How do I accept Jesus into my life?

[UniversalSceptic]

I got into a conversation with someone who is religious, and she said that you have to mean it when you say accept Jesus into your life. Thing is I am not sure if I do. I think to myself "why wouldn't I want Jesus into my life", but I have never felt this strong deep connection to God. I wasn't raised religious and even have a hard time reading and interpreting the bible. I want to accept Jesus into my life, but I feel like I am not sincere enough to want him in my life.

[sheila]

Peace and Goodwill unto All men,for unto us a son is given.  Father give Him as a gift unto all men. and this will be testified unto.

  Father prophesied about him....a promised seed that would crush the adversary's[everything against us] head.

  a Saviour,a son,a KING OF KINGS..that will reconcile us with God the Father/Heaven and all men/brotherhood..deliver all from death

and into eternal dwellings with Our Father[home]

  We have no choice[who can resist His will?] it is His divine plan. A great Day is come..and all will see..and hear what they had not before

seen or heard.  At most..men are blind to it for a time..and in darkness about these things.But this will not remain.

  Men will have no choice...He will not allow any to remain 'lost' But He will seek and find them..and recover them all..no

matter where they may have been scattered to.

  You need to know this. His great LOVE for you can/will not be resisted. and not only that..you will be happy and your heart rejoice in

the work of His hands..to deliver you unto Himself.  The sooner you accept the inevitableness of these facts,the better off you will

be. There is nowhere you can go from His presence!!! If you make your bed in the grave..He'll take you from there!

    Think about these things I have shared with you......... :HeartThrob:

[bushy]

Religion is a dead thing. Saying we have to really mean it when we say we accept Jesus I think is saying we really need to grab on to our own boot straps and lift ourselves up. Religion tells me I have to read my bible, I have to go to church, I have to stop sinning so much. The Father says there is nothing you can do to make me love you more and there is nothing you can do to make me love you less.

[GodIsLove]

Peace and Goodwill unto All men,for unto us a son is given.  Father give Him as a gift unto all men. and this will be testified unto.

  Father prophesied about him....a promised seed that would crush the adversary's[everything against us] head.

  a Saviour,a son,a KING OF KINGS..that will reconcile us with God the Father/Heaven and all men/brotherhood..deliver all from death

and into eternal dwellings with Our Father[home]

  We have no choice[who can resist His will?] it is His divine plan. A great Day is come..and all will see..and hear what they had not before

seen or heard.  At most..men are blind to it for a time..and in darkness about these things.But this will not remain.

  Men will have no choice...He will not allow any to remain 'lost' But He will seek and find them..and recover them all..no

matter where they may have been scattered to.

  You need to know this. His great LOVE for you can/will not be resisted. and not only that..you will be happy and your heart rejoice in

the work of His hands..to deliver you unto Himself.  The sooner you accept the inevitableness of these facts,the better off you will

be. There is nowhere you can go from His presence!!! If you make your bed in the grave..He'll take you from there!

    Think about these things I have shared with you......... :HeartThrob:

:thumbsup: :dsunny:

[jabcat]

Ask Jesus to save and forgive you.  Tell Him you believe He is the Son of God and that He rose from the dead.  Trust Him as the Savior and what He did on the cross to save you, not your own strength.

Romans 10:9  That if you shall confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in your heart that God has raised him from the dead, you shall be saved.

[marie glen]

 :happy3: (bumb)

...when we really, really want Him.. is when we most find Him.. (paradox.. yet He is the one who puts that fire in the heart) "if you seek Me with all your heart you will find me"... personally, to me, nature is a quiet cathedral that most reveals Him.. "abide in Me"... imo, "the bread and the wine" is life itself.. :gsmile:

[Dandelion]

Just make a step......God already knows what is in your heart.

The most important thing is to tell the Holy Spirit you want to invite Him into your life, and to believe Jesus died on the Cross to save us.....to save us from our sins and to save us for Himself.

Tell God you want to put Him first in your life, even if you are not even close. He will honor your sincerity.

God will give you what you need to take the next step, and the insight to know that.

Trust, believe, pray, listen to His voice. Know that God loves you immensely and wants the best for you.

I find that hearing His voice is not always easy.....it is an art, not a science. But, He will guide you.

...4So you will find favor and good repute In the sight of God and man. 5Trust in the LORD with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. 6In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight.... Proverbs 3:4 - 6

My favorite Bible verse.

D.

[jugghead]

I got into a conversation with someone who is religious, and she said that you have to mean it when you say accept Jesus into your life. Thing is I am not sure if I do. I think to myself "why wouldn't I want Jesus into my life", but I have never felt this strong deep connection to God. I wasn't raised religious and even have a hard time reading and interpreting the bible. I want to accept Jesus into my life, but I feel like I am not sincere enough to want him in my life.

I may see it in a different manner than most, for me it is this ...... Do you believe God loves you? I will take for granted that your answer is "yes" ..... and since your answer was "yes" you have already accepted Christ into your heart ..... here is the reason why I believe this ...... "I am the way, the truth and the life" ..... believing the statement as "Truth" .....God telling you He loves you and you believing it..... you accepted "The Truth" from the Father ..... IOW, you accepted His Son that He sent to you.

my  :2c:

[Truth seeker]

Religion is a dead thing. Saying we have to really mean it when we say we accept Jesus I think is saying we really need to grab on to our own boot straps and lift ourselves up. Religion tells me I have to read my bible, I have to go to church, I have to stop sinning so much. The Father says there is nothing you can do to make me love you more and there is nothing you can do to make me love you less.

:banana: :dsunny: :HeartThrob: :HeartThrob: :iagree:
well put!! thanks for this.

[jabcat]

Maybe I misunderstood the question.  I thought he was asking how to be reconciled to God through Christ. (2 Corinthians 5:20)

[micah7:9]

Here is a hint tho it maybe a bit biblical....  "no one is able to come unto me, if the Father who sent me may not draw him, and I will raise him up in the last day;"

[jabcat]

i agree micah..in fact, in my initial reply to US I at first said "if you feel drawn"...but I took it out..as usual, good move on my part  :BangHead:

[eaglesway]

I got into a conversation with someone who is religious, and she said that you have to mean it when you say accept Jesus into your life. Thing is I am not sure if I do. I think to myself "why wouldn't I want Jesus into my life", but I have never felt this strong deep connection to God. I wasn't raised religious and even have a hard time reading and interpreting the bible. I want to accept Jesus into my life, but I feel like I am not sincere enough to want him in my life.

Religion is a dead thing. Saying we have to really mean it when we say we accept Jesus I think is saying we really need to grab on to our own boot straps and lift ourselves up. Religion tells me I have to read my bible, I have to go to church, I have to stop sinning so much. The Father says there is nothing you can do to make me love you more and there is nothing you can do to make me love you less.

:banana: :dsunny: :HeartThrob: :HeartThrob: :iagree:
well put!! thanks for this.

To some  extent I disagree.

Everything is not casual. All things are not expedient. Altho God loves us whether we honor Him or whether we don't, Jesus Himself said so many things that indicate to me that sincerity is a necessity. The rich young ruler came with questions that were not answered in the way he wanted so he walked away sorrowfully. Jesus loved him as he walked away- but he didnt prevent him. The young man's choice was made, at least for the time being.

"I would rather you were cold or hot. Because you are lukewarm I will spew you out of my mouth."

It can be a dilemma to proclaim His love for all, call those who have embraced Him to serve, and to call those who reject Him to reconsider- but all of that is included in the gospel.

I have more respect for someone who simply says, "I just don't believe that right now and am not disposed to bow my knee or follow",  than I do for people who want to make Jesus a kindly comic book character who was only playing at all the warnings He gave concerning the consequences of rejecting His teaching.

"Asking Jesus into our hearts" is a way(imo) of saying, "I acknowledge your Lordship and receive your forgiveness and desire to walk in Your way".

That is salvation. That is when we enter the kingdom of God. That is when all that he purchased at the cross becomes ours and we become His.

