"The Scriptures teach that it is proper for sinners to ask Christ to come into their hearts and lives for salvation or to give their hearts to Christ."
I have been affirming that those who decry these two gospel invitations are either Hyper Calvinists or mighty close to it. Their declamations are at least the kinds made by Hyper Calvinists such as the Hardshell Baptists.
One of the things that is characteristic of the Hyperists is their denunciations against invitations that invite sinners to "Give your heart to the Lord" or to "Ask Jesus into your heart or life" to become a Christian. Notice how one writer, calling himself a Christian and a bible believer, ridicules this type of gospel invitation.
"Do we not realize that such a practice is found NOWHERE in the entire Bible? Is there ANY example of someone "asking Jesus into their heart" (or similar) to become a Christian in the book of Acts? NO - NOT EVEN ONE. The book of Acts is full of literally thousands of people becoming born-again Christians. And we are often told exactly what these people did. But there is no record of any of them doing anything like "asking Jesus into their heart" to be saved." (Andrew Strom)
http://www.revivalschool.com/ask.html
I will shortly demonstrate just how scriptural are the two types of invitations which are often decried by today's "Reformed" or "Calvinistic" Baptists. But, why does this brother limit us to the Book of Acts for authority for these two invitations? But, I will show how the invitations and commands in the Book of Acts regarding conversion do not contradict this idea or kind of invitation. But, before I do that, I wish to notice a couple other sources from the internet to give the reader a sampling of the kind of hullabaloo that these Hyperists are raising relative to these two kinds of invitations.
One writer even had a web site where she titled her writing - "Why NOT To Ask Jesus Into Your Heart"! (Carol Brooks)
http://www.inplainsite.org/html/dont_ask_jesus_into_your_heart.html
Another writer has an article titled - "Ten Reasons To Not Ask Jesus Into Your Heart"! (By Todd Friel) All I can say to start with is- unbelievable!
He writes:
"Brace yourself for this one: with very few if any exceptions, anyone who asked Jesus into their hearts to be saved...is not. If you asked Jesus into your heart because you were told that is what you have to do to become a Christian, you were mis-informed.
If you have ever told someone to ask Jesus into their heart (like I have), you produced a false convert. Here is why.
1. It is not in the Bible. There is not a single verse that even hints we should say a prayer inviting Jesus into our hearts. Some use Rev. 3:20. To tell us that Jesus is standing at the door of our hearts begging to come in. "Behold, I stand at the door and knock." There are two reasons that interpretation is wrong. The context tells us that the door Jesus is knocking on is the door of the church, not the human heart. Jesus is not knocking to enter someone's heart but to have fellowship with His church. Even if the context didn't tell us this, we would be forcing a meaning into the text (eisegesis). How do we know it is our heart he is knocking at? Why not our car door? How do we know he isn't knocking on our foot? To suggest that he is knocking on the door of our heart is superimposing a meaning on the text that simply does not exist. The Bible does not instruct us to ask Jesus into our heart. This alone should resolve the issue, nevertheless, here are nine more reasons."
Is all that not unbelievable coming from a professing Christian? No, Revelation 3: 20 DOES justify the gospel invitation to let Christ inside the heart and life! I wrote on this recently and here is what I said.
Another saying that many Hyper Calvinists make against what they perceive as improper gospel invitations is to say - "it is not scriptural to call upon sinners to open their heart's door to Christ." How they can say this in view of Revelation 3: 20 is amazing.
"Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me."
When these people are confronted with these words of invitation, they rarely give up on their stubborn opposition to such kinds of gospel invitations. So, they attempt to explain the verse as either 1) not applying at all to unregenerate souls, but only to regenerate ones, or 2) else say that the invitation is not to open the door of the heart but rather that of the church.
But, such "argumentation" only belies a stubborness against the belief that the gospel is the "power of God unto salvation." Every Hardshell Hyperist "interprets" this invitation as applying only to born again people.
Two rebuttal points are to be made in regard to this "interpretation." First, how anyone can legitimately say that such adjectives as "wretched, miserable, poor, and blind, and naked" can be said to be appropriate for only the born again children of God, is truly amazing. It is no "argument" at all either for the Hyperists to say that this letter, and these words, are addressed to church members. This proves nothing unless it can be proven that churches are always composed only of those who are truly regenerate. Clearly the invitation is to those in the visible assembly who did not have Christ within them supping and dwelling with them!
