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Seven Reasons NOT To Ask Jesus Into Your Heart!
by Pastor-teacher Dennis Rokser
Dennis Rokser is the Pastor-teacher of the
Duluth Bible Church
201 W. St. Andrews Street
Duluth, MN 55803
218/724-5914
drokser@duluthbible.org
Dedicated to the glory of God: for the equipping of the saints
for their work of ministry in proclaiming the Gospel with clarity;
and to Leonard A. Radtke ¾ my pastor, father-in-law, and
mentor. His love for the Lord, zeal for the lost, godly walk, grace-oriented
exposition of Scripture, and uncompromising defense of the faith
has been a great example and encouragement to me in the ministry.
Copyright: September, 1998
2nd edition/revised/January 1999
Have you ever heard someone say, "In order to be saved from
hell and go to heaven, you need to ask Jesus into your heart"?
Does this sound familiar? Have you ever read this on the back of
tracts? Have you heard pastors or evangelists teach this?
Though perhaps sincerely spoken and well-intended, is it biblically
accurate to ask Jesus into your heart? Are those who have simply
trusted Jesus Christ and His finished work alone not yet saved because
they have not asked Jesus into their heart? On the other hand, do
those who have asked Jesus into their heart truly possess eternal
life because they have done this? Or is all this simply a matter
of semantics?
#1 Don’t ask Jesus into your heart because IT IS NEVER FOUND
IN THE BIBLE.
#2 Don’t ask Jesus into your heart because IT IS NOT HOW ONE
IS SAVED.
#3 Don’t ask Jesus into your heart because IT REQUIRES NO
UNDERSTANDING OF THE GOSPEL OF GRACE TO DO IT.
#4 Don’t ask Jesus into your heart because IT CONFUSES THE
MEANS OF SALVATION WITH THE RESULTS OF SALVATION.
#5 Don’t ask Jesus into your heart because IT EITHER RESULTS
IN NO ASSURANCE OF SALVATION OR BRINGS A FALSE ASSURANCE TO PEOPLE.
#6 Don’t ask Jesus into your heart because REVELATION 3:20
DOES NOT TEACH IT.
#7 Don’t ask Jesus into your heart because IT DOES NOT CLARIFY
THE CONDITION OF SALVATION, IT CONFUSES IT ¾ ESPECIALLY WITH
CHILDREN.
SEVEN REASONS NOT TO ASK
JESUS INTO YOUR HEART
#1: Don’t ask Jesus into your heart because IT IS NEVER FOUND
IN THE BIBLE. Back
Yes, that is unbelievably true! With its enormous popularity, it
is amazing to find out that nowhere in the Bible is anyone ever
instructed to ask Christ into his heart to be saved. In fact, nowhere
in the Scriptures is there even one example of individuals ever
asking Jesus into their heart ¾ period! If this is true,
why then should one do it or encourage others to do it?
Donald Bunge rightly raises the questions..."Did Jesus ever
say: 'Let me come into your heart?' Which one of the apostles wrote
in New Testament books to ask Jesus to come into our hearts for
salvation?"1
It appears that while a number of people affirm that the Bible
is God’s inerrant and inspired truth, they have never evaluated
this false response to the Gospel as to its scriptural accuracy.
And if it is never found in the Bible, why use it? Is it not safe
to assume that if you never listened to Christian radio, or never
attended an evangelistic crusade or a church, but simply read the
Bible from cover to cover, that you would NEVER conclude that one
had to ask Jesus into his heart?
Dear reader, God has promised only to bless His Word, not inaccurate
clichés regarding it.
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my
ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your
thoughts. For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven,
and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it
bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread
to the eater. So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth:
it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which
I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. (Isaiah
55:8-11)
If this popular but misleading cliché has no scriptural
support, SHOULD NOT THAT SETTLE THE ISSUE? But since to some people
this reason alone is not enough…
#2: Don’t ask Jesus into your heart because IT IS NOT HOW
ONE IS SAVED. Back
When the Philippian jailor asked Paul and Silas the million dollar
question, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?", they replied…
"Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved and
thy house." (Acts 16:30-31)
Interestingly enough, they did not respond, "Have you ever
read the Four Spiritual Laws?" Nor did they reply, "Well,
just pray and ask Jesus into your heart." As a natural man
(1 Cor. 2:14), the jailor asked them "What MUST I DO to be
saved?" The Greek word translated "must" (dei) speaks
of something of absolute necessity (note Matt. 16:21, John 3:14,
John 3:30, 1 Peter 1:6). Furthermore, the word "do" is
in the present tense referring to an on-going action. Is this not
how people think before they are saved by God's grace? They wonder,
"What is the bottom-line necessity of on-going works or church
rituals that I must do to be saved?" In our flesh, we yearn
by nature to DO something to merit God’s approval and to save
ourselves. This is also the way of false religion. However, this
is not God's plan of grace. The Bible clearly teaches…
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves:
it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast.
(Eph. 2:8-9)
Paul and Silas’ reply totally challenged the jailor’s
human merit/works mindset by declaring, "Believe on the Lord
Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved." The word "believe"
(pisteuo) means "to rely upon, to trust in, to believe in."
Being in the aorist tense in the Greek, it does not require on-going
action but a definitive decision. Since "believe" is in
the active voice, the jailor must choose to rely on the Lord Jesus
Christ alone to be saved. Salvation is not a work of man for God,
but a work of God for man, which one must choose to receive. Faith
is the hand that receives the gift of salvation, which Christ paid
for through His sacrificial and substitutionary work on the cross.
(Heb. 1:3, 2:9, 10:10-14, 1 Peter 3:18, 1 John 2:12)
The late Dr. Lewis Sperry Chafer wrote, "This one word 'believe'
represents all a sinner can do and all a sinner must do to be saved."2
The Bible supports this simple truth repeatedly in over 100 verses
in the New Testament. Some from the book of John are. . .
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son,
that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting
life. (John 3:16)
He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that
believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth
on him. (John 3:36)
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth
on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into
condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. (John 5:24)
And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh
to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never
thirst. But I said unto you, That ye also have seen me, and believe
not. All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that
cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. For I came down from heaven,
not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. And this
is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath
given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at
the last day. And this is the will of him that sent me, that every
one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting
life: and I will raise him up at the last day. (Jn. 6:35-40)
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting
life. (John 6:47)
I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for
if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins. (John
8:24)
Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that
believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever
liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?
(John 11:25-26)
But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the
Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through
his name. (John 20:31)
While in Bible College a number of years ago I was involved in
a children’s ministry on Wednesday nights at a local church.
