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.
A. Salvation Is Surrendering to the Lordship of Christ
Luke 9:23-24 — Jesus says:
“If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.”
True salvation involves:
Denial of self
Daily surrender
Willingness to die to one’s own ambitions and desires
This is not a one-time emotional moment—it is a life-altering surrender.
B. Salvation Involves Repentance and Faith
Mark 1:15 — Jesus began His ministry by proclaiming:
“The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”
Repentance means a turning from sin, a hatred of one’s rebellion, and a humble return to God.
Faith is trusting in Christ alone for righteousness.
The “ask Jesus into your heart” language does not capture either of those biblical imperatives.
Salvation is not a passive request—it is an active surrender.
C. Salvation Is the Miracle of Regeneration
Ezekiel 36:26-27 — God promised:
“And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone…and give you a heart of flesh.”
This is the supernatural act of the Holy Spirit.
You don’t simply invite Jesus into your existing heart—you need a new one altogether!
You need the old heart ripped out, and a new heart implanted. That’s the miracle of being born again (John 3:3–8).
III. WHY THE “ASK JESUS INTO YOUR HEART” MESSAGE IS SO DANGEROUS
Let’s examine why this false gospel is not just unbiblical, but eternally damning.
A. It Produces False Converts
Churches are filled with people who “prayed the prayer” but were never changed.
They live like the world, love sin, and show no evidence of regeneration.
They cling to a memory, not a Messiah.
They rely on an experience, not the exaltation of Christ.
They claim salvation, but reject submission.
Matthew 15:8 —
“This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.”
B. It Provides False Assurance
When you tell people, “You asked Jesus into your heart, so you're saved,” you give them false confidence without fruit.
Paul never gave such assurance. He said in 2 Corinthians 13:5:
“Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves.”
There must be evidence of a changed life, love for Christ, hatred for sin, and growing holiness (1 John 2:3–6).
C. It Promotes a Man-Centered Gospel
“Ask Jesus into your heart” puts you in control.
It sounds like you’re doing Jesus a favor. But salvation is not about you accepting Jesus—it’s about God accepting you on the basis of Christ’s righteousness!
The gospel is not:
God waiting for your permission.
The gospel is:
God sovereignly saving a rebel by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone.
IV. WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO SURRENDER YOUR HEART TO JESUS?
So then, what is the correct biblical picture?
Let’s unpack what heart-surrender to Jesus looks like.
A. It Begins with the Work of God
John 6:44 —
“No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him.”
Sinners do not initiate salvation—God does.
He convicts, draws, opens eyes, and changes hearts.
B. It Manifests in Repentance and Faith
Acts 20:21 —
“testifying both to Jews and to Greeks of repentance toward God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Biblical repentance is not just sorrow—it’s a turning from sin.
Faith is not vague belief—it is trusting Christ as Savior, Lord, and Treasure.
C. It Results in a Life of Obedience
Luke 6:46 —
“Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you?”
True surrender produces fruit (Galatians 5:22-24). A truly surrendered heart:
Loves Christ above all
Fights sin daily
Hungers for the Word
Loves the church
Bears fruit in keeping with repentance (Matt. 3:8)
V. PASTORAL APPLICATION: HOW SHOULD WE PREACH, TEACH, AND EVANGELIZE?
We must eliminate unbiblical phrases from our vocabulary and return to the language of Scripture.
A. Don’t Say: “Invite Jesus Into Your Heart”
Say:
“Repent and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.” (Acts 16:31)
“Surrender to Jesus as Lord and Savior.”
B. Call People to Count the Cost
Luke 14:27-28 —
“Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.”
We are not selling fire insurance—we are calling men to die to self and live to Christ.
C. Emphasize the New Birth
John 3:3 —
“Unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
True conversion is not just a decision—it is transformation. The old has passed away. The new has come (2 Cor. 5:17).
D. Shepherd Your Flock with Truth and Love
As pastors, parents, and teachers, we must lovingly confront those who trust in an empty prayer.
We must urge them to examine themselves (2 Cor. 13:5) and point them to the finished work of Christ.
CONCLUSION: THE CALL TO TRUE SALVATION
Let me be plain: if you “asked Jesus into your heart” at age seven but your life has never demonstrated repentance, holiness, love for Christ, or surrender to His Lordship, you are not saved.
But praise God—today can be the day of salvation.
Romans 10:9-10:
“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.”
Don’t ask Jesus into your heart.
Surrender your heart to Him.
Bow the knee.
Deny yourself.
Trust in Christ alone.
Receive the new heart only God can give.
That is the biblical gospel.
That is the gospel that saves.
THE GOSPEL IN SUMMARY:
God created you for His glory.
You have rebelled in sin and deserve His judgment.
Jesus Christ lived a perfect life, died a substitutionary death, and rose again for sinners.
God now commands all people to repent and believe the gospel.
If you turn from sin and surrender to Christ, you will be saved.
This is the only message that leads to eternal life.
Not emotionalism.
Not easy-believism.
Not shallow invitations.
But full surrender to the King of kings.
ALTAR CALL (For Those in Your Hearing):
Today, I invite you—not to “ask Jesus into your heart”—but to give Him your heart, your sin, your will, your life.
Repent.
Believe.
Surrender.
And be saved.
BENEDICTION (Romans 11:36):
“For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be glory forever. Amen.”
