Is it enough to accept Christ as your personal savior? Obviously we must accept Christ. But whether that is enough depends on your concept of of the word. The term, "accept Christ as your personal savior," is frequently heard in the religious world. Speakers often call upon hearers to do it. But what does the Bible say about that?
Did you know that the New Testament never calls upon one to "accept Christ as your personal savior?" Neither the phrase, "accept Christ," nor the term, "personal savior," are found in the New Testament. The phrase, "accept Christ as your personal savior," though routinely repeated, originated with men. What, then, does the New Testament require one to do to be saved?
Jesus says, in Matthew 7:21, "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven." Jesus calls upon us to do the will of His Father! In fact, obedience, not mere, acceptance, is required throughout God's word. Jesus says there is something to do to be saved. In Mark 16:15-16, He says we must believe and be baptized. In Luke 13:2-6, He says we must repent. In Matthew 10:32-34, He says we must confess Him before men.
In Acts 2:37-38, Peter told the crowd who had believed on Jesus by Peter's preaching, "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." (Emphasis mine, LJB). He didn't tell them to "Accept Christ as your personal savior!" In fact, they had already accepted Christ. Now Peter says, "you must obey Him!"
No, accepting Christ as your personal Savior is not enough. Your Saviour calls upon you to Believe in Him, repent of your sins, confess Him, and be baptized into him (Please see also, Romans 6:3-4 and Galatians 3:27, and then to continue to live a life of obedience to Him.
L. John Bost
Did you know that the New Testament never calls upon one to "accept Christ as your personal savior?" Neither the phrase, "accept Christ," nor the term, "personal savior," are found in the New Testament. The phrase, "accept Christ as your personal savior," though routinely repeated, originated with men. What, then, does the New Testament require one to do to be saved?
Jesus says, in Matthew 7:21, "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven." Jesus calls upon us to do the will of His Father! In fact, obedience, not mere, acceptance, is required throughout God's word. Jesus says there is something to do to be saved. In Mark 16:15-16, He says we must believe and be baptized. In Luke 13:2-6, He says we must repent. In Matthew 10:32-34, He says we must confess Him before men.
In Acts 2:37-38, Peter told the crowd who had believed on Jesus by Peter's preaching, "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." (Emphasis mine, LJB). He didn't tell them to "Accept Christ as your personal savior!" In fact, they had already accepted Christ. Now Peter says, "you must obey Him!"
No, accepting Christ as your personal Savior is not enough. Your Saviour calls upon you to Believe in Him, repent of your sins, confess Him, and be baptized into him (Please see also, Romans 6:3-4 and Galatians 3:27, and then to continue to live a life of obedience to Him.
L. John Bost
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