At the end of each weekly meeting an effort was made by the main
speaker to present the plan of salvation. For several weeks I noticed
a 12-year-old boy come forward at the invitation. As a result, the
following week a good friend of mine and I volunteered to be counselors.
Sure enough, during the invitation Ricky came forward as usual.
Finally we were able to get him alone to talk with him. Our conversation
went like this:
Us: "Ricky, why have you come forward tonight?"
Ricky: "Because I want to be saved."
Us: "Well, we’ve noticed that you’ve come forward
time after time at the invitation in the past. What did the previous
counselors tell you?"
Ricky: "They told me to ask Jesus into my heart."
Us: "So did you do that?"
Ricky: "Yes, but I still don’t know that I’m saved.
I still don’t know if Jesus really did come into my heart."
Us: "Well, Ricky, let us explain to you what the Bible teaches
about salvation."
For the next 20 minutes, my friend Al and I proceeded to explain…
Man's sinful condition before a holy God and His penalty for sin
which is death (Romans 3:10-12, 23; 6:23).
Christ’s person and finished work, being God who became a man
and died for our sins and rose again (1 Cor. 15:1-4, 1 Tim. 2:3-6;
Is. 53:5-6).
How eternal salvation is a free gift to us by God’s grace,
received thru simple child-like faith alone in Christ alone (Acts
10:43; 13:38-39; John 3:16-18; 5:24).
How sinners are not saved by their good/religious works, including
asking Jesus into their heart (Gal. 2:16; Titus 3:5; Isa. 64:6;
Romans 3:28; 4:5).
In an effort to make all this personal, we put Ricky’s name
in John 3:16. "For God so loved Ricky, that He gave His only
begotten Son to die for Ricky, so if Ricky would believe in Christ,
Ricky would not perish, but Ricky would have right now and forever
everlasting life." After listening intently during this time,
Ricky then says to us…
Ricky: "Thank you for explaining all this to me. I would like
to pray."
Us: "But Ricky, you don’t have to pray to be saved. All
you have to do is trust in Jesus Christ alone who did all the work
of salvation for you when He died personally for you on the cross
and rose again."
Ricky: "Yes, I understand that now and I believe that. I’ve
just trusted in Jesus Christ to save me. I just want to pray and
thank Him now for having saved me."
Don't ask Jesus into your heart because it is not how one is saved!
"Amazing grace how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like
me, I once was lost but now am found, was blind but now I see. 'Twas
grace that taught my heart to fear, And grace my fears relieved.
How precious did that grace appear the hour I first believed!"
#3: Don’t ask Jesus into your heart because IT REQUIRES NO
UNDERSTANDING OF THE GOSPEL OF GRACE TO DO IT. Back
The Gospel of Jesus Christ is the good news of WHO Jesus Christ
is and of WHAT Jesus Christ has done in order to save lost sinners
from the just penalty of their sins by God’s grace (1 Corinthians
15:1-4; Rom. 1:16). Because of this, God wants believers to proclaim
the Gospel to others so that they would know what exactly to believe
(Mark 16:15; 2 Cor. 5:17-21). Frankly, any five year old can ask
Jesus into her heart without any true understanding of the person,
work, and accomplishment of the Lord Jesus Christ; or the freeness
and foreverness of salvation by God’s amazing grace.
Over the years I have talked to hundreds of people about their
salvation. I have found that asking them 3 basic questions normally
discloses their understanding of God’s grace plan of redemption.
The 3 questions are . . .
If you were to die in 13 seconds, do you know for sure that you
would go to heaven?
If Jesus Christ was at the gates of heaven and asked you, "Why
should I let you in?" what would you say?
Is there anything you can do or fail to do to lose your salvation?
It is amazing that while people have "come forward" or
"made a commitment to Christ" or "surrendered their
lives to Christ" or "asked Jesus into their hearts;"
many do not yet grasp that salvation is all by God’s grace,
based solely on Christ’s cross-work and received through faith
in Christ alone. Instead, it is very common to hear them explain
how good works are necessary either to get saved or to stay saved.
This indicates that they are confused about God’s simple plan
of salvation. And being told to ask Jesus into their hearts has
certainly added to their confusion.
This is why the Scriptures go to great lengths to explain to us
how one IS saved and how one is NOT saved.
Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through
this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: And by him
all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could
not be justified by the law of Moses.
(Acts 13:38-39)
Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without
the deeds of the law. (Romans 3:28)
Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but
of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that
justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
(Romans 4:4-5)
And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is
no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace:
otherwise work is no more work. (Rom. 11:6)
Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but
by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ,
that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the
works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be
justified. (Gal. 2:16)
I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come
by the law, then Christ is dead in vain. (Gal. 2:21)
For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse:
for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all
things which are written in the book of the law to do them. But
that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident:
for, the just shall live by faith. (Gal. 3:10-11)
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves:
it is the gift of god: not of works, lest any man should boast.
(Ephesians 2:8-9)
Not by works of righteousness, which we have done, but according
to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing
of the Holy Ghost. (Titus 3:5)
After a Bible study a few years ago a college-age man named Brian
came up to me to introduce himself.
Brian: "We’ve never met before, Pastor Rokser, but my
name is Brian."
Me: "Nice to meet you, Brian."
Brian: "Thank you for the Bible study tonight. It was really
great."
Me: "Well, thank you, Brian. Why was it so helpful?"
Brian: "Because I was saved by God’s grace tonight."
Me: "Really, that’s wonderful, Brian! Tell me about it."
Brian: "When you taught that any 5 year old can ask Jesus
into their heart without understanding the Gospel, that’s exactly
what happened to me."
Me: "Really, explain further."
Brian: "Having come to a sense of my sin and a knowledge of
hell at the age of 5, I greatly wanted to be saved. So my mom told
me to pray and to ask Jesus into my heart. So I did. As the years
went on I dedicated my life and re-dedicated my life several times
because I wasn’t sure that I was saved. But tonight I personally
understood for the first time how Jesus Christ did it all on the
cross when He died for me and my sins, and I’ve trusted Him
alone to save me. Now I KNOW I’m saved."
Unfortunately, Brian’s testimony is not out of the ordinary
in evangelical churches when the Gospel of grace is not presented
clearly. When asked about your salvation there is quite a difference
between replying "I am saved because I asked Jesus into my
heart," versus "I know I was saved by God's grace when
I trusted the Lord Jesus Christ who died for my sins and arose again
to save me." The first reply focused on what YOU did. The latter
response focused on what CHRIST has done.
Are you trusting in a prayer that you prayed to be saved? Or are
you trusting in the wonderful Lord Jesus Christ "who loved
me and gave Himself for me" so that He "washed us from
our sins in His own blood"? (Gal. 2:20; Rev. 1:5)
#4: Don’t ask Jesus into your heart because IT CONFUSES THE
MEANS OF SALVATION WITH THE RESULTS OF SALVATION. Back
John 1:12 states, "But as many as received him, to them gave
he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on
his name."
This salvation verse clearly teaches that one becomes a child of
God by receiving Jesus Christ through believing on His name. The
word "receive," being in the aorist tense, indicates a
completed event, not an on-going process. This is consistent with
the new birth (Jn. 3:3) and the receiving of a gift (Eph. 2:8).
Again, the sole condition to become a child of God is to personally
"believe" in Jesus Christ alone.
The apostle Paul then goes on to explain to us in Galatians 4:6…"And
because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into
your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. Please note, "AND BECAUSE
YE ARE SONS…" According to John 1:12, this became true
of you through faith alone in Christ alone. This is reaffirmed in
Galatians 3:26… "For ye are all the children of God BY
FAITH IN CHRIST JESUS."
So what was the result of this? "God hath sent forth the Spirit
of His Son into your hearts." Notice how every child of God
has had Jesus Christ come into his heart via the Holy Spirit when
they believed in Jesus Christ. This is not because he asked Jesus
Christ in, but because He came in as one of the many spiritual blessings
given to him by God’s grace at the moment of faith in Christ.
To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of
this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope
of glory. (Col. 1:27)
I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but
Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh
I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself
for me. (Gal. 2:20)
You need not ask Jesus into your heart. Biblically, He comes in
the very moment you shift your trust from a church and good works,
and instead place your faith in the person and work of Jesus Christ
alone. Anything else is a confusion of means with results. Satan,
via false teaching, has been very successful in putting "the
cart before the horse." For example, believers' baptism is
not a means of salvation but is to be an expression of it (Acts
8:30-39, 18:8). Yet a number of churches teach that water baptism
(either as a baby or as an adult) is a means of grace or salvation.
This is a clear-cut perversion of the Gospel. But is this really
any different than asking Jesus into your heart, which also confuses
the means with the results and puts the cart before the horse?
Furthermore, why is it that the Holy Spirit permanently indwells
and seals every believer at the point of salvation (Eph. 1:13-14,
4:30) without being asked in? Why is it that every believer in Christ
is justified (Rom. 5:1), redeemed (Eph. 1:7), reconciled (Rom 5:10)
and forgiven (Col. 1:14) etc. without asking for these blessings?
Are they not given by God’s grace the very moment that one
rests by faith in Jesus Christ alone?
Imagine a wealthy millionaire who offers to you five million dollars
as a free gift based on his hard work.
"Here is 5 million dollars. I want you to personally have
it. While I know you don’t deserve it, nor have you earned
it, you can have it right now as a love gift from me to you."
Would you respond by saying,
"Oh please give me your 5 million dollars. While I don’t
deserve it and cannot earn it, oh please give it to me."
Dear reader, if you responded like this, it would not only be bad
manners, but would actually be an insult to the millionaire and
an indication of your UNBELIEF. The wealthy millionaire already
offered and promised to give you the money. You simply needed to
take him at his word and receive it. No pleading or asking required.
And if that is the case, would you not also be insulting the gracious
God of the universe, [who at the infinite cost of His dear Son,
provided for you "all spiritual blessings in heavenly places
in Christ" (Eph. 1:3)] if you do not simply take Him at His
word and "believe on the Lord Jesus Christ" and be saved?
"Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus, just to take Him at His word,
Just to rest upon His promise, just to know Thus saith the Lord."
Do not ask Jesus into your heart because it confuses the means
of salvation with the results of salvation.
#5: Don’t ask Jesus into your heart because IT EITHER RESULTS
IN NO ASSURANCE OF SALVATION OR BRINGS A FALSE ASSURANCE TO PEOPLE.
Back
In talking about this issue to a pastor from a local Baptist church
one day, he replied, "I would never tell the people of my church
that they’re not saved by asking Jesus into their hearts. They
might lose the assurance of their salvation!" Ironically, I
had talked to a man a year earlier who now attends this same church.
He told me, "Though I asked Jesus into my heart several years
ago, it was only in this past year that I’ve come to know for
sure that I’m saved based solely on the work of Jesus Christ
for my sins. I asked Jesus into my heart years before, but lacked
full assurance of salvation until recently."
Dear friends, I am convinced that NO ONE has ever been saved or
received the assurance of their salvation by asking Jesus into his/her
heart. Why? Because there can be no salvation, nor assurance of
salvation by something that is foreign to Scripture.
1 John 5:11-13 teaches the how of assurance when it says,
"And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal
life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life;
and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. These things
have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God;
that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe
on the name of the Son of God."
The assurance of a "know-so" salvation is based on Christ’s
work alone and the promises of God. This assurance is given to those
who "believe on the name of the Son of God" because "these
things have I written unto you." Like the old saying goes …
"God said it. Christ did it. If you believe it, that settles
it!"
Now this is not to say that those who have asked Jesus into their
heart are not saved. They may be genuine believers in Christ. But
if they are saved, they have been reconciled to God through placing
their faith in Christ, not by asking Jesus into their heart.
Out of curiosity one Sunday morning I asked the believers of Duluth
Bible Church how many of them had asked Jesus into their heart at
some time in their life. To my surprise, around 60% had done this
(though they never heard it from this pulpit). I then proceeded
to ask how many of them knew for sure they were saved by God’s
grace at some time after they had done this. The majority said that
at a later time they were saved and knew it.
I have counseled a number of people who struggled for years with
their assurance of salvation because instead of hearing the Gospel
of grace clearly presented, they had been told this inaccurate and
misleading cliché. While asking Jesus into your heart may
be an expression of positive volition towards God, or may accompany
faith in Christ, it certainly is NOT SYNONYMOUS with faith in Christ.
#6: Don’t ask Jesus into your heart because REVELATION 3:20
DOES NOT TEACH IT. Back
Whenever a scriptural attempt is made by someone to support this
wrong response to the Gospel, normally Revelation 3:20 is used.
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. (Revelation 3:20)
Ironically, the words "ask," "Jesus," and "your
heart" are not even found in this verse! How could this verse
then ever be teaching that? So what is Revelation 3:20 teaching?
The general context of this verse is Jesus Christ’s letters
to the seven churches of Asia Minor (Rev. 2-3). These were actual
local churches that existed at the time of John’s writing,
and are representative of the kinds of churches that have existed
throughout the church age, including today.
Revelation 3:14-22 is addressed by Jesus Christ to the church of
Laodicea in particular. Like the waters that flowed into the city
of Laodicea, the spiritual state of this church was "lukewarm"
and made Christ want to puke (3:15-16). While the church viewed
itself in a good condition materially, our Lord viewed this same
church in a wretched condition spiritually (3:17). They were in
desperate need of what Jesus Christ alone could provide for them
(3:18). Verse 19 is especially significant to our discussion where
the true Head of the church declares…
As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore,
and repent. (Rev. 3:19)
This raises the important question: who is it that Christ chastens
or disciplines? Is it the unsaved or the redeemed? Hebrews 12:6-8
answers this by teaching…
For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son
whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you
as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?
But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then
are ye bastards, and not sons. (Hebrews 12:6-8)
While God condemns the unsaved, He chastens believers so that "we
might be partakers of His holiness" (Heb. 12:10) in our Christian
walk. This indicates that these verses in Revelation 3:19 are addressed
to believers in Christ. Regarding the use of the word "love"
in Rev. 3:19, Greek grammarian Daniel Wallace has insightfully written,
"Here 'phileo' is used for 'love' ¾ a term that is
never used of God/Jesus loving unbelievers in the NT. (Indeed, it
would be impossible for God to have this kind of love for an unbeliever,
for it routinely speaks of enjoyment and fellowship.) Agapao, rather,
is the verb used of God's love for unbelievers [cf. John 3:16].
This 'phileo' must be applied to the Laodiceans here, for the verse
concludes, 'Be zealous, therefore, and repent.' The inferential
'oun' ("therefore") connects the two parts of the verse,
indicating that the Laodiceans are to repent because Christ loves
(phileos) them!"4
Thus, Jesus Christ must be addressing genuine believers in verse
19. Furthermore, it would be inappropriate to command a spiritually
dead unbeliever to "be zealous" (or "hot" -
3:15). The Bible knows nothing of "cold" or "hot"
unbelievers. And like the corrective commands given to the other
four churches in this section (Rev. 2:5, 16, 22, 3:3), the believers
of the church at Laodicea were to "repent." This would
involve them choosing to have a decisive change of mind (metanoeson
¾ aorist active imperative of repentance) regarding their
spiritual condition. This results in genuine confession of sin to
God (1 John 1:9; 1 Cor. 11:31-32; Prov. 28:13) and a change in spiritual
direction.
Right on the heels of this corrective rebuke, Jesus Christ then
gives these believers a wonderful offer.
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. (Rev. 3:20)
"Behold (pay attention, listen), I stand at the door."
Jesus Christ has been and continues to stand (perfect, active, indicative)
at the door. The question is "what door?" Now to assume
this is the door of your "heart" is totally foreign to
the passage. It would seem more appropriate to understand this as
the door of the Laodicean church meeting. While this church was
saying, "I am rich, and increased with goods and have need
of nothing," they actually had Jesus Christ on the outside
of the church. No wonder He is then described as repeatedly "knocking"
(present tense).
Moving from the Laodicean church generally, Jesus Christ then appeals
to the individual believers on the inside of this church. "If
(3rd class condition ¾ one might or might not) any man (singular)
hear my voice, and open (singular) the door, I will come in to him."
Notice the two conditions that Christ requires to be fulfilled by
those on the inside:
#1: "if any man hear my voice" ¾ This refers to
what Jesus Christ has been saying in verses 14-19.
#2: "and opens the door" ¾ This again refers to
the door where the church is gathered and involves the genuine repentance
He required.
Connected with these two conditions are three wonderful promises
by Jesus Christ Himself:
#1: "I will come in to him" ¾ This is a promise
of Christ’s personal entrance into the church to meet the believer
face to face (the literal idea of the Greek word "pros,"
translated "to").
#2: "and will sup with him" ¾ This is a promise
of Christ’s personal fellowship with this repentant believer.
#3: "and he with Me" ¾ This is a promise of reciprocal
fellowship with Jesus Christ.
Some people have misunderstood the phrase "I will come in
to him" to mean that Jesus will come into their heart, i.e.
penetration into their heart.
Michael Cocoris clarifies this when he writes,
"Now, verse 20 itself says Christ will come "in to"
(two different words), not come "into" (one word). The
verse is saying that Christ will come in the church to the person,
not that Christ will come into the person. When He gets in the church
with the person He will eat dinner with him. That is, He will have
fellowship with him. This is not a hair-splitting of the English
text, but an accurate reflection of the Greek. In Greek, "come
in" (eiserchomai) is one word. It is followed by the preposition
"to" (pros). That construction occurs eight times in the
New Testament (Mark 6:25, 15:43; Luke 1:28; Acts 10:3, 11:3, 17:2,
28:8; Rev. 3:20). In each instance it means to enter into a building
and stand before a person."5
Now please note that there is no need to ASK JESUS IN! He promises
to come in and is knocking, wanting to come and fellowship with
any believer if he/she is willing to hear His word and open the
door.
Chester McCalley further writes,
"…verse 20 is speaking of fellowship not salvation. There
were different words for the morning, noon, and evening meals. The
word translated dine was the one used for the evening meal that
consisted of leisurely, relaxed conversation and fellowship around
the food. This verse is not appropriate in the evangelization for
the unbeliever. The proper term for the required response to the
gospel message is believe."6
Dear friends, Revelation 3:20 is a verse for believers, NOT UNBELIEVERS.
It is a promise of personal fellowship with and from Jesus Christ,
NOT AN OFFER OF SALVATION. And even if it was a salvation verse
(though it is not), nowhere is the concept of "asking Jesus
into your heart" found in this verse. "If any man hear
my voice and open the door, I WILL COME IN TO HIM." You need
not ask Him in. This erroneous concept is pure eisegesis, not sound
exegesis. But what a wonderful promise of Christ’s fellowship
for any lukewarm believer who repents.
Wallace humorously adds, "If it causes us some measure of
panic to have to use other than Revelation 3:20 when we share the
gospel, keep in mind that the earliest Christians did not have this
verse. Revelation is the last book of the Bible to be written. How
was it possible for Peter and Paul and James to ever see anyone
get saved without this verse? They never had it! But if I read the
book of Acts correctly, they had a measure of success in sharing
the gospel even in spite of this handicap."7
#7: Don’t ask Jesus into your heart because IT DOES NOT CLARIFY
THE CONDITION OF SALVATION, IT CONFUSES IT ¾ ESPECIALLY WITH
CHILDREN. Back
I have been told on various occasions how helpful this Christian
cliché is with children. Frankly, I am convinced the opposite
is true.