Secondly, how the Hyperist can eliminate the heart from this invitation is also bewildering. The church is the people, and Christ's knocking to get within the church is no different from his desire to get inside their hearts. Why is the Hyperist so intent in not making this door the door to the heart and soul?
Our writer continues:
"2. Asking Jesus into your heart is a saying that makes no sense. What does it mean to ask Jesus into your heart? If I say the right incantation will He somehow enter my heart? Is it literal? Does He reside in the upper or lower ventricle? Is this a metaphysical experience? Is it figurative? If it is, what exactly does it mean? While I am certain that most adults cannot articulate its meaning, I am certain that no child can explain it. Pastor Dennis Rokser reminds us that little children think literally and can easily be confused (or frightened) at the prospect of asking Jesus into their heart."
What rantings! And such as are unworthy of a professing Christian! This brother thinks that because some sinners do not know exactly what they are doing when they are asked to receive Christ into their hearts, therefore it should not be done! Yet, he believes that sinners must be called upon to repent, believe, and to trust Christ. But, have there not been many sinners who have likewise thought they have done this when they knew not the meaning of what they are doing? Does this brother not know that "the abuse of a thing does not make the thing itself wrong"? Does he not know what is meant by the old saying - "don't throw out the baby with the bathwater"?
Is this brother not being stubbornly silly? If someone is giving an invitation, in Christ's stead, ought he not to explain to the sinner what it means? Yes! But the same is true with believing, repenting, and trusting Christ! Does this brother not know that the Greek word "cardia" means the inner thoughts or mind?
Anyway, he continues with his ranting diatribe, saying:"3. In order to be saved, a man must repent (Acts 2:38). Asking Jesus into your heart leaves out the requirement of repentance.
That my friends is truly a non sequiter! Asking Jesus into one's heart absolutely does involve repentance! If some preacher is giving such an invitation and has not made that point clear, then yes, such an invitation will not be as beneficial. Surely! Brother, Jesus entering a man's heart will produce repentance!
The brother says further:"4. In order to be saved, a man must trust in Jesus Christ (Acts 16:31). Asking Jesus into your heart leaves out the requirement of faith."
Same response as above!
He continues:
"5. The person who wrongly believes they are saved will have a false sense of security. Millions of people who sincerely, but wrongly, asked Jesus into their hearts think they are saved but struggle to feel secure. They live in doubt and fear because they do not have the Holy Spirit giving them assurance of salvation."
How has he shown that giving invitation to sinners to receive Christ into their hearts by faith PRODUCES such false professors? At least any more than Christ taught would make false professions, even by proper invitations, in the parable of the sower?
He continues:
"6. The person who asks Jesus into his heart will likely end up inoculated, bitter and backslidden. Because he did not get saved by reciting a formulaic prayer, he will grow disillusioned with Jesus, the Bible, church and fellow believers. His latter end will be worse than the first."
How does he know this? Why is he so opposed to the idea of sinners receiving Christ into their hearts? And, what is the difference between telling sinners to "receive Christ into your heart" versus telling them to "ask (or invite) Christ into your heart"?
He continues:
"7. It presents God as a beggar just hoping you will let Him into your busy life. This presentation of God robs Him of His sovereignty."
Brother, God is presented as begging, pleading, and urging sinners! Have we been reading the same bible? In any case, some of the scriptures to follow, at the end of this rebuttal, demonstrate the fact that Christ and the Spirit pleads with sinners in the gospel and by his servants speaking on behalf of God.
He says further:
"8. The cause of Christ is ridiculed. Visit an atheist web-site and read the pagans who scoff, "How dare those Christians tell us how to live when they get divorced more than we do? Who are they to say homosexuals shouldn't adopt kids when tens of thousands of orphans don't get adopted by Christians?" Born again believers adopt kids and don't get divorced. People who ask Jesus into their hearts do. Jesus gets mocked when false converts give Him a bad name."
Yes, hypocrites do harm the gospel witness. So, what does this prove? Has he proven that such gospel invitations as he condemns produces more hypocrites than the seed sown in the parable?
