Alternative Terminology Needed: “Ask Jesus into my heart”

February 22, 2008...9:32 am

Alternative Terminology Needed: “Ask Jesus into my heart”

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THIS POST ALSO RECYCLED FROM FACEBOOK: Originally posted Sept 21, 2007

As a Christian are you still defining your salvation on your own terms, as your own decision, your own accepted rules to live by? Friend accept the wonderful blessing of election, place you whole self, who you are and why you exist in God’s hands, accept His choice of you and your future and your view will shift, it is not an excuse to do less, it is the realization of God’s empowerment to do His will, whatever and wherever it may be!! –JW

I read this quote today from my friend JDub and it really pinged. So I decided to write a facebook note and ask some of you this question.

For those of you, like me, who may have come lately to the Doctrines of Grace, (or maybe been lifelong devotees) and embraced fully the joy and depth of your salvation, having been chosen and elected by God, I have a question that you may be able to help me with.

I absolutely love the fact that I had nothing to do with my salvation, except for the fact that my sin made it necessary for a Savior. I did not “bar” Jesus at the door until I had the freewill to “allow” Him into my heart. (What an arrogant thought!). I even dislike the terminology of “accepting Jesus into my heart”. I have a regenerate heart now only because God’s grace, bestowed upon me, made it possible for me to see my sinful condition, understand that I have no hope for eternal reconciliation with God except through Christ’s work on the cross alone. I have complete dependence on Christ alone, through faith alone (again, no work of mine, or decision of my own volition) for the surety of eternal life and a relationship with a holy God. The penalty for sin which I earned all by myself is an eternally damning sentence of death…which was paid for in full by Christ’s work on the cross and I stand before God now, justified fully, clothed in Christ’s righteousness.

But what’s the shorthand version? “Asked Jesus into my heart”, “Accepted Christ as my Savior”, “Got saved”….all these signify work on my own, a decision of my own…I’m not comfortable with taking on the credit for this decision. I want to use theologically accurate terminology with my children and in my evangelism, but in a portable way of saying it.

(Side note: I’m not one to get bogged down in semantics and I do not want to spin into a vortex of syntactical arguments. I don’t think that people who use this “self” – focused terminology should have their salvation called into question, or that they’re less spiritual. Not at all! But this is one piece for me that will help to solidify some doctrine and remind me daily of my undeserving position of receiving God’s grace. In other words, keep using the traditional terminology if you like. No stones being cast in your direction.)

So what do you use to describe your salvation. In 5- 10 words, let’s say. What phraseology drives home to you the true depth of your salvation?

Thanks for any help you can offer. Again, if you feel differently regarding election and the doctrines of Grace, we can disagree. Let our disagreement drive us to further study as God clarifies for us the nature of our salvation. If you have no idea why I’m questioning the “tried-and-true” terminology of the churches of my youth, I’d be happy to engage in edifying conversation about it.

(let’s not even get me started on why I don’t like the term “soulwinning” )