One of the trends in our Christian nomenclature that bothers me is when someone says “they want to invite Jesus into their heart.” When I ask them why they want to do that, I normally get a blank look. Frankly, I am also confused because I have not preached or told unbelievers, in many years, that in order to be saved one must “invite Jesus into their heart.” Early on in my ministry I tended to follow the, “ask Jesus into your heart” understanding until I realized what scripture was being used to back that statement. Yes, I know that many gospel tracts refer to Revelation 3:20 when they say that one must “invite Jesus into their hearts,” but that particular piece of scripture was written to a church of believers who had gone lukewarm to Jesus. Notice the key word, “BELIEVERS.”
I tend to see this idea of asking Jesus into ones heart in the age range of children and youth. Why is this? Maybe it is that we are too busy making God fit our box of a doting grandfather or Santa Claus that we don’t want to speak of His wrath or eternal damnation for those who don’t trust Christ for the forgiveness of their sins. Yes, we are to speak of the love of God, but it is our failure to live up to God’s standard resulting in eternal punishment that should drive us to the love of God. May I also point the blame to some (not all) youth ministers who are too busy trying to be cool and hip in order to win a popularity contest rather than teaching the whole counsel of God that includes not only His love for those who are on this earth, but His wrath for those who reject His love. I thank God for those godly youth ministers who are ministering to youth in such a way that the love of God is present in their actions, yet the full counsel of God is expressed on their lips.
For the Great Commission to be fulfilled, salvation must be properly understood, taught, and most importantly, preached (Rom. 10:14-15). It is quite surprising how many people I have talked to who have “invited Jesus into their hearts,” but they never grasped trusting Him for the forgiveness of their sins, nor have they asked Jesus to forgive them of their sins. Dare I mention “repent” of their sins? Once I explain to them their sinful condition in comparison to God’s holy standard, a light bulb goes on (Holy Spirit) and they are normally lead to the Lord.
Today the message of sin, wrath, and consequences are not popular to our culture at large. We speak the love of God, but when we leave out the sin of man in his fallen state, the unbeliever is left wondering why
does he need forgiveness? He needs to have those sins erased, but even forgiveness of sin is not enough for salvation. For if we were only forgiven, we would be in a neutral state. Ultimately, we must be made righteous for God to accept us. In Romans 4:5 Paul expresses that righteousness was credited to Abraham. His account no longer read SIN, nor did it read NEUTRAL, but when Abraham believed God, it read RIGHTEOUS.
Does someone need to fully understand the doctrine of imputed righteousness in order to be saved? I would not say so, but it must be taught and preached. Nevertheless, the bare facts of salvation is trusting that Jesus died for your sins and that those sins were forgiven by evidence of his resurrection. Knowing that Jesus died and was raised from the dead for the forgiveness of our sins leads us to submit ourselves to His Lordship and repent of our sins. To only “invite Jesus into one’s heart,” misses the point and perverts not only Revelation 3:20, but the gospel all together.
The saying, “Invite Jesus into your heart” is not a means by which a person is saved, and it is unfortunate if people use it that way. However, it is a result of being saved. The saying can rightly be compared to “Do you want to be saved?” “Take hold of and receive eternal life,” or, “Let your sins be wiped out and times of refreshing come from the Lord.” The saying itself can be backed by Scripture, namely in 2 Cor 1:22; 4:6; and especially Eph 3:17. However, after hearing such, one usually hears the gospel and the gospel response (repent and believe) in order to invite Jesus into their heart.
Colin
We may be splitting hairs on this one. I agree with your first sentence, “The saying, ‘Invite Jesus into your heart’ is not a means by which a person is saved, and it is unfortunate if people use it that way.” I believe that is the point of what I was trying to express with this post.
But I don’t believe the scriptures you mentioned totally back up inviting Jesus into ones heart. First, none of those scriptures command us to invite Jesus into our heart. They only mention God performing the action of either giving, shining, or dwelling in our hearts. I don’t deny that God does this. When one recognizes their sinfulness before a holy God and by faith receives forgiveness for their sins, Christ and the Holy Spirit then dwells within the believer.
I hope I did not give the impression that I deny God’s presence, both in Christ and the Spirit, dwelling within the believer.
It is again, unfortunate, that when someone is convicted of their sins and they go to a pastor under this conviction that the pastor only tells them to invite Jesus in their heart with out clearly presenting the need of forgiveness for sins. I believe this is the case many times within our churches and should be stopped.
I thank you for helping me clarify what I may have left confusing.
Robin,
I respectfully disagree.
Explaining the plan of salvation should include that Jesus died for our sins on the cross, and He rose again. We should admit our sins, ask forgiveness, and (here it comes) ask Jesus into our hearts. Or, trust Him as our Lord and Savior. I often use the Roman Road: Romans 3:23; 6:23; 5:8; 10:9-10, 13.
Here’s where I disagree. I’m not tied to Revelation 3:20, but I think it is valid to use in explaining salvation. I think we can go too far in saying, “That verse it not for you.”
Suppose a pastor was speaking to his congregation of believers. Speaking to the saved about the glories of Jesus and salvation. Suppose a lost man slipped in unnoticed and sat at the back of the building. Suppose he heard these glorious truths and wanted to repent of his sins and “ask Jesus into his heart.” Would that be a bad thing? Should we say, “I’m sorry, that message was for believers, not for you.”
Revelation 3:20 probably was primarily for believers, but I’m not going to worry if an unbeliever gets a hold of it.
I have just compiled a tract entitled, “Quotes of Jesus Christ.” Since I included Revelation 3:20 in the tract now I have to argue my case :-). Anyone who wants a free copy, just send me your mailing address.
I believe “asking Jesus into our hearts” is a valid expression if we explain the overall plan of salvation. But if you continue to disagree I’ll love you anyway. For I know that you have “asked Jesus into your heart” and are my brother in Christ.
David R. Brumbelow
nsbc77562@LWOL.com
David
Thanks for your response. If someone was saved while I was preaching on Rev 3:20 I would not be disappointed. God can and does speak with conviction to the heart of man when His word is preached.
I guess the angle that I am coming at with this post is two fold. We need to be clear with what salvation is. It is not merely inviting Jesus into ones heart. It involves all the things I have previously mentioned. I believe you will agree with me on that.
Second, we need to be faithful to stick with what the text is saying. Maybe I get to particular with this, but when I am done either preaching, witnessing, or teaching, it is my heart desire for God to say, “Yes, that is what I meant in the text and that is what they needed to hear.”
When I have preached on the church at Laodicea, I have kept it within the context of Jesus speaking to a group of believers who have essentially kicked Jesus and his transforming influence out of the church and no longer follow Him. Jesus wants to be in their midst having intimate fellowship with them. This teaching is not meant for believers only, but for all who can hear. If someone, from this presentation of the text, realizes their own sinful condition and need of forgiveness, then they turn to God and confess their sins and accept His free gift of grace, then PRAISE GOD! Of course I would deal with the fact that the Laodiceans were at one time unbelievers and did receive forgiveness of their sins. That is implied by the fact they are believers.
I pray you understand what I am trying to get at with this post. I have appreciated your engagement in the various blogs on the net and I believe we will find that we agree on a whole lot more than we disagree. :-)
Robin,
I suppose there may still be a slight disagreement, but not really enough to matter.
Fighting with you is no fun. We agree on too much.
David R. Brumbelow
Robin:
Wish I’d said that. Well, I have, mostly to my SS class. We have too much of not calling things what they are … i.e: “rededication” rather that repentance and confession .. which leads to restoration, by the way … and we sure don’t need to “slick up” the transaction of salvation by a cutesy name.
Well done, brother.
ps: You forgot to attack apple pie and baseball. Are they next?
Bro. David,
I understand and appreciate your argument but have you included these in your pamphlet?
“Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
“For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.”