Children begin life thinking very concretely, not abstractly. They
understand "ball," "dog," and "hat"
before they understand "death," "hell," and
"salvation." When confronted with an appeal to ask Jesus
into their heart, they are prone to imagine Christ in bodily form
somehow living in the organ that pumps our blood. Perhaps this is
why the young girl who was leaning against her mother’s chest
exclaimed . . .
Girl: "Mom, I hear Jesus in your heart."
Mom: "Really, honey. What is Jesus doing?"
Girl: "Oh, He’s just perking coffee."
Bob Wilkin testifies of the confusion this inaccuracy has wrought
among children when he writes,
"Years later I was teaching an evangelism course at a Bible
College in East Texas. I had my students write out their testimonies
after I had explained what I have recounted above. I found that
quite a few of the students went through years of confusion because
someone told them as children that if they asked Jesus into their
hearts they would be saved. They wondered if they had done it right.
They wondered if they had been sincere enough. So they asked Him
in over and over again for years. They couldn’t gain assurance.
Finally someone shared with them that to be saved they had to trust
in Christ alone. Only then, by their own testimony, did they come
to faith in Christ. Years of inviting Him into their lives had only
confused and frustrated them."8
The condition of salvation for children is the same as it is for
adults, namely…"
Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through
our Lord Jesus Christ. (Romans 5:1)
For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. (Gal.
3:26)
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting
life. (John 6:47)
And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt
be saved. (Acts 16:31)
A Vacation Bible School song hits the nail right on the head when
the children sing:
Salvation is a big word, but I am not too small, to know Christ
died on Calvary, from sin to save us all. For when a sinner trusts
Him to save him from his sin, the Saviour comes with peace and joy
to dwell his heart within.
Salvation! Salvation! The gift of life is free.
For Jesus died for sinners even YOU and ME!
NORMAL OBJECTIONS
When presenting these truths, I am normally confronted by some
of the following objections.
Objection #1: "BUT ISN'T THIS ALL SIMPLY A MATTER OF SEMANTICS?"
My reply to this is "yes" and "no," depending
on what you mean. Yes, it is a matter of semantics if you mean that
word meanings and definitions are very important.
Charles Ryrie addresses this by stating . . .
"Furthermore, it seems to me that those who believe in the
inerrancy of the Bible ought especially to be concerned with accuracy
in communicating the truth. All the Bible is inerrant and important
to us. But certainly how we as Christians express the Gospel ought
to be our greatest concern. We do not want to confuse or shortchange
or obscure God’s good news of His grace ¾ how He gave
His Son so that we might have eternal life through faith in Him.
Semantics is key in understanding and communicating the Gospel."9
On the other hand, this is not a matter of semantics if you mean
that "trusting in Jesus Christ alone" and "asking
Jesus into your heart" are really saying the same thing.
Ryrie goes on to wisely state,
"Just as words were the means God used to record the Gospel
in the Scriptures, so words are the means we use to explain the
Gospel to others. Therefore, a correct choice of words is important,
even essential, in stating the Gospel well."10
When the Holy Spirit directed the writers of Scripture to record
in perfect accuracy the inerrant Word of God, He knew the difference
between "pisteuo" (believe) and "aiteo" (ask).
Time and time again He decided that "pisteuo" (believe)
would be the word used to describe the one condition of salvation.
Dear friend, if "pisteuo" was good enough for the Holy
Spirit, isn't it good enough for you?
Objection #2: "BUT IS IT REALLY THAT BIG OF A DEAL HOW YOU
EXPLAIN THE WAY OF SALVATION AS LONG AS YOU ARE SINCERE?"
Regarding one's sincerity, Joshua 24:14 reads,
Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve Him in SINCERITY and in
TRUTH.
God is a God of truth and commands us to be "speaking the
truth in love."
Is Gospel clarity really that big of a deal? Yes, it certainly
is…
if you are concerned about preaching the Gospel accurately. Why?
For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power
of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first,
and also to the Greek." (Romans 1:16)
if you believe a correct understanding of God's plan of salvation
determines where one will spend eternity.
Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation
to them that trouble you; And to you who are troubled rest with
us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty
angels, In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God,
and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall
be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the
Lord, and from the glory of his power."
(2 Thess.1:6-9)
if you sense your great responsibility toward God to teach the
Word of God just like God gave it.
My brethren, be not many masters (teachers), knowing that we shall
receive the greater condemnation. (James 3:1)
if you want God's blessings and not His cursing in your ministry.
But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel
unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other
gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.
(Gal. 1:8-9)
The late William Pettingill, in his commentary on Galatians titled,
"By Grace Through Faith Plus Nothing," writes,
"An appalling score awaits settlement for those who have muddled
the Gospel of Christ and preached something else, either through
ignorance, or through a desire to please men."11
Can you imagine hearing a doctor say to you as you lie on the surgeon's
operating table:
Doctor: Well, let’s remove that liver now.
You: But doctor, it's not my liver but my gall bladder that needs
removing.
Doctor: Liver or gall bladder ¾ what's the difference? You're
so picky!
Dear reader, by that time I would be requesting another surgeon
immediately! Yet, when it comes to someone's eternal destiny, we
too often are satisfied with something less than scriptural accuracy.
Why is it that we demand extreme accuracy and exact wording when
it comes to various contracts that we sign, yet when it comes to
a person's eternal salvation we tolerate biblical inaccuracy or
doctrinal fuzziness?
And does it not bother you when a minister tells you not to worry
about EXACTLY what the Bible says?
For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself
to the battle? (1 Corinthians 14:8)
The great emperor Napoleon had three commands he gave his messengers
as they conveyed his messages to various sections of his army. Those
three commands were, 'Be clear! Be clear! Be clear!' Those who are
entrusted with proclaiming the Good News of Christ must also be
clear.
The battle is on for the souls of men. If ever we needed a "clear
call" from the bugler, it is now. Do not garble the Gospel,
nor the right response to it!
Objection #3: "BUT HAVEN'T PEOPLE BEEN SAVED BY ASKING JESUS
INTO THEIR HEART?"
Again, let me emphatically state that NOWHERE in the Bible is ANYONE
ever saved BY ASKING JESUS INTO THEIR HEART!
