Must I ask Jesus into my heart to be saved? Do I have to make a decision? If so, where ...?

Question

Where in the Bible are these ideas supported?
Does anyone in the Bible "ask Jesus into their heart"?
Is anyone said to "make a decision for Jesus"?

Why didn't Paul and Silas say such things to the jailer in Acts 16?

"and after he brought them out, he said, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" They said, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household." - Acts 16:30-31

Answer 1

...Unfortunately, we can embrace some traditions that may not match up with Scripture.
...I respectfully disagree with those who use this terminology (ask Jesus into your heart). The Gospel was explained to me this way, but I don't think it is biblically accurate.
...I also do not like nor do I think it accurate to say, "I accepted Christ" - it sounds like God is getting a big favor if you/me "accept Him", when He really accepts us, based on what Jesus has done.
...Then what is correct? What I see over and over in the Scriptures is believe -
...Acts 16:31 - "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved"
...Acts 13:48 "And as many as were appointed to eternal life believed"
...Acts 10:43 "Of Him all the prophets bear witness that through His name everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins."
...Acts 15:11 "But we believe that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, in the same way as they also are."
...We are saved by His grace through faith in Christ alone. Ephesians 2:8-9 says, "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, that no one should boast.
...If someone wants to pray and express to God a need for salvation, I see nothing wrong with that. I personally admitted to God that I was sinner needing Jesus, and I asked Him to save me and make me the type person He wanted me to be - I was alone, and no one was pressuring me.
...And I know after that I was much different -I wanted to pray, read the Bible, go to church, and share Jesus with whoever would listen - "things that accompany salvation."
...Blessings to all.

Answer 2

Read your bible Proverbs 18:24, John 15:13, 1:12 Romans 3:23,6:23,10:9,Ephesians 2:8-9 and pray this prayer Lord Jesus< I am a sinner and I need a Savior. Right now I turn from my sin and accept You as my Lord and Savior. I am trusting You and You alone for my salvation,believing that You died and rose again from the grave. I thank You for saving me. If you prayed this pray you are saved and need to find a bible-believing church so you may grow in Christ. He is now your new-found Savior and FRIEND

Answer 3

There is much more to the Bible then two scriptures. If you read the entire book of Acts you will find the initial instruction that was given the first time someone asked what they must do to be saved is found in Acts chapter 2. Jesus instructed his disciples in the first chapter of Acts to go into all the world and preach the gospel. This gospel that they began to preach is documented in the book of Acts, as the entire name of that book is; The Acts of The Apostles. The rest of the new testament is letters written to churches of believers. Feel free to email me if you would like to pursue this discussion further. Just remember, don't take anyone's opionion, read it for yourself.

Answer 4

I believe the phrase "ask Jesus into your/my heart" was developed so that people, specifically children, could relate to the real part of salvation. The following passages do include the words "belive in your heart". Salvation does come from believing, you're right (Romans 10:13 see below) - believing that Christ was wholly God, incarnate, and lived a perfect life, died for punishment of people's wrongdoings (sins), and rose again, conquering that death and sin. But what it really means to "have Jesus in your heart" and to be a Christian is to have a personal relationship with Him. It's not enough just to say the "sinner's prayer" and be done with it, never think of Him again. Becoming saved entails much more - having communion with the One who saved you and gives you life.

Verses leading a person to understand salvation:
PROBLEM
Romans 3:23 All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God
PUNISHMENT for PROBLEM
Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
SOLUTION
Romans 5:8-9 But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God.
HOW TO GET THE SOLUTION
Romans 10:9,10,13 Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

Answer 5

Nowhere in the bible does it say that you have to let Jesus in your heart. That is merely a recruitment method for churches. Just as in the Question, all you need to do is believe. You dont have to go to church a day in your life, be baptised, or even read a bible, if you believe in Jesus, or anyone in your household does, then you will be saved. According to the scriptures.

But Im agnostic... what do I know.

(Was protestant until actually reading the bible... then I realized how rediculous it all sounds)

I have not though, read the 26 missing books of the old testament, only the book of enoch and the rest of the traditional bible.

Answer 6

I understand your question. The Bible does not say to "ask Jesus into your heart" --but rather when you do belive in Him, and repent of sin- He resides in you. Ephesians 1 says that once you believe and have faith in Jesus Christ you are sealed with the Holy Spirit- and that the Holy Spirit lives in you. Jesus, God and The Holy Spirit are One in the same. So I dont know where the whole "Ask Jesus into your heart" came from- but I think its easier for children to understand that way- because when we do ask the Lord to forgive us and trust in Him- he changes us and he lives in us- that is the outcome of trusting in Him- and the results of salvation is not only Eternal life in Him but also Him living in you- convicting you when you are wrong- giving you a clean heart and new heart- you are changed for the better~

Answer 7

This is a question of faith. I do believe according to scripture that yes you have to ask Jesus to come into both your heart and life. Thus without it you could not be considered a true believer.Imagine life without a Hope of a better place or a higher calling . How else could we as a people take on life and all of its atrocities throughout the world. I believe that we would live in a world without value and Morales in a lawless society! STOP AND LOOK AT THE BLUE SKY TODAY AND IMAGINE THE WORLD WITHOUT A GOD . THEN ASK YOURSELF HOW COULD THIS BE WITHOUT GOD AND BELIEF!!!

Answer 8

Romans 10:9 (New International Version)
New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society


That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

Answer 9

John 3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

Romans 10:10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

Romans 10:13
For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Romans 10: 17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
only Gen 22:2

17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

What others do will have absolutely no impact on your savlation. For you and only you can obtain eternal life through "YOUR" acceptance of Jesus as your savior. What someone else does or does not do has no barring on your eternal security in heaven. You have to ability to accept Jesus as your savior for your own self, and no one else and what they may have done or havn't done can do that for you.

Answer 10

I think people get it from: Ephesians 3:17. (NIV) 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, & revelations 3:20, which in context isn't talking about your heart. Neither of those state that. The formulaic prayer is invented by man to make it easier. The bible clearly says to repent and believe. It also says that after we are believers, we are a new creation & works will be a fruit or by product of of love for God (works don't earn salvation but are an evidence that your heart really changed). After all, the two most important commandments are to love God & love people. Unfortunately, because of misunderstandings of what it means Christian there are a lot of people claiming to be believers that are lost, that haven't shown evidence of change & don't show love for God or others. No wonder we have such a bad name. That's not how Jesus acted at all. He defied the acceptable and loved on the unloveable.