Asking Jesus into your heart - is it biblical?

[Harley]

On another thread I saw the phrase "If you asked Jesus into your heart..." and it prompted this question: Is this a biblical phrase?

I know it is a reference to coming to Christ - but where did the phrase come from and is it accurate?

Technically, Jesus is seated at the right hand of the Father. It's the Spirit that indwells the believer. And I could not find any biblical reference to Jesus coming into our hearts.

[Wired4Sound]

http://www.duluthbible.org/seven_reasons.htm

[BHiles]

It came from here:
Re 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. (Duluth Bible is wrong here. This was a call to a person not the church. "If any Man", "I will come into Him" not the church.)

And is used as a euphanism for believing and trusting in Jesus Christ as Saviour

labe hebrew for into my heart

meaning into my soul and mind.

Similar to the command:

Phillipians 2:4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.
5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

[Harley]

WOW - a whole web page dedicated to this. I guess nothing is new. I too thought of the Revelation passage but dismissed it for similar reasons as the web site. The reference to Jesus in Revelation 3 are not salvific and can't be used to teach "Asking Jesus into..." any more than you'd expect him to "eat" with you.

I guess my point is, if this is the best we have, I don't think it's a biblical phrase.

That said, I agree it's just a figure of speach referring to salvation and I'd not "correct" anyone.

[sixfingers]

Heb 10:16 This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;
Heb 10:17 And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.


Joh 14:23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.

Eph 3:17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,

2Co 1:22 Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.

Rev 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.


Rom 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
Rom 10:10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.


Its all about the heart! :thumb

[dman]

is indeed biblical Christ lives in your Heart..

Not your Flesh heart, The heart the bible speaks of is Man's Spirit not the Holy Spirit But man is a soul and a spirit living within a body of Flesh..

Feeding our spirit the WOrd Of God Feeds it and Brings it back to Life The heart (Spirit of Man) is where the holy Spirit Bind and dwells with us.

The Father son and the Holy Ghost are threee in one the father and Christ liturally Dwell not only in heaven But in the Heart of all Christians ..

Man's Spirit is that which God Blew into adam That which Gave the Body and soul Life That is what Died was starved to death became self serving and self rightious in the fall of man..

When we are born again and feed our spirit with the word we (our old man) become dead with Christ rather then dead to him and under Judgement ..

[Benja32one]

On another thread I saw the phrase "If you asked Jesus into your heart..." and it prompted this question: Is this a biblical phrase?

I know it is a reference to coming to Christ - but where did the phrase come from and is it accurate?

Technically, Jesus is seated at the right hand of the Father. It's the Spirit that indwells the believer. And I could not find any biblical reference to Jesus coming into our hearts.

NEITHER HAVE I, AND YOU WON'T EITHER.....
:doh
Harley this is some of the 'sappy spiritual' language I detest. To close with the offer of mercy in Christ is to 'receive Him'. (John 1.11-13) Evangelists have popularized this 'into your heart' idea and terminology. I think it denigrates the guilt and culpability of the sinner, and is a poor substitute for showing the lost man he is a lawless, depraved sinner and needs repentance before any reception of Christ is proposed to him. Many preachers I've heard use Rev. 3.20, you know, He is knocking at your heart's door, during the 'invitation', so-called (and by the way, uinscriptural) It is PARDON FOR SIN THAT MUST BE OFFERED, then the Holy Spirit indwells the new believer. I think the use of this one phrase has deluded many a sinner, and let them go on down the road to hell. IMHO
:nod

[Joyfull]

Every time I hear the phrase "Ask Jesus into your heart", I wonder... what about the repentance?? I fear there may be a lot of people who have "asked Jesus into their hearts" who may not really be saved because they weren't told they needed to confess their sins, repent, and turn from their sins. These are just my thoughts and I could be missing something, so maybe someone with more knowledge will know more...

[Timothy]

... I think it denigrates the guilt and culpability of the sinner, and is a poor substitute for showing the lost man he is a lawless, depraved sinner and needs repentance before any reception of Christ is proposed to him...

Agreed. It is a very watered down message. Plus, the phrase implies a level of merit on the part of the individual.

[dman]

ITs not A watered down message its the Word From Gen to Rev SHeesh even in Genisis it Speak of The Spirit as Lifes Blood ..

Even This verse

Gen 4:10 And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground.

The red stuff doesn't cry God is refering to the Spirit The life of Abel crying to him...

Eph 3:17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,

That christ may Dwell in your heart This not being that heart that pumps Blood it Refering to A man's Spirit ( Life) That which animates his Body ...

There are many verse through out the word that SPeaks on This heart that Christ Dwell's in and the Holy Spirit Binds with. we walk in the Spirit lead by the Holy Spirit lead by our heart our Conscience Spiritual intuition that which comes from the Word and Holy Spirit.

That which is to lead out Soul ( mind and intelect) and our Body (Flesh)

How is that watered down anyone who don't have this forgets who's he is..

[His4ever]

I asked Him into my heart. He knew what I wanted whether the phrase is exactly correct or not. I know He came because there was a change.

[Benja32one]

I asked Him into my heart. He knew what I wanted whether the phrase is exactly correct or not. I know He came because there was a change.

:wave
I am not saying that if that was the way you were approached with the offer of salvation, and you were truly repentant, realized it was YOUR OWN personal sin that nailed Him to the tree...that you were not saved. What I am saying is that this formula has led many to 'accept Jesus', or to 'make a decision for Christ' without real remorse and repentance of sin.
:thumb

[sac]

Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;

1Cr 15:2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.

1Cr 15:3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;

1Cr 15:4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

The above Scripture verses were copied and pasted here from www.blueletterbible.com

[BHiles]

Were not going there with the Paul's Gospel vs Jesus' Gospel thing again :doh

[sac]

Were not going there with the Paul's Gospel vs Jesus' Gospel thing again :doh
I'm not either. I just posted what we have to believe today to be saved.

[dman]

I'm not gonna argue this either there is more to it then just claiming salvation are you saying paul denied the change the tranformation are you saying he wasn't tranformed is it you Believe he continued to kill Christians while wittnessing and forming the Chruch ???

or was there a marked Change that 180 degree turn that allowing Christ and the word in to the heart ( Spirit) That Changed life only he (Christ) can bring the one the bible tