Should We Ask Jesus Into Our Heart?

If you’ve spent any amount of time in church circles, you’ve probably heard two phrases over and over:

• “Jesus is my personal Savior.”

• “You need to ask Jesus into your heart.”

These expressions are familiar, emotional, and for many of us, deeply meaningful. But are they biblical? And do they help people understand the gospel or accidentally confuse them?

Let’s look at both phrases through the lens of Scripture.

Is Jesus Our Personal Savior?

While the Bible never uses the exact phrase “personal Savior,” it absolutely teaches the idea behind it. Salvation is not automatic. It’s not inherited from family, absorbed through culture, or received by osmosis from attending church. It is deeply personal, requiring an individual response of repentance and faith. Jesus began His ministry by calling people to:

“Repent and believe in the gospel.” (Mark 1:15)

John writes that salvation comes to those who:

“receive Him” and “believe in His name.” (John 1:12)

Paul goes even further, declaring:

“The Son of God loved me and gave Himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20)

That’s not abstract theology. That’s personal. So is Jesus our personal Savior? Yes - because faith must be personal.He is the Savior of the world, and each person must choose to trust Him.

Should People Ask Jesus Into Their Heart?

This is where things get a little more complicated. The phrase “ask Jesus into your heart” isn’t found in Scripture. For many, it’s simply a way to describe coming to faith. But for others - especially kids or new believers - it can be confusing. The danger is that people may think salvation happens because of a phrase, not because of faith. Yet the idea behind the phrase isn’t wrong. The Bible does say:

“Christ [dwells] in your hearts through faith.” (Ephesians 3:17)

Christ truly does take up residence in the life of a believer through His Spirit. But notice the wording:It happens through faith, not through a special prayer formula. Throughout the New Testament, when people respond to the gospel, they are invited to:

• Repent (Acts 2:38)

• Believe (Acts 16:31)

• Turn to God (Acts 26:20)

• Confess Jesus as Lord (Romans 10:9–10)

• Receive Him (John 1:12)

Never once are they told, “Repeat this line,” or “Ask Jesus into your heart.”That language is modern and can be misunderstood if not explained.

So How Should We Share the Gospel?

We should use the Bible’s own vocabulary:

• Repent of sin.

• Believe the good news.

• Receive the gift of salvation.

• Confess Jesus as Lord.

• Follow Him as King.

That’s clear, biblical, and Spirit-empowered. If someone says, “I asked Jesus into my heart,” we don’t need to correct or shame them. God saves people who truly put their faith in Christ even if their theological vocabulary is still developing. But when explaining the gospel, especially to the next generation, the Bible gives us better language to work with.

A Better Way to Explain It

Instead of “Ask Jesus into your heart,” we might say:

• “Turn from your sin and trust Christ alone to save you.”

• “Receive Jesus as your Lord and Savior.”

• “Surrender your life to Him.”

• “Believe in the One who died and rose for you.”

These phrases point people to repentance, faith, and discipleship, not a momentary prayer.

Is Jesus our personal Savior? Absolutely. Salvation is personal, relational, and individual.

Should people ask Jesus into their heart? They can - but the Bible gives us clearer language to guide people toward true repentance and faith.

As we share the gospel with our kids, our neighbors, our friends, and our church, let’s strive to speak about salvation the way Scripture does: with clarity, conviction, and hope.

After all, the goal isn’t to get people to say certain words - it’s to introduce them to the Savior who actually changes hearts.