“If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me”
“It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life. But there are some of you who do not believe. For this reason I have said to you, that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted him from the Father.”
These are all sayings of Jesus and they all deal with salvation. Just curious.
I agree with Brother Robin on this one.
Grace and Peace…
ABClay
Bro. Bob
I would not attack apple pie because in doing so I would face consternation from my friend and pie lover, Wes Kenney.
On the other hand, being a former football jock and believing this sport is the greatest God has allowed mankind to create, baseball is up for discussion.
ABClay
Thanks for your support. Might I also add that from David’s response to this post and from what I have seen him comment on before, I am sure that either those verses or some similar in meaning are used by our esteemed brother.
Bro. Robin,
I can see how he would affirm those verses that I mentioned as being significant and meaningful for true salvation based upon his comment above. Bro. David did speak of the “overall plan of salvation” and it’s importance.
My point is that many people today want to drape a velvet cloth over my Savior and make Him something different than is pictured in the Bible by avoiding the hard sayings of Christ and painting God as the “santa claus” that you spoke of in your original post.
So, if by my comment, I conferred this dubious distinction on Bro. David, I apologize.
Grace and Peace…
ABClay
P.S. You are right about baseball and apple pie too.
ABClay,
It is a tract designed for unbelievers who may have never been to church or opened a Bible. We believers could argue endlessly over which quotes should be included. They are all obviously valid. But you have to start somewhere and a tract can only hold so many “Authentic sayings of Jesus.” And a tract is cheaper than giving them a Bible.
Some of the quotes are intended to catch their interest, make them curious, others to present the plan of salvation. Hopefully some quotes will make them want to find a Bible and read more. I used no abbreviations. Abbreviated Bible references aren’t always understandable to those unfamiliar with the Bible. For spiritual help an 800 number is included.
Your quotes are not included but it does include quotes about Prayer, Comfort, Salvation & the Way to Heaven, Great Commission, Marriage (maybe this will make some think about same-sex marriage), Giving, Heaven & Hell, Death & Resurrection, Truth, Sin, Freedom, Priorities, Who Is Jesus?, etc. No explanations, just the words of Jesus.
I asked the young man at Church’s Chicken today if I could give him something from my church. He took it and at least looked interested. It’s got to do some good because it is the word of our Lord and His words “will by no means pass away.”
Send your mailing address and you can find out for yourself. For free! The same goes for the rest of you. (Now do I have to pay Robin for advertising?
:-)
David R. Brumbelow
nsbc77562@LWOL.com
Brother Robin,
Thanks for the affirmation. I will try to be worthy of it.
Brother ABClay,
Thanks but no apology needed. I like (most) questions and you bring up valid points. I may not have included as much as you would have, but the tract does touch on the subjects you bring up. John 8:34; 14:6; Matthew 10:28; 25:46; Luke 18:13-14; etc.
But I can guarantee you that no two Baptist preachers are going to agree exactly on each of the quotes that should be included.
I hate to give away my idea, but some of you may want to do your own tract and pick your own quotes. Just send me the royalties :-).
David R. Brumbelow
Robin,
The phrase “inviting Jesus into our heart” is an idiom. As far as I know, it isn’t propagated as the method of salvation. If it is, that is the least of the pastor’s problems. Wherever it is propagated as the gospel itself, or other sayings are propagated as the gospel, including “Refresh yourself from the Lord,” “I invite you to blot out your sins,” or “Receive eternal life,” which are both scriptural and the results of salvation but are not the gospel message (in the very same way “invite Jesus into your heart is”), then the problem is that the gospel isn’t being presented. I invite you to dig a little deeper and expose the true problem, not the idioms pastors use in presenting the gospel.
Robin,
I like this post! I, too, agree with your understanding of Rev. 3:20…not to put words in your mouth–I will take full ownership of this next example…I once heard a former president of one of our SBC seminaries, back in the early 90s when I was in college, preach in our chapel and say: “And now let us turn to the most evangelistic verse in all of Scripture, Revelation 3:20.” Needless to say I, along with my friend sitting next to me were ‘amazed.’ The clear context of Revelation 3:20 is to the CHURCH in Laodicea…not to the ‘pretending’ church, etc….and let’s not even go to the being hot or cold or else I’ll spew you out of my mouth! ;-)
There are far better and more clear passages which speak of sin, judgment, grace, mercy, confession, repentance, forgiveness, and eternal life. Thank you for this focus on clarity, especially from the biblical text, needed for our evangelistic endeavors!
SOLA GRATIA!
amen! amen! amen! the message is ‘REPENT’! not ‘invite Jesus in your heart’! where oh where did we get this?
it’s hyper feminine is what it is. I don’t think John the Baptist, Paul, certainly not Peter…or any of the great saints of the past…would even dream of proclaiming such a message.
God save us from our sappy-femininity! Raise up men who will PREACH once again!
When one uses the phrase “invite Jesus into your heart” it’s very confusing because it is a figure of speech. Figures can be open to interpretation. What is the guarantee that the phrase means the same thing to each person that uses it (not to mention the person hearing it)?
Jesus is currently located at the right hand of the Father and will be there making intercession for the saints until His return.
Rick Mang
Colin
I would hate for this to be a point of serious contention between us, but I still would have to respectfully disagree with you. If an idiom said does not reflect the biblical witness then it should not be used. For example, two of the idioms you used are problematic with me. “Refresh yourself from the Lord” has the problem of calling someone to refresh them self even though they were spiritually dead in their trespasses and sins. They need to be made fresh before they can be refreshed. Wouldn’t you agree? Also, we don’t invite people to blot out their sins. They couldn’t do it if they tried. The blotting out is an act of God that is accepted by faith (Col. 2:11-15). God does it for us.
Colin, I do appreciate you and your ministry on the web. Again, I hope you can see what I am getting at in this post. If I have totally misunderstood you and your intentions, please forgive me. If we have to disagree on this, then so be it, I have always appreciated your insights.
With that, I give you the last word.
Robin
Robin,
Thank you for your kind words. I have appreciated your thoughts as well. This is by no means serious contention. It is mainly idleness on my part, about which I am going to quickly change.
I want to say first that I have never, nor will I ever, ask someone to invite Jesus into their heart. That is not the gospel. However, I would not begrudge a fellow pastor if he used it as an invitation to hear the gospel. I would begrudge him, however, if that was the totality of his presentation of the gospel.
As for other idioms you disagree with, Acts 3:
19 Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out, 20 that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus…
If someone said, “Repent therefore, that Jesus may dwell in your heart!” would you disagree?
Eph 3:17 “so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith…”
Is this statement, as it has been said, one of femininity or truth?
The point I am making is that a preacher often exclaims the effects of justification in the gospel call: “Be saved!” “Take hold of eternal life!” “Be forgiven of your sins!” “Call upon the name of Jesus!” “Turn to God!” or, “Invite Jesus into your heart!”
Each one of these idioms could be problematic depending on the gospel presentation given ahead of or behind it. Thus, the problem is not the idiom, but the gospel presentation and illocutionary understanding itself.
The issue I have particularly with your post is not that it is incorrect, but it singles out one idiom used by many former evangelistic preachers who followed the suggestion with a full-blown gospel presentation. The idiom, therefore, causes problems only when a gospel presentation does not accompany it. The rest of your post examines this lack of gospel call, yet condemns the idiom unnecessarily.
The question, then, is can the idiom be used to your satisfaction if it is accompanied by a proper gospel presentation? And, have people been saved hearing such an accompaniment?
Colin
You have understood what I was getting at with the post. I believe I may understand you better. With an honest and full gospel presentation, I would have no problem with anyone saying, “Repent therefore, that Jesus may dwell in your heart!” Other scriptures support that.
Ooooops, sorry. I said you would have the last word. I will leave it alone now. Thanks.
irreverend fox.
