Receiving Jesus into Your Heart: Is it Biblical?

July 1, 2019

Hello. I have a question about “receiving Jesus into my heart.” I have heard people say to do this, but is that biblical?

I believe the Bible does not say to "accept Jesus into your heart and you become a Christian." It says:

But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.  (Hebrews 11:6)

Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved. (Acts 16:31)

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God. (Ephesians 2:8)

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 (John 1:12)

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth. . . . The just shall live by faith. (Romans 1: 16–17)

This good news tells us how God makes us right in his sight.

Would you have time to write and tell me where it says in the Bible that we become Christians through accepting Jesus into our heart?

I would really be interested to find out where it says that.

Thanks!

Love in Christ, S. J.

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Hello, S. J. ,

Thank you for your question. You sound very wise. It is great that you believe what the Bible says and do not want to answer in a way that is contrary to what God says.

You are right. The Bible does not tell us to accept Jesus into our heart. It is not we who accept Him, but He accepts us if we trust in Him by faith in what Jesus did for us. Sometimes we Christians come up with nice phrases that sound good and we use a lot, but they might not be as biblical as we think.

There are Bible verses that talk about Jesus being in us as Christians, like these:

I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me (Galatians 2:20).

And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness (Romans 8:10).

That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith (Ephesians 3:17).

So we see that Jesus can live in our hearts by faith, but to "accept Jesus into our heart" might not be the best way to word it, as you wisely pointed out. Many people, too, simply say a prayer and think they are Christians, when they have never really believed in Jesus. We should be careful to say what we mean and explain what we say.

I hope you always make sure that what you are taught is what the Bible says. You sound like one of those in the Bible who "received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so" (Acts 17:11).

On the next page is another article I saw that also talks about accepting Jesus into our hearts. Thank you for writing to us. I hope you always keep learning, loving, and living the Word of God.

—Paul Miller

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