Is Accepting Jesus Biblical?

The world must know about Jesus and His glorious Gospel reconciling man to God. As Christians, it is our Great Commission to share His love with the world and to make "disciples of all the nations" (Matthew 28:19). This is why evangelism has played a significant role in every church program and planning. When followers of Christ go out to reach other people, the primary goal has always been for them to hear the Gospel and place their faith in Jesus.

When sharing the Gospel, most people usually start by explaining God’s holiness, humanity’s sin, and the provision of the Son of God dying on the cross for the salvation of humankind. Afterward, we often hear the question, "Do you want to accept Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior?" followed by a prayer for the other person. This is one of the most common ways people come to know Christ and put their faith in Him. But is accepting Jesus biblical? To answer this question, we must understand God’s gift of salvation and how the Scriptures instruct us to receive it.

The Gift of Salvation in Jesus Christ

God’s plan of salvation started at the very beginning when Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden. The Divine command was for them to eat from the fruit of the trees in the garden, except for the tree in the midst of the garden—the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (Genesis 3). However, when the serpent tempted Adam and Eve, they succumbed and decided to eat the forbidden fruit, introducing sin into the equation. Until now, humanity has been in rebellion against God due to sin. Scripture tells us in Romans 3:23 that "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."

Due to their transgression, Adam and Eve were expelled from the Garden and denied access to the Tree of Life. Death also became a reality for humanity, and even worse than death is the eternal separation from God, leading to experiencing His eternal justice in the depths of hell. Nevertheless, in God’s mercy, He provided hope right there in the Garden through a messianic promise.

 And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel." – Genesis 3:15 NKJV

 The “Seed” refers to the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the Son of God who was sent by the Father from heaven and took on the human form while remaining truly divine. In the world, Jesus accomplished what Adam and Eve and all of humanity failed to do – He fully obeyed God and lived a perfectly righteous life. For us, He became the ultimate sacrifice capable of appeasing God's wrath. When He allowed Himself to be crucified on the cross, He assumed the judgment for sin that should have fallen upon us. He did not sin against the Father, but He paid the price for our sins so we can be reconciled with God.

For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

– 2 Corinthians 5:21 NKJV

The Scripture clearly tells us that if we put our faith in Jesus, we will be saved and receive salvation. It is not because of what we have done or any merit or effort on our behalf, but, as Paul described in his letter to the church in Ephesus, the "gift of God." A gift is something given without any requirement of something in return. It is free. So is the gift of salvation in Christ Jesus. We received it for free, but the Lord Jesus paid the price—His life on the cross.

 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, [9] not of works, lest anyone should boast.

–Ephesians 2:8-9 NKJV

Would You Accept the Gift of Salvation?

In answering the question, “Is accepting Jesus Biblical?” we must look at the truth that salvation is a gift. When someone gives us a gift, we always have the choice of whether or not to accept it. Not receiving the gift means we are rejecting not just the gift but also the person who gave it to us.

Jesus Christ gave us His life so that we may "have life" and "have it more abundantly" (John 10:10). Rejecting Jesus’ offer of salvation is rejecting Him as well. When the Son of God came to the world, the Bible tells us that He was not recognized by the world created through Him and was not received by His own people. The people scorned Him, made fun of His claims, and doubted His motives and mission. Yet, the promise for those who will receive Him is eternal membership in the family of God.

He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. [11] He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. [12] But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name:

– John 1:10-12 NKJV

Becoming a child of God is the most incredible privilege given to someone who believes (puts their faith) in Jesus Christ. This means an eternal relationship with God and eternal life in Him. Nonetheless, the condition is to “receive” Jesus, which means to “believe” in Him. Receiving Jesus means not rejecting Him and His free gift of salvation.

Is accepting Jesus biblical? The answer to this question is a BIG YES! The Bible, from Genesis to Revelation, speaks of the glory of Jesus Christ and God’s plan of salvation through Him. Reading through the pages of Scripture, we can see how God’s plan is being fulfilled through the person of the Only Begotten Son of the Father. Its pages magnify the glory of Jesus and tell us that our hope is in Him alone. But the question for us always remains: “Would we accept Jesus?”

Accept Jesus Today

We understand that life is hard and full of challenges, and our efforts are focused on surviving and experiencing a good life in our earthly abode. But do you know that the greatest decision you can make is to secure not this life but your eternal life? The good news is that we don't need to secure it through our own efforts or good works. Jesus Christ did the work for us! But will we accept Him? Will we accept His free gift of salvation? If we accept Him, it means we believe in Him and His name. This is the most significant decision we can make in our lifetime.

 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life

 – John 3:16 NKJV

If you have accepted Jesus, the exciting part is that you become a part of an eternal family. This is the body of Christ—the church. To further your understanding of the Lord and your Christian life, your fellow brothers and sisters in Christ can assist you. Find a local church that preaches about Christ and magnifies His Gospel. It is where you will experience more of the love of Christ through people who serve you and whom you can also serve. It is where brothers and sisters in Christ will pray with and for you. It is one of the happiest places you can be! 

We are praying that you may come to know Christ more and continue to grow in your walk of faith!