach to judgment, see James
5:8,9; (this church of Laodicea, being the last of the churches,
represents the state of the church in the last times, which will
bring on and conclude with the general judgment or else his
attendance on this church is meant, which shows his continued
love, care, condescension, and patience towards it. His knocking
at the seer is not by the ministry of the word, but by some afflictive
dispensation of providence, perhaps persecution. This church
was in a sleepy, lukewarm, indifferent, secure frame of spirit, as
appears from (vv. 15-18). Christ will not suffer her to continue so,
and, therefore, takes his rod in his hand, stands at her door, and
gives some severe knocks and raps to bring her to herself, and
out of this indolent, supine, and self-confident state and condition
she was in; which sense is confirmed by the preceding verse, as
many as I love, I rebuke and chasten be zealous, therefore, and
repent. The promise he makes to such who hear his voice, that is,
the men of wisdom, who hear the rod, and who hath appointed it,
when the Lord’s voice crieth, to a city, or a church, and open to
him, that is, by the lively exercise of faith and love, and which is
owing to his putting in his hand by the hole of the door, is, that he
will come in, to them, and sup with them, and they with him, which
may, in general, design communion and fellowship in his house
and ordinances, or in particular, the marriage-supper of the Lamb,
to which they who are called are pronounced blessed.
Revelation 3:20 Behold I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my
voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will
sup with him, and he with me,
From hence it is concluded, that Christ stands and knocks at the
hearts of unregenerate sinners by the ministry of the word, and
that they have sufficient grace and strength to open their hearts
unto him, or else he knocks in vain; for what wise man would
stand at another’s door and knock, if he knew there were not any
within that could open to him? And since it is required of men in
conversion, to open their hearts to Christ, it follows, that the work
is not performed by an irresistible power, or without the consent
and cooperation of the will of man. But,
1. It should be proved that the ministry of the word is ever
signified by knocking at the hearts of unregenerate sinners, or
that God, or Christ, are ever said to knock at men’s hearts by the
ministry of the word. Men can strike the ear, God only can reach
and strike the heart, which is done when the Gospel comes not in
word only, but in power, and in the Holy Ghost; and when God
does this, he does not knock and rap, and then wait till entrance is
made from within; but he strikes home, and at once opens the
door of the heart, as he did Lydia’s, by his powerful and
efficacious grace. It should also be proved, that God, in
conversion, does command and require men to open their hearts
unto him, neither of which can be proved either from this text or
from any other in the whole Bible; nor is it in the power of
unregenerate men, being dead in trespasses and sins, nor in their
will, inclinations, desires, and affections, their carnal mind being
enmity against God and Christ, to open their hearts and let them
in. And supposing that these words do represent Christ standing
and knocking at the door of men’s hearts, by the external ministry
of the word, has he not the key of the house of David, with which
he opens and no man shuts, and lets himself in by the power of
his grace, without offering any violence to the wills of men, since
his people are made a willing people in tie day of his power.
Hence his knocking is not in vain, since to his elect not only
sufficient but efficacious grace is given, by which the door of their
hearts is opened to him, and others are left inexcusable, who are
ready to make such shifts as these; had he knocked, I would have
opened; had I heard, I would have believed; had I known, I would
have done this and the other thing. But,
2. These words are not spoken to nor of unregenerate sinners,
nor have they any reference to the opening of men’s hearts in
conversion, but are directed to the angel of the church of the
Laodiceans, and to the members of that church, persons that
professed the name of Christ; Who, though they were not hot, yet
were not cold, and for whom Christ had a regard, though they
were in this lukewarm state; and, therefore, takes every proper
method to bring them out of it; which was much the same with the
church in Song of Solomon 5:2, I sleep, but my heart waketh: it is
the voice of my beloved that knocketh, saying, Open to me, my
sister, my love, my dove, my undefiled — a place parallel to this
text, and which is the only one besides in which Christ is said to
knock, and require any to open to him. Now his standing at the
door may either mean his near approach to judgment, see James
5:8,9; (this church of Laodicea, being the last of the churches,
represents the state of the church in the last times, which will
bring on and conclude with the general judgment or else his
attendance on this church is meant, which shows his continued
love, care, condescension, and patience towards it. His knocking
at the seer is not by the ministry of the word, but by some afflictive
dispensation of providence, perhaps persecution. This church
was in a sleepy, lukewarm, indifferent, secure frame of spirit, as
appears from (vv. 15-18). Christ will not suffer her to continue so,
and, therefore, takes his rod in his hand, stands at her door, and
gives some severe knocks and raps to bring her to herself, and
out of this indolent, supine, and self-confident state and condition
she was in; which sense is confirmed by the preceding verse, as
many as I love, I rebuke and chasten be zealous, therefore, and
repent. The promise he makes to such who hear his voice, that is,
the men of wisdom, who hear the rod, and who hath appointed it,
when the Lord’s voice crieth, to a city, or a church, and open to
him, that is, by the lively exercise of faith and love, and which is
owing to his putting in his hand by the hole of the door, is, that he
will come in, to them, and sup with them, and they with him, which
may, in general, design communion and fellowship in his house
and ordinances, or in particular, the marriage-supper of the Lamb,
to which they who are called are pronounced blessed.
Last edited:
BobRyan
Well-Known Member
Very good premise but needs to add to it "I will DRAW ALL mankind unto Me" John 12:32 and the combination of the supernatural drawing of God and Christ at the door -- "enables all the choice that depravity disables" even by the most outlandish Calvinist standards.
Pontifical statements such as we find among Calvinists asserting "there is nothing to see here... move along" are mere fluff
All the hand waiving and smoke and mirrors in the world do not turn the following bit of wishful thinking into Bible fact "These words are not spoken to nor of unregenerate sinners,
nor have they any reference to the opening of men’s hearts in conversion" -- those who pontificate such assertions do so by ignoring almost every detail in these two chapters.
How sad.
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