Now it is true that they may have trusted Christ as Saviour at
the same time they asked Jesus into their heart and God in His grace
saved them in spite of this confusing cliché. Nevertheless,
this is no excuse for biblical inaccuracy. Furthermore, how many
people have asked Jesus into their hearts while never trusting in
Him and His work alone? Is it worth the risk?
"In inviting men and women to come to Christ, we must invite
them to do what the Scriptures ask them to do ¾ trust Christ
to get them to heaven. We must make that clear. And to be clear,
we must avoid misleading and confusing phrases. Invitations such
as… "give your life to Jesus," "pray to receive
Christ," and "invite Jesus into your heart," are
not only not used in Scripture but can result in a person's trusting
in a prayer or depending on something he or she did instead of trusting
Jesus Christ and what He did.
During an evangelistic outreach in Texas, when I invited those
who wanted to trust Jesus Christ to talk with me, a teenager responded.
I asked him, "Why did you respond?" He answered, "I've
come to realize that I need to be saved." I said to him, "Tell
me a little bit about yourself." "Well," he said,
"when I was very small, I bowed my head and invited Christ
into my heart." So I said to him, "Now let me ask you
something extremely important. Have you been trusting Christ or
have you been trusting a prayer to save you?" His reply was
distressing. "I did not even know Christ died for me. I thought
God liked that prayer so much that if you simply said that prayer,
you'd go to heaven. I've never understood you have to trust Christ
to save you." Giving people the kind of message that boy received
can be damaging and misleading."12
Objection #4: "BUT SO MANY PEOPLE USE THIS EXPRESSION, IT
CAN'T BE THAT BAD."
The accuracy of Scripture is not determined by a popularity contest,
otherwise we would all be Roman Catholics or Moslems by sheer numbers.
Also, the issue is not what I am writing versus Pastor so and so.
It is not an issue of personality, but biblical principle. The issue
is: "Does this cliché accurately communicate the truth
of Scripture or not? Does it have the divine approval of 'thus saith
the Lord'"?
Many times in human history the majority has been wrong:
"Adam Thompson of Cincinnati, Ohio, near the middle of the
Eighteenth Century, was the first American to fill a bathtub. Those
who heard of it became alarmed. Doctors predicted rheumatism and
inflammation of the lungs from such practice. Some American cities
put a ban on bathtubs and even refused permission to do the new
"bathtub exercise." But today a home is not complete without
a bathtub or shower. The crowd was wrong.
Musicians and critics groaned and laughed at the music Richard Wagner
wrote. But his compositions have transformed the music world. The
crowd was wrong.
"Fulton's Folly" was the name the crowd gave to that first
steamboat. But today steamships, like small cities, sail the seven
seas. The crowd was wrong.
For eleven years Goodyear and his wife worked on vulcanizing rubber.
Everyone laughed at Goodyear but today, wherever rubber is named,
you hear the name, Goodyear. The crowd was wrong."13
Will you base your beliefs and practice on the popular opinion of
the human crowd or upon the unfailing and unchanging truths of the
Word of God?
Objection #5: "BUT DOESN'T ROMANS 10:9 TEACH ONE TO ASK JESUS
INTO HIS HEART?"
Like Revelation 3:20, Romans 10:9 is used as a proof-text to support
this erroneous cliché of evangelical Christianity.
That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt
believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou
shalt be saved. (Romans 10:9)
Unlike Revelation 3:20, at least the context of this verse does
deal with personal salvation.
Romans 9… .The Past National Election of Israel
Romans 10…The Present Personal Rejection of Christ
Romans 11…The Future National Salvation of Israel
However, in Romans 10:9, like Revelation 3:20, there is no "asking
Jesus into one's heart" mentioned. This passage is especially
targeted at Jews (chapters 9-11 is about Israel) who would make
the claim to "believe in the Lord."
To confess that one believes in the LORD while rejecting Jesus
Christ as that very God misses the true person of the Saviour. And
a failure to believe that God raised Jesus from the dead (which
is proof of His propitiatory death) means that one has yet to embrace
the finished work of our Lord.
Verse 10 then clarifies the correct order for us when it reads…
For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the
mouth confession is made unto salvation. (Romans 10:10)
This verse emphasizes what Jesus Christ taught when He said…
Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. (Matthew
12:34b)
We can confess to others of our salvation by grace when we have
BELIEVED in Christ with our hearts.
These verses are not requiring two conditions for salvation. That
would contradict or leave as insufficient over 100 verses in the
New Testament that require a sinner to simply "believe"
in Jesus Christ alone. Nor do these verses even remotely teach that
we need to ask Jesus into our heart.
However, please note that these verses do emphasize to us that
each individual must come to personally trust in Christ alone if
he/she is going to be saved. This includes you!
By nature, we inherently want to work for and merit our salvation.
Inviting sinners to "ask Jesus into their hearts" accommodates
this fleshly desire. It asks us to "do" something, instead
of "trusting" in Someone. The nineteenth century prince
of preachers, Charles Spurgeon, strikes at the heart of this religious
tendency when he writes,
"Oh, the many times that I have wished the preacher would
tell me something to do that I might be saved! Gladly would I have
done it, if it had been possible. If he had said, "Take off
your shoes and stockings, and run to John O'Groat's," I would
not even have gone home first, but would have started off that very
night, that I might win salvation. How often have I thought that,
if he had said, "Bare your back to the scourge, and take fifty
lashes," I would have said, "Here I am! Come along with
your whip, and beat as hard as you please, so long as I can obtain
peace and rest, and get rid of my sin." Yet that simplest of
all matters ¾ believing in Christ crucified, accepting His
finished salvation, being nothing, and letting Him be everything,
doing nothing but trusting to what He has done ¾ I could
not get a hold of it."14
John 3:16 ¾ The Greatest Verse In The Bible
For God
The greatest being
so
The greatest degree
loved
The greatest affection
the world,
The greatest object of love
that he gave
The greatest act
his only
The greatest treasure
begotten
The greatest relationship
Son,
The greatest gift
that whosoever
The greatest company
believeth
The greatest trust
in him
The greatest object of faith
should not perish,
The greatest deliverance
but have
The greatest assurance
everlasting
The greatest promise
life.
The greatest blessing
A SUMMARY
#1 Don’t ask Jesus into your heart because IT IS NEVER FOUND
IN THE BIBLE.
#2 Don’t ask Jesus into your heart because IT IS NOT HOW ONE
IS SAVED.