I, and others, have not disagreed with the message of repent!, and the full presentation of the gospel. When someone presents the complete plan of salvation and then concludes with words like, “Invite Jesus into your heart,” – you may disagree, that’s fine. But I don’t see any “hyper feminine” or “sappy-femininity” in that. If you want to accuse with those terms, I think you need a little stronger evidence.
David R. Brumbelow
brother David,
I can demonstrate the phrase to be Biblically unfaithful in many ways.
However, I can not prove that it drips with extreme femininity in that same way…but I’m sure it does. It goes right along with the décor, programs, music style and personality of evangelicalism in general and the majority of our fine SBC churches in specific.
If unsaved men in your neck of the woods are convicted by that exhortation then more power to you I suppose.
Bro. Robin,
I agree with and appreciate this post. These are good things to be measured and considered biblically.
Just as we will never outgrow the Gospel and will continue to need it all of our lives we should also consider how we present it.
Thanks,
Mark
Irreverend Fox: I can assure you that nothing feminine has anything to do with it, possibly Charles Finney is the one you need to take that one up with.
Robin: I agree with you. Good post.
This will sound like a “preacher” story, but really happened to my aunt and her son.
He was five years old and was told that he could pray and have Jesus come into his heart. It confused him so he asked his mom about it. She told him that if he was saved he had Jesus in his heart.
He started hitting his chest and saying “Well, get him out of there.” :-)
This was a good post.
Debbie,
Charles Finney…now there is definitely something we agree on!
Sola Gratia!
ireverend fox and others,
I have been occupied with other pursuits. Below is a list of verses (NKJV) inspired by the Almighty that speak in one way or another to the subject of Jesus in our hearts. There are others.
Who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee. -2 Corinthians 1:22
For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. -2 Corinthians 4:6
And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!” -Galatians 4:6
That Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, -Ephesians 3:17
And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts; -2 Peter 1:19
For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD: I will put My laws in their mind and write them on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. -Hebrews 8:10
Who show the work of the law written in their hearts. -Romans 2:15
Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. -Romans 5:5
He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” -John 7:38
Moreover He said to me: “Son of man, receive into your heart all My words that I speak to you, and hear with your ears. -Ezekiel 3:10
And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from doing them good; but I will put My fear in their hearts so that they will not depart from Me. -Jeremiah 32:40
O Jerusalem, wash your heart from wickedness, That you may be saved. How long shall your evil thoughts lodge within you? -Jeremiah 4:14
To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. -Colossians 1:27
Makes me want to sing, “Since Jesus Came Into My Heart.”
Sincerely,
David R. Brumbelow
Brother David,
Makes me want to sing “A mighty fortress is our God”
Grace and Peace…
ABClay
Brother ABClay,
Amen; I like that one too.
We just got the new Baptist Hymnal. It includes both.
David R. Brumbelow
brother David,
you are missing the point. there is no doubt the Lord enters the hearts of His chosen people. the point is that no where are we instructed to proclaim, “accept Jesus into your heart!”
that’s not the commission.
Brother Fox,
Perhaps I have missed your point. I think we agree on most of these matters and will have to be content to disagree on one point.
David R. Brumbelow
I…am never content!
Brother Robin,
You have definitely pointed out why sloppy teaching can lead to a pride filled understanding of the gospel. Being raised around the SBC family all of my life, no doubt there are thousands and thousands of people that believe that Christ comes into their heart “because they” invited him into it….as if they are the effecters of their faith and salvation. What a tragic commentary on poor and emotionalized teaching. Teaching someone that they cause or are the initiator of their salvation in such subliminal ways is anti-Christ and your post is very accurate to point out this abusive teaching that many Pastors are not willing to correct.
Thanks for pointing this out…..
Blessings,
Chris
irreverend fox,
You said, “I…am never content!”
I’d like to share with you one more verse, “I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content.” -Philippians 4:11
I know you already knew that verse. But just now seeing your reply, I couldn’t pass that up :-).
Me? I’m as content as a possum sitting under a persimmon tree.
David R. Brumbelow
brother David,
seems you’re incontent letting me be never content!
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