He says further:
"9. The cause of evangelism is hindered. While it is certainly easier to get church members by telling them to ask Jesus into their hearts, try pleading with someone to make today the day of their salvation. Get ready for a painful response. "Why should I become a Christian when I have seen so called Christians act worse than a pagan?" People who ask Jesus into their hearts give pagans an excuse for not repenting."
That latter statement is exactly the kind that we would expect godless atheists to say! Ironic is it not? But notice how our brother goes even further in his final "reason" for not asking or commanding sinners to receive Christ into their hearts.
He says:
"10. Here is the scary one. People who ask Jesus into their hearts are not saved and they will perish on the Day of Judgment. How tragic that millions of people think they are right with God when they are not. How many people who will cry out, "Lord, Lord" on judgment day will be "Christians" who asked Jesus into their hearts? So, what must one do to be saved? Repent and trust. ( Heb.6:1) The Bible makes it clear that all men must repent and place their trust in Jesus Christ. Every man does have a "God shaped hole in their hearts," but that hole is not contentment, fulfillment and peace. Every man's heart problem is righteousness. Instead of preaching that Jesus fulfills, we must preach that God judges and Jesus satisfies God's judgment...if a man will repent and place his trust in Him."
"If you are reading this and you asked Jesus into your heart, chances are good you had a spiritual buzz for a while, but now you struggle to read your Bible, tithe, attend church and pray. Perhaps you were told you would have contentment, purpose and a better life if you just ask Jesus into your heart. I am sorry, that was a lie. If you have been preaching that people should ask Jesus into their hearts, I beg you to stop immediately. You will give an account for all the souls you have led astray. Learn how to share the gospel simply, effectively, biblically, the way Jesus did."
http://forum.cmcentral.com/index.php?act=ST&f=0&t=46909
Cannot my Hyperist brethren see where their ridiculing of gospel invitations has created the kind of spirit that this brother manifests? He says that all are lost who ask Christ into their hearts! Unbelievable!
"So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened." (Luke 11: 9, 10 NIV)
"He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God." (John 1: 11, 12 NIV)
"All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name." (Acts 10: 43 NIV)
"As God's fellow workers we urge you not to receive God's grace in vain." (II Corinthians 6: 1 NIV)
"I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by observing the law, or by believing what you heard?" (Galatians 3: 2 NIV)
"He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit." (Galatians 3: 14 NIV)
"So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him." (Colossians 2: 6 NIV)
"But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life." (I Timothy 1: 16 NIV)
"If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does." (James 1: 5-8 NIV)
"When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures." (James 4: 3 NIV)
"But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord." (I Peter 3: 15 NIV)
"Therefore shall ye lay up these my words in your heart and in your soul..." (Deuteronomy 11: 18 NIV)
"Thou hast given him his heart's desire, and hast not withholden the request of his lips. Selah." (Psalm 21: 2 NIV)
"When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek." (Psalm 27: 8 NIV)
"Delight thyself also in the LORD: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart." (Psalm 37: 4 NIV)
"Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me." (Psalm 51: 10 NIV)
"Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah." (Psalm 62: 8 NIV)
"...your heart shall live that seek God." (Psalm 69: 32 NIV)
"My son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways." (Proverbs 23: 26 NIV)
"And he saith unto them, Are ye so without understanding also? Do ye not perceive, that whatsoever thing from without entereth into the man, it cannot defile him; Because it entereth not into his heart, but into the belly, and goeth out into the draught, purging all meats? And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man." (Mark 7: 18-20 NIV)
"For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." (Luke 12: 34 NIV)
"And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God." (Acts 18: 37 NIV)
"And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul." (Acts 16: 14 NIV)
"But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him." (I Corinthians 2: 9 NIV)
"Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts." (II Corinthians 1: 22 NIV)
"And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father." (Galatians 4: 6 NIV)
"That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith..." (Ephesians 3: 17 NIV)
"And let the peace of God rule in your hearts..." (Colossians 3: 15 NIV)
I say all these verses basically say "receive Christ into your heart" or "let Christ rule in your heart." Do they not?
No comments:
Post a Comment