You know I’ve never liked this whole idea about “accepting Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior.” Yes… I know I complain about this a lot.
But tonight I was reading to my four-year-old her nightly devotion before bed from her pink Bob and Larry devotional book. As I’m reading along the book starts talking about “accepting Jesus” and of course, I think quickly, and change it to something like “trust Jesus” or cling to him.
I just have a real problem with the whole concept of how we need to “accept” Jesus as our “personal” Lord and Savior.
None of this has anything to do with what the Scriptures teach us.
First of all, Jesus is not our “personal” Lord and Savior … as if you were a Genie in a bottle … He is the God of heaven and the King of the universe.
Just like in Matthew 9:27-29 when Jesus healed the blind men. He didn’t ask, “Do you accept me as your personal Lord and Savior?”
Jesus said. “Do you believe that I am able to do this?”
And when they said, “yes Lord.” He didn’t say, “OK, now repeat this ridiculous prayer after me.”
Mark 16:14 is clear as can be.
“He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.”
Scripture teaches us that even our belief in God is a gift given to us from God and also that “faith comes from hearing the word of God.”
If only God can give faith, there is no need to lead someone through a prayer that doesn’t really mean anything to them anyway. When God gives faith and a person reaches out to Jesus like someone who is drowning gasping for air …salvation takes place and the angels of heaven rejoice.
When they reach that point their heart will cry out to God.
This can happen within the heart without a word ever being said. (Please note that I do believe a public confession of faith is necessary and will take place if a true conversion has happened.)
I wonder how many people have been turned away and turned off because of aggressive Bible thumpers trying to sell “accept Jesus and say this prayer” when a few simple words pointing them to the cross without any other expectation might have caused them to look in his direction in an act of faith and say “help me Jesus” which is the most perfect prayer that I can imagine.