Accepting Jesus

[Hammster]

Where in scripture do we find that we are to accept Jesus for salvation, or that we are to ask Him into our hearts, or we need to make Him Lord and Savior?

 

[WinBySurrender]

Where in scripture do we find that we are to accept Jesus for salvation, or that we are to ask Him into our hearts, or we need to make Him Lord and Savior?

The Gospel of John

John 1
9 There was the true Light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man.
10 He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him.
11 He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him.
12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name,
13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

The word "receive" is lambano (Strong's #2983) and literally means "to take, lay hold of, take by the hand" in its primary uses. While no man can seek God on His own strength of will, it is quite obvious from these verses that not only is God sovereign (v. 13) in the process of salvation, but also that man has a responsibility (v. 12) to respond to God's call. I emphasize, God's call. Jesus makes quite clear that is the case.

John 6
44 "No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day.

"Draw" is helkuo (Strong's #1670) and is translated thus only once in the New Testament. It means "draw, drag off" or metaphorically, "to draw by inner power, lead, impel". In other words, the Father draws by the power of the Holy Spirit on the inner man who must then respond in that power. Note, in that power not his own power, which is impossible. Does that negate the doctrine of election, the Council of Dort or anything Calvin taught? No, absolutely not!

Clearly, as Calvin taught, the God's sovereignty and man's responsibility -- though apparently exclusive of one another -- must work together for man to be saved. There is no other explanation, hard as it is to grasp.

 

[miamited]

hi hammster,

Well, how you specifically define how one comes to faith in Jesus through their spoken words is of very little importance, but the Scriptures are clear that all of those 'tests' that you question are a part of faith in the Lord as one's Savior.

Specifically: accept Jesus for salvation

That would be Acts 4:12
Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.

or that we are to ask Him into our hearts

That would be Acts 2:21
And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

we need to make Him Lord and Savior?

Well, that would be pretty much all of the Scriptures.


God bless you.
In Christ, Ted

 

[Robs07M6S]

How do you make someone Lord who is already Lord? And calling upon the name of the Lord doesnt mean that we ask him into our hearts. Thats a man made fallacy and is taking scripture out of its context.

 

[WinBySurrender]

How do you make someone Lord who is already Lord?

Until He is Lord of our lives, we cannot grow in Him. Only those who are in Christ under the shed blood at the cross can make a declaration that He is their personal Lord and Savior. This comes after salvation, as the Holy Spirit begins to help us grow -- be progressively sanctified in addition to our being set apart for holiness as occurred when we received the Spirit. When we are still in our sins, then our favorite one is our "lord." For me, it was alcohol and gambling, lying, cheating, and eventually, stealing by use of financial instruments. (Don't be shocked. It's in my blog.) Money, it could be said, was my "lord." But now, Jesus Christ is Lord of my life. I occasionally try to sit on His throne, but that lasts about as long as the first major decision of the day takes to make. Then I give it back to Him. It's His, after all.

 

[Hammster]

Until He is Lord of our lives, we cannot grow in Him. Only those who are in Christ under the shed blood at the cross can make a declaration that He is their personal Lord and Savior. This comes after salvation, as the Holy Spirit begins to help us grow -- be progressively sanctified in addition to our being set apart for holiness as occurred when we received the Spirit. When we are still in our sins, then our favorite one is our "lord." For me, it was alcohol and gambling, lying, cheating, and eventually, stealing by use of financial instruments. (Don't be shocked. It's in my blog.) Money, it could be said, was my "lord." But now, Jesus Christ is Lord of my life. I occasionally try to sit on His throne, but that lasts about as long as the first major decision of the day takes to make. Then I give it back to Him. It's His, after all.

Is Jesus Lord of all?

 

[WinBySurrender]

Is Jesus Lord of all?

No. But He will be.

 

[Robs07M6S]

Until He is Lord of our lives, we cannot grow in Him. Only those who are in Christ under the shed blood at the cross can make a declaration that He is their personal Lord and Savior. This comes after salvation, as the Holy Spirit begins to help us grow -- be progressively sanctified in addition to our being set apart for holiness as occurred when we received the Spirit. When we are still in our sins, then our favorite one is our "lord." For me, it was alcohol and gambling, lying, cheating, and eventually, stealing by use of financial instruments. (Don't be shocked. It's in my blog.) Money, it could be said, was my "lord." But now, Jesus Christ is Lord of my life. I occasionally try to sit on His throne, but that lasts about as long as the first major decision of the day takes to make. Then I give it back to Him. It's His, after all.

I agree with everything you said, where I disagree is with those who say that we make Jesus Lord of our lives in order to be born again, its actually the other way around.

 

[WinBySurrender]

I agree with everything you said, where I disagree is with those who say that we make Jesus Lord of our lives in order to be born again, its actually the other way around.

Yep, you're right. Can't happen until you are born again, amen.

 

[Hammster]

No. But He will be.

Was He lying when Ge said that all authority had been to Him?

 

[WinBySurrender]

Was He lying when Ge said that all authority had been to Him?

The unelect do not call Him Lord, though I suppose He still is there Lord whether they acknowledge it or not. I was thinking from the perspective of who calls Him Lord and who does not.

 

[Hammster]

The unelect do not call Him Lord, though I suppose He still is there Lord whether they acknowledge it or not. I was thinking from the perspective of who calls Him Lord and who does not.

Keeping with the OP, though, where do we find in scripture that we are to make Him Lord and Savior?

 

[WinBySurrender]

Keeping with the OP, though, where do we find in scripture that we are to make Him Lord and Savior?

I think I covered that one already ... Post #2. We can't make that decision independently. Has to be by the power of the Holy Spirit acting upon us.

 

[Hammster]

I think I covered that one already ... Post #2. We can't make that decision independently. Has to be by the power of the Holy Spirit acting upon us.

I read the post, but I didn't see anywhere in the post or the passage where we make Him Lord and Savior.

 

[WinBySurrender]

I read the post, but I didn't see anywhere in the post or the passage where we make Him Lord and Savior.

Duh ... we don't. I must be suffering from a brain aneurism or something. I didn't get what you were asking. He already is Lord of our life if we are in Christ. But, we have to submit. That's the key. Submission, or obedience to the commands of God, is related to Christian growth and maturity, and is not related to becoming a Christian. A person becomes a Christian by faith alone in Christ apart from works.

Sometimes I can be so dense ...

 

[Hammster]

Duh ... we don't. I must be suffering from a brain aneurism or something. I didn't get what you were asking. He already is Lord of our life if we are in Christ. But, we have to submit. That's the key. Submission, or obedience to the commands of God, is related to Christian growth and maturity, and is not related to becoming a Christian. A person becomes a Christian by faith alone in Christ apart from works.

Sometimes I can be so dense ...

I think you're over-complicating the question. I meant it to be taken at face value.

 

[twin1954]

As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.
(Joh 17:2) This the beginning of the High Priestly prayer of the Lord Jesus and He speaks directly about having power over all flesh. That means that everybody is His to dispose of. It also speaks to the purpose of His power.

But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.
(2Pe 2:1) Here we see that He, as a man, bought the right to dispose of even those who deny Him. The word Lord here is the word from which we get our word Despot.

He is without doubt Lord over all right now and sits, a Man who is God, on the throne.
There is no way we can make Him Lord because God beat us to it.

 

[98cwitr]

Where in scripture do we find that we are to accept Jesus for salvation, or that we are to ask Him into our hearts, or we need to make Him Lord and Savior?

We accept the Lord because the Lord accepts us.

 

[Hammster]

We accept the Lord because the Lord accepts us.

What book is that in?

 

[98cwitr]

John 6.