“Ask Jesus into Your Heart”

“Evangelical shorthand for the gospel is to “ask Jesus into your heart” Or accept Jesus as “Lord and Savior” or “give your heart to Jesus.” These phrases may not be wrong in themselves, but the Bible never tells us specifically to seek salvation in these ways. The Bible’s summation of a saving response toward Christ is “repentance” and “belief” in the gospel.”
– J.D. Greer, Stop Asking Jesus into Your Heart

Acts 3:19
Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord,

Acts 16:31
They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.”

John 10:22-23
Then came the Festival of Dedication at Jerusalem. It was winter, and Jesus was in the temple courts walking in Solomon’s Colonnade.

John 10:24
The Jews who were there gathered around him, saying, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.”

John 10:25-26
Jesus answered, “I did tell you, but you do not believe. The works I do in my Father’s name testify about me, but you do not believe because you are not my sheep.

John 10:27
My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.

John 10:28-30
I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.”

John 6:44
“No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them, and I will raise them up at the last day.

“If repentance means perfection, then no one has repented. Repentance, however, means recognizing Jesus’ authority and submitting to it, even though your heart is weak, divided and pulled in conflicting directions. Repentance includes a plea for God to change my inconsistent heart. Repentance therefore is not the absence of struggle; it is the absence of settled defiance”
– J.D. Greer, Stop Asking Jesus into Your Heart

My confidence is not in my ability to hold onto Jesus, but in the blessed assurance of Jesus holding onto me

Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine
Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine
Heir of salvation, purchase of God
Born of his Spirit, washed in His blood