Asking Jesus Into Your Heart: An Unbiblical Term That Waters Down The Gospel

Asking Jesus Into Your heart:

An Unbiblical Term That Waters Down The Gospel

Text: Romans 10:9-13; Luke 9:23-24; Ezekiel 36:25-27

INTRODUCTION

We are living in a day when the gospel is under a full on assault—not just from outside the church, but from within.

The language we use matters.

We cannot afford to water down or misrepresent the glorious truth of how sinners are made right with a holy God.

One of the most popular but profoundly misleading phrases in modern evangelicalism is this: “Just ask Jesus into your heart.”

That may sound harmless to some, even loving.

But Scripture gives no such invitation.

That phrase is never found in the Bible—not once.

And what’s worse, it’s often used in place of the clear biblical teaching on repentance, faith, and surrender.

The true gospel does not ask sinners to add Jesus to their lives.

It calls them to lose their lives for His sake(Luke 9:24).

This sermon will expose the dangerous theology behind the phrase “ask Jesus into your heart” and replace it with the robust, biblical doctrine of heart-surrender to Christ.

For unless your heart is surrendered to Jesus, you are not saved—no matter how many times you “asked Him in.”

Before we get into tonight's message, let's look at where this phrase and the “sinners Prayer” originated and why it is used so much today.

It is a man-made tradition, developed primarily in the 19th and 20th centuries, and while it’s often used with good intentions, it presents serious theological and pastoral dangers when not rooted in a biblical understanding of conversion.

ORIGINS OF THE SINNER'S PRAYER:

Historical Development:

Charles Finney (1792–1875): An influential revivalist who emphasized human decision in salvation. While he didn’t invent the Sinner’s Prayer, his "anxious bench" method foreshadowed modern “altar calls.”

D.L. Moody and Billy Sunday expanded on Finney's techniques.

Billy Graham (1918–2018): Popularized the Sinner’s Prayer in his evangelistic crusades. It became the standard for "making a decision for Christ"—a prayer often said publicly, then followed by counseling.

WHY MANY CHURCHES USE IT (AND WHY IT’S DANGEROUS):

Motives Behind Its Use:

Simplicity – Makes evangelism feel accessible.

Immediate response – Offers a tangible step in a moment of conviction.

Emotional appeal – Fits modern revivalistic or seeker-sensitive methods.

Problems With the Sinner’s Prayer:

Unbiblical Assurance – People are told they are saved based solely on reciting a prayer, often apart from genuine repentance and faith.

False Converts – Many think they are Christians when they are not (Matt. 13:20–22).

Reduces Salvation to a Formula – Rather than a sovereign act of God resulting in spiritual regeneration (John 1:13).

Ignores Lordship – May promote a shallow gospel where Christ is accepted as "Savior" but not followed as Lord.

“Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith.” – 2 Corinthians 13:5 (ESV)

I. THE PROBLEM WITH “ASKING JESUS INTO YOUR HEART”

A. It's Not in the Bible

Nowhere in the New Testament does Jesus or any apostle instruct sinners to “ask Jesus into their heart.”

This is not a small oversight.

This is theological malpractice.

The gospel commands repentance and faith (Mark 1:15; Acts 2:38; Acts 3:19).

Romans 10:9 says:

"If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved."

There is a heart involved—yes—but not a heart where you invite Christ like a houseguest.

It’s a heart that believes, is made new, and surrenders.

B. It Reduces Salvation to a Feeling or Formula

“Ask Jesus into your heart” sounds like a one-time emotional event. For many, it’s been tragically reduced to:

Pray a prayer

Sign a card

Walk an aisle

That’s not conversion.

That’s not regeneration.

That’s not repentance.

That’s emotionalism.

Listen carefully: You can ask Jesus into your heart a thousand times and still go to hell if your heart is never repentant and surrendered to Christ as Lord.

Matthew 7:21 reminds us:

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.”

C. It Minimizes the Lordship of Christ

When we say “ask Jesus into your heart,” we often present Him as though He were waiting, needy, and optional.

Like He’s hoping someone will just let Him in.

That’s not the Jesus of Scripture.

He is the sovereign King (Rev 19:16).

He commands all men everywhere to repent (Acts 17:30).

He is not waiting to be accepted—He is demanding to be worshiped and obeyed.

Sinners are not in a position to grant Jesus entrance—they are called to bow their knees to the crucified and risen Lord.

II. WHAT DOES TRUE SALVATION LOOK LIKE?

Let’s be crystal clear: biblical salvation is not about inviting Jesus into a corner of your life—it’s about Jesus invading and transforming your entire life.