#3 Don’t ask Jesus into your heart because IT REQUIRES NO
UNDERSTANDING OF THE GOSPEL OF GRACE TO DO IT.
#4 Don’t ask Jesus into your heart because IT CONFUSES THE
MEANS OF SALVATION WITH THE RESULTS OF SALVATION.
#5: Don’t ask Jesus into your heart because IT EITHER RESULTS
IN NO ASSURANCE OF SALVATION OR BRINGS A FALSE ASSURANCE TO PEOPLE.
#6: Don’t ask Jesus into your heart because REVELATION 3:20
DOES NOT TEACH IT.
#7: Don’t ask Jesus into your heart because IT DOES NOT CLARIFY
THE CONDITION OF SALVATION, IT CONFUSES IT ¾ ESPECIALLY WITH
CHILDREN.
In this booklet I have not sought to be personally judgmental,
but discerning. The Word of God has already judged the inaccuracy
of this misleading salvation cliché.
Furthermore, is it an act of love to stand by and watch your neighbor's
home burn down and not awaken them because they do not like being
disturbed? I think not! Genuine love warns men and women of the
truth of the Gospel and how by grace alone through faith alone in
Christ alone they can be saved. So if you find yourself disturbed,
be like the Bereans of Acts 17 and "search the Scriptures daily
whether those things are so."
A FINAL APPEAL
Dear readers, do not let your pride ("I’ve taught that
cliché in the past") or your emotions ("I’ve
prayed this with my kids") or your traditions ("Our church
has always said that") get in the way of truth and biblical
accuracy on the most important issue that anyone must address. While
this misleading cliché is a sacred cow in evangelicalism
today, let us return to the authoritative Word of God to embrace
what God Himself says about our eternal salvation.
"What must I do to be saved?"…
BELIEVE ON THE LORD JESUS CHRIST AND THOU SHALT BE SAVED. (Acts
16:31)
Don't ask, just believe!
Footnotes:
1 Bunge, Donald H., What Happened To The Word Believe (p. 15)
2 Chafer, Lewis Sperry, Salvation (p. 33)
3 Fugate, J. Richard., What the Bible says about Child Training
(p. 136)
4 Wallace, Daniel B., Scripture Twisting (www.bible.org)
6 Cocoris, G. Michael, Evangelism, A Biblical Approach (p. 82-83)
6 McCalley, Chester, The Gift of Salvation (p. 31)
7 Wallace, Daniel B., Scripture Twisting (www.bible.org)
8 Wilkin, Bob, Don't Ask (The Grace Evangelical Society, p. 1)
9 Ryrie, Charles C., So Great Salvation (p. 22-23)
10 Ryrie, Charles C., So Great Salvation (p. 24)
11 Pettingill, William, By Grace Through Faith Plus Nothing (p.
20)
12 Moyer, R. Larry, Free and Clear (p. 42)
13 Olson, Nathaniel, The Crowd May Be Wrong (p. 1-2)
14 Spurgeon, Charles H., C.H. Spurgeon Autobiography, (vol. 1)
PERSONAL TESTIMONIES
Jill Laughlin, Duluth, MN
When I cook I very seldom follow the recipe exactly. I like to
try different combinations of foods and short-cut methods. This
usually results in a satisfying meal ¾ especially for my
husband because he will try anything. However, the same cannot be
said for salvation.
Sadly, at a young age I was introduced to a short-cut method of
salvation, which produced very unsatisfying results. With my eternal
destiny at stake, the necessary ingredients to be saved were never
explained to me. What follows is my explanation of why I was not
saved when I followed the short-cut recipe of asking Jesus into
my heart.
One evening as the neighborhood children and I gathered for our
nightly round up of games, we found ourselves at the apartment building
nearby. We soon chose one court to scatter from and randomly rang
as many doorbells as possible in a minute. Having gathered to report
our mischievous deeds to one another a lady introduced herself and
in short order began to talk of Jesus. In our culpable state we
felt obligated to listen. After quickly delivering her "convenience
food" urge to be saved we were soon stupefied, holding hands
and my playmates and I were reciting along with her the sinner's
prayer. She then handed each of us a tract that contained the sinner's
prayer.
Years passed, and having kept the tract, every so often I would
pull it out and recite the prayer. I never knew if I truly belonged
to God yet, hence I kept repeating the prayer on the card to be
saved. Over and over again I asked Jesus into my heart, yet I had
no assurance of salvation.
Growing up with a father who drank heavily, life seemed tumultuous
at times. In my search for security, I felt the answer was in the
Bible. Though I read verses of scripture every so often, they made
no sense to me. (1 Corinthians 2:14)
After attending several churches, and being told many different
things to do to be saved, I finally chose to enroll in a religious
class in high school. This only confused me more.
My distress came to an end when, while attending college, I stumbled
onto Kenwood Bible Chapel. For the first time in my life someone
reasoned with me from the scriptures. I heard who Christ was, why
Christ came, and why I needed to believe in Him. 1 Peter 3:18 shouted
at me! "For Christ also has once suffered for sins, the just
(Christ) for the unjust (me) that HE might bring us (me) to God."
Another time I heard a message just on the Gospel "how that
Christ died for our sins according the scriptures, was buried and
rose again the third day according to the scriptures." Wow!
The news boiled over in my heart as I learned why I even needed
to be saved as a sinner in the eyes of a holy God. I also discovered
salvation was a free gift and no religious activity or works I did
to please God could pay off my sin debt and bring me closer to God.
Jesus Christ already had accomplished everything needed when He
died for my sins and rose again.
The Bible made it clear the only ingredient I needed to combine
with Christ’s work was faith. My response to the Gospel was
to believe ¾ "But as many as received Him to them gave
He the power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe
on His name." (John 1:12) All my previous religious efforts
went out the kitchen window as God spoke to me in Ephesians 2:8,9:
"For by grace are you saved through faith and that not of yourselves
it is the gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast."
God’s power to save me was not unleashed when I prayed the
sinner's prayer, but only when I believed the Gospel. Romans 1:16
states, "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ for it
is the power of God unto salvation."
Though in sincerity I had said a prayer, faith alone in Christ
alone is God’s method for salvation. My begging to have salvation
and forgiveness was the wrong procedure. While entreating Him to
save me, I had no Gospel facts in which to rest my faith upon.
God’s recipe for salvation is a never-fail, foolproof one.
For once in my life I have followed the directions in the proper
order. Ephesians 1:13 states "In whom ye trusted, after that
ye heard the word of truth, the Gospel of your salvation: in whom
also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit
of promise." Now that I have believed in Christ alone for salvation,
I know I’m sealed until the day of redemption. I can now pray
a prayer of thanksgiving and experience the delightful results of
accepting God’s recipe of faith in Christ.
Joy floods my soul for Jesus has saved me, freed me from sin that
long had enslaved me; His precious blood He gave to redeem ¾
Now I belong to Him! Now I belong to Jesus, Jesus belongs to me
¾ Not for the years of time alone, but for eternity! ¢
Tim Morgan, Virginia, MN
As a young man I had asked Jesus into my heart many times, but
He never came in. Why? Was I doing something wrong? Was the Bible
not true? In confusion and frustration I gave up and quit thinking
about it.
Nine years later I found the answer. It was so simple I had missed
it. My wife had gotten saved by doing nothing more than believing
that Jesus died for her sins, was buried and rose again (1 Corinthians
15:3,4), and so she began telling me about it. She knew she was
going to Heaven. 1 John 5:13 states, "These things have I written
unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may
know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name
of the Son of God." It all seemed too simple. But she believed
in Christ alone and had scriptural assurance, and I had asked Jesus
into my heart and had no assurance. The problem was that the Bible
had not said to ask Jesus into my heart. It states, "Believe
on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved." (Acts 16:31)
The central issue was not asking but believing, and there was a
real difference. Jesus said, "He that believeth on me hath
everlasting life." (John 6:47) When I chose to believe that
promise I also knew I had eternal life. That was 24 years ago, and
I still have eternal life ¾ just as He promised, "And
I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither
shall any man pluck them out of my hand." (John 10:28) ¢
Meghann Haynes, Duluth, MN
I was saved when I was about 15 years old. I believed that for
me to go to heaven I needed to ask Jesus into my heart. When I was
6 years old, I said a prayer and asked Jesus into my heart for the
first time. A year later I repeated the prayer and asked again,
because I figured I did not really mean it the first time. My insecurity
had begun.
In the 8th grade I started to wonder where I would spend eternity.
Thus, I attended a Bible Study with a friend and was shown from
the Bible that it is only by God's grace that one is saved, a gift
of God. Romans 6:23 teaches, "For the wages of sin is death;
but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."
This confused me because I had never heard this before. I did not
have an assurance as to where I would go if I died and did not want
to go to hell. I cried myself to sleep many times asking Jesus into
my heart over and over again, and asking for forgiveness for anything
I might have done to lose my salvation. I wanted to know that I
would spend eternity with God and not be afraid to die.
Later, I heard again that all I needed to do was believe or trust
what Christ did on the cross. He paid for all my sins. He finished
the job. There was nothing left for me to do to be saved. 1 Peter
3:18 states, "For Christ also hath once suffered for sins,
the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put
to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit." Isaiah
53:5 further teaches, "But he was wounded for our transgressions,
he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace
was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep
have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the
LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all."
I learned that nowhere in the Bible does it say to "ask Jesus
into your heart." I soon found out that asking was a work,
something I did. Romans 4:5 explains, "But to him that worketh
not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith
is counted for righteousness." Salvation is 100% the work of
Jesus Christ! The best part is He never takes it away, no matter
what I do. When He promises everlasting life, He means I will never,
ever perish. With my confusion cleared up by the Word of God, I
then trusted Jesus Christ and His work alone for my salvation, so
I now know for sure that I am going to Heaven. ¢
Kurt Witzig, Duluth, MN
I was raised in a good home and our family attended church, which
was part of a liberal denomination. I had no idea what it meant
to be saved or how to become saved. When I was eleven I somehow
received literature from the Billy Graham organization. I remember
reading the material over and then asking Jesus into my heart. I
was very serious about this, which is why I chose to do this in
the privacy of our storage closet. I then signed a card stating
that I had asked Jesus into my heart and mailed it back to the Graham
organization where I no doubt became another number for them to
add. I waited for some sort of obvious feeling to correspond with
my experience of asking Jesus into my heart, but it never came.
The problem was that, though I was sincere, I had no idea what all
this really meant. Soon afterward I figured that it "didn't
work" and went on with normal life ¾ still unsaved.
It wasn't until years later, as a junior in college, that I heard
the good news of the Gospel and placed my faith in the finished
work of Jesus Christ. I then understood that He died as my substitute
as Ephesians 5:2 says "And walk in love, as Christ also has
loved us, and has given Himself for us an offering and a sacrifice
to God." How excellent it is to know for sure that I am saved
due to the completed work of Jesus Christ and the written promise
of God: "Therefore it is of faith that it might be by grace,
to the end the promise might be sure…" (Romans 4:16) This
assurance does not come by way of some personal experience or work
performed by me ("Who has saved us . . not according to our
works, but according to His own purpose and grace" ¾
2 Timothy 1:9). Rather, my assurance rests solely on the promise
of God made in light of the satisfactory work of the Lord Jesus
Christ at Calvary ("These things have I written unto you that
believe on the name of the Son of God that you may know that you
have eternal life" ¾ 1 John 5:13). I need not wait for
a feeling to come over me nor do I have to ever doubt my salvation.
I know that I am saved by faith alone in Christ alone. And praise
God for that! ¢
Some Responses From Our First Edition
"I wanted to include [in their S.S. material] this booklet
as it is SO needed in today's churches!"… an instructor
of Sunday School teachers.
"I so appreciate the copy of Seven Reasons! It is always so
refreshing to find others "out there" who are clear on
the wonderful Gospel of God's Grace, and who are spreading it, defending
it, and contending for it."… President of an evangelistic
ministry.
"[I] read Seven Reasons on the Internet. Very good. This is
something that needs to go to the Christian community at large."
… a missionary.
"I appreciate your sending me a copy of Seven Reasons, as it
is a clarification I intend to take up with our evangelism troops.
It is a necessary exposition which dispels much confusion and I
will undoubtedly refer to it often." … an evangelism director.
"It [Seven Reason] is useful and well-put-together, and I would
like to make them available to those who fellowship with us in our
assembly and the bible studies, for personal study and to hand out
to emphasize a clear gospel when witnessing to others who perhaps
have been 'Christianized' into 'Churchianity.'"… a believer
from Davenport, ND.
"Words can never adequately express how truly blessed I was
by your recent publication, Seven Reasons. To God be the glory!"…
a saved ex-nun.
"The booklet has changed my concept of Rev. 3:20. I have known
that trusting in Christ alone, grace alone was the linchpin of my
redemption. I will never again give an altar call with "Ask
Christ into your heart."… a pastor.
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