What does the phrase "accept Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior" mean? I heard a baptist say it the other day and was confused because the phrase is not in the bible. Why would a baptist, of all people, create a stipulation for salvation that is not even in the bible?
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Definition of Personal Lord and Savior
- Thread starter saintboniface
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SKALA - Thanks for the response. I'm not sure I understand it though. Are you saying that Baptists created this stipulation for salvation based not on the bible but on tradition? I must not be understanding you correctly because that doesn't seem to make much since based on my knowledge of Baptist beliefs.
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Skala
I'm a Saint. Not because of me, but because of Him
Sorry, my response was more of a joke (with an underlying point).
You are correct that there is no Biblical basis for offering a salvation message based on "accepting Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior".
I was saying that this cute little "catch phrase" (and others like it) are nothing more than tradition that has been passed down and is circulating.
Other "traditions" I disagree with:
the altar call
the sinner's prayer
baby dedication ceremonies
The statement "God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life"
etc.
All of these are things I would argue have no biblical basis, nevertheless many Baptist churches practice them. Often (if not always), people who practice things out of tradition don't realize that they are nothing more than tradition. For example, if you asked a church to stop giving an altar call, they would be shocked, wondering how else you expect them to do evangelism. They don't realize that the church functioned fine for 1800 years without the altar call, and that God saves sinners while they sit in the pew (they don't need to change geographical locations in the church building). They are just so used to their tradition that to them it has become the norm, and in their mind, it is "Biblical"
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least
To God be the Glory!
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I suppose this is somewhat of a “catch phrase”, but to invite someone to “accept Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior” does not conflict with Scripture in any way, at least as I see it. “He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God” (John 1:11-13). As the Scripture says, we are to receive him believing in his name, that is, by faith. So if I may ask a question, what is the specific problem with this phrase?
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ThisBrotherOfHis
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It isn't a stipulation. It is a description of our relationship with Christ, which is dependent upon God opening our hearts and minds to "accept" the truth of the gospel and be able to confidently affirm Paul's words in Romans 10:9 ...
Romans 10, NASB
8 But what does it say? "THE WORD IS NEAR YOU, in your mouth and in your heart "-that is, the word of faith which we are preaching,
9 that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved;
10 for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.
8 But what does it say? "THE WORD IS NEAR YOU, in your mouth and in your heart "-that is, the word of faith which we are preaching,
9 that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved;
10 for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.
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Willie T
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Well, who makes the decision? Each of us, individually. We are told to "work out our own salvation". Personally.
There is mention of "works" prepared for us to do. It is popular among ritualistic churches to see this as a general set of worship service rules to follow that God set down. I don't. I see it this as the individual and personal things that are planned for you, and just you, to do in your future as you go through life. It may be the person you comfort on the 17th of next month... a person you may not have even met yet. But this is YOUR thing to do that has been orchestrated for you to step into when the time comes. Personally.
I see the entire relationship with Christ depicted all through the scriptures as highly personal. I didn't join a club. I chose to start walking through life with one special friend. A personal friend and relationship.
There is mention of "works" prepared for us to do. It is popular among ritualistic churches to see this as a general set of worship service rules to follow that God set down. I don't. I see it this as the individual and personal things that are planned for you, and just you, to do in your future as you go through life. It may be the person you comfort on the 17th of next month... a person you may not have even met yet. But this is YOUR thing to do that has been orchestrated for you to step into when the time comes. Personally.
I see the entire relationship with Christ depicted all through the scriptures as highly personal. I didn't join a club. I chose to start walking through life with one special friend. A personal friend and relationship.
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what the term means is to realize that Jesus loves you personally and that He knows you personally, and that He calls you personally. That Jesus personally paid your debt of sin on the Cross.
while the phrase can not be found in the Bible its meaning is very Biblical.
Peace and Love
blu
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I think an earlier poster identified the problem with the phrase. There seems to be Baptists who actually believe that the phrase is from the bible.
If I said Jesus is my Lord and Jesus is my savior and believed it would I be saved? Or would Jesus have to be my personal Lord and savior? What if I believed Jesus was my Lord and savior and that I also believed in the church Jesus established in Matthew 16:18?
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belief is only one step, it is about Love, unless you Love Jesus in your heart you can not enter heaven, doesn't matter if you believe he is the son of God and has risen, demons believe the same thing. I don't think any one believes the phrase is in the Bible but the meaning is Biblical. How can you Love God unless you know him personally?
Silly thing to be upset about.
Peace and Love
blu
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ThisBrotherOfHis
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Warning: Off topic comment follows ...
While it isn't an ordinance, why is it wrong? Certainly the idea of dedicating a child to a godly upbringing is found throughout the Bible: Samuel. Jesus. Just to name two.
The practice is a declaration by the parents, in a public setting, that they will raise their child in the Christian faith and seek to instill that faith in them. Some churches have the attendees affirm their support for the parents in the endeavor. As there is no implied salvation in the ceremony, I don't understand why so many oppose it. I did it with both my kids after I became a single dad raising them by myself, even though my son was somewhat older than the typical infant who is brought before the church in such a manner. The encouragement I got from my church, particularly given I was a fairly new believer -- two and a half years at the time -- was well appreciated.
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Jesus knows The Heart of His people, He knows if you love him or not. What did God say about it i will right my Laws on there hearts and mind, meaning out of Love we would follow him. Its all about Love
Peace and Love
blu
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