Real deliverance, healing and service begins there.

What I do agree with is that nothing we do makes God love us any more or less, but God is not just "loving us". He is re-creating us in the image of Christ so that we can serve in love with Him.

[bushy]

I agree with this. But I spent years thinking that God just wasn't going to save me.  I was speaking of my personal experience of trying to be good enough to be accepted and of course always failing until understanding that it didn't depend on my goodness or badness. We can't coast through life like nothing matters because all will be well in the end.

Hebrews 11:6  But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

[Shev]

I wish Paul was here so we could ask him what form of sinner's prayer he prayed to accept Jesus as he was falling off his horse...   :winkgrin:

[eaglesway]

I agree with this. But I spent years thinking that God just wasn't going to save me.  I was speaking of my personal experience of trying to be good enough to be accepted and of course always failing until understanding that it didn't depend on my goodness or badness. We can't coast through life like nothing matters because all will be well in the end.

Hebrews 11:6  But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

Ah, ok, so I see what you were saying.

Yes, this is another ill that sometimes falls upon us sheep. That they love Him but are convinced by the enemy of our souls, the accuser of the brethren, that they are not good enough, not holy enough, not sinless enough to be received by the Father. Its a terrible place to be and I lived there for years as well.

"If we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

Knowing that God is on our side in this battle we wage within ourselves is so important. the flesh lusts against the spirit and the spirit lusts against the flesh so that we cannot do what we want.

"Who will deliver me from the body of this death"

Thank God for Jesus Christ! There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

But then again, if one identifies asking Jesus into their heart as religion and really doesnt know that they mean it, maybe they arent really there yet.

We need to know what side of that inner battle we are on.

Thank God we can trust God to bring people over that threshold at the proper time. The temptation to harvest before the grain is ripened is a strong one, but the patient husbandman awaits both the early and the latter rains to bring forth the shoot, the stalk, the full ear.

[jabcat]

I wish Paul was here so we could ask him what form of sinner's prayer he prayed to accept Jesus as he was falling off his horse...   :winkgrin:

  Absolutely brought by God, instrumented by God..all of God..even giving Saul faith to believe..but he WAS sought out (drawn), and responded..what the scriptures elsewhere call "accepting" Jesus, "believing on" Him, "opening the door", etc. - a "personal" experience.   It certainly was an event, not something for sure that just sort of "grew on him". :)  without him noticing it. 

Also, I think it could be suggested that Saul/Paul's experience - although it was very personal and included the things noted above - was still extraordinary.  He was obviously special and had a special, particular calling on his life.  Mixing his experience with what he instructed the jailer to do (believe on Jesus and that He rose again and confess Him), seems to me a pretty good composite.  I certainly think a "sinner's prayer" can be very good, as long as the person is truly drawn and given true faith to believe.  I believe millions have responded in faith to Christ that way. 

[eaglesway]

I wish Paul was here so we could ask him what form of sinner's prayer he prayed to accept Jesus as he was falling off his horse...   :winkgrin:

It is such a blessing to me that God so loved His people, the Jews, to have chosen Saul, this firebrand for the faith, this champion against the new heresy of the "Christians" to become a sign and a wonder against the Pharisees.


"Have you heard?!! Saul of Tarsus was smitten by this Jesus whom the Christians claim is the Messiah, and now he is going everywhere declaring that Jesus is the Messiah, and proving it from the scriptures."

This made so many consider with much more seriousness the message of the kingdom of God.

the men who stood by heard the voice as well as Saul did and were amazed. They were his compadre's in persecuting the church. Can you imagine the consternation/! They were all witnesses of Saul's experience, and witnesses that would be believed by many- even tho I am sure they were commanded to keep silent about it.

I would like to read their stories.

[jabcat]

I agree with this. But I spent years thinking that God just wasn't going to save me.  I was speaking of my personal experience of trying to be good enough to be accepted and of course always failing until understanding that it didn't depend on my goodness or badness. We can't coast through life like nothing matters because all will be well in the end.

Hebrews 11:6  But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

:thumbsup:

[Shev]

I wish Paul was here so we could ask him what form of sinner's prayer he prayed to accept Jesus as he was falling off his horse...   :winkgrin:

  Absolutely brought by God, instrumented by God..all of God..even giving Saul faith to believe..but he WAS sought out (drawn), and responded..what the scriptures elsewhere call "accepting" Jesus, "believing on" Him, "opening the door", etc. - a "personal" experience.   It certainly was an event, not something for sure that just sort of "grew on him". :)  without him noticing it. 

Also, I think it could be suggested that Saul/Paul's experience - although it was very personal and included the things noted above - was still extraordinary.  He was obviously special and had a special, particular calling on his life.  Mixing his experience with what he instructed the jailer to do (believe on Jesus and that He rose again and confess Him), seems to me a pretty good composite.  I certainly think a "sinner's prayer" can be very good, as long as the person is truly drawn and given true faith to believe.  I believe millions have responded in faith to Christ that way.

Well put, jabcat, and I agree. I should clarify that I was not implying there is no response on our behalf, only that what God chooses, no-one can truly resist. Instead of choosing one of the original 120 disciples to be a light to the Gentiles, he chose someone who was pre-disposed against the Way. Not only this, but He separated him even from his mother's womb (though I believe there is more than one layer to that phrase, possibly).

So I think God brings the conditions and appointed time for each person's revelation of Christ and entry into the kingdom.

And the nations hearing were glad, and were glorifying the word of the Lord, and did believe -- as many as were appointed to life age-during; (Acts 13:48)

[Shev]

I wish Paul was here so we could ask him what form of sinner's prayer he prayed to accept Jesus as he was falling off his horse...   :winkgrin:

It is such a blessing to me that God so loved His people, the Jews, to have chosen Saul, this firebrand for the faith, this champion against the new heresy of the "Christians" to become a sign and a wonder against the Pharisees.


"Have you heard?!! Saul of Tarsus was smitten by this Jesus whom the Christians claim is the Messiah, and now he is going everywhere declaring that Jesus is the Messiah, and proving it from the scriptures."

This made so many consider with much more seriousness the message of the kingdom of God.

the men who stood by heard the voice as well as Saul did and were amazed. They were his compadre's in persecuting the church. Can you imagine the consternation/! They were all witnesses of Saul's experience, and witnesses that would be believed by many- even tho I am sure they were commanded to keep silent about it.

I would like to read their stories.

Me too, John! Some of the "minor" characters (though there is really no such thing in God's eyes) have some fascinating stories. I would love to have heard the discourse of Jesus to Cleopas and his companion on the road to Emmaus, for example. I can't read about them saying "did not our hearts burn within us?" without feeling the same way...

[jabcat]

 :thumbsup:

[eaglesway]

I wish Paul was here so we could ask him what form of sinner's prayer he prayed to accept Jesus as he was falling off his horse...   :winkgrin:

It is such a blessing to me that God so loved His people, the Jews, to have chosen Saul, this firebrand for the faith, this champion against the new heresy of the "Christians" to become a sign and a wonder against the Pharisees.


"Have you heard?!! Saul of Tarsus was smitten by this Jesus whom the Christians claim is the Messiah, and now he is going everywhere declaring that Jesus is the Messiah, and proving it from the scriptures."

This made so many consider with much more seriousness the message of the kingdom of God.

the men who stood by heard the voice as well as Saul did and were amazed. They were his compadre's in persecuting the church. Can you imagine the consternation/! They were all witnesses of Saul's experience, and witnesses that would be believed by many- even tho I am sure they were commanded to keep silent about it.

I would like to read their stories.

Me too, John! Some of the "minor" characters (though there is really no such thing in God's eyes) have some fascinating stories. I would love to have heard the discourse of Jesus to Cleopas and his companion on the road to Emmaus, for example. I can't read about them saying "did not our hearts burn within us?" without feeling the same way...

Absolutely! thats one I've always wanted to hear.

http://iacmusic.com/iac_test2/index3.html?ID=A57200&SongID=69697