Page 79 - Discipleship Ministries Student E-Book

“Ask Jesus into your heart” This is often used with children but it can only confuse them. What does it
mean to “Ask Jesus into your heart”? The real issues are I am a sinner, Christ died for my sin and I must
trust in Christ alone. That’s what a child must understand and the decision he/she must make.

The proof text that the “asking Jesus into your heart” folks use is Revelation 3:20. The picture to the left
is often used to illustrate how Jesus is knocking on your heart’s door.

20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and
opens the door, I will come into him and eat with him, and he with me.

Let’s put this verse in context. In verse 14 we find that this whole
section of Scripture is addressed to the church (believers) in Laodicea.
This is a group of believers whose lives were neither hot nor cold, but
lukewarm. Because of their lack of love for Christ, and their love for
the world, Christ was asking them to repent. And then He said, “I stand
and knock…” He was saying to them that if they would repent, He
would restore fellowship once again with them. This verse has
NOTHING to do with salvation!!!

In many Gospel presentations, the presenter will use this verse to help
the person understand that they need to ask Jesus into their heart to be saved. Please do not use the
verse in your Gospel witness. Why? First, there is no place in the Bible where a person is to “ask Jesus
into your heart” for salvation. See if you can find one.

When a person receives Christ, the HOLY SPIRIT comes to indwell the believer. Jesus Christ is seated at
the right hand of the Father in heaven making intercession for us as our mediator (Acts 7:55-56, Romans
8:34, Ephesians 1:20, Colossians 3:1). He does not come down into each person’s heart. You also must
remember that God is omnipresent. That means He is everywhere at all times. He does not just reside
in the heart of the believer.

The second reason you don’t want to use this verse is that in context, the verse is written to the Church
of Laodicea – to believers. Read the whole passage in context! This was a literal Church who had
walked away from their love for Christ and believers there were lukewarm in their faith. They had, more
or less, excluded Jesus from their daily walk and become worldly. So, in Jesus’ plea to this church of
believers, He was telling them that while He was outside knocking, He would be willing once again to
step into the doors of the church and renew fellowship with them.

This verse in context has NOTHING to do with an act toward salvation. To use it to tell people they
need to “ask Jesus into their heart” is a misuse of this Scripture and a violation of Biblical hermeneutics.
It is giving them a false Gospel and will confuse them.

Note the emphasis of verses listed below is to BELIEVE, TRUST, REPENT and CALL UPON! The concept of
Jesus coming into a person’s heart is not only confusing, but inaccurate.

6. Don’t say “Make Jesus Lord of your life” in a salvation invitation. This confuses discipleship
(following, obeying and serving Christ) with salvation (trusting in Christ alone). This view is called
“Lordship salvation” which holds that to be saved a person must also promise to fully follow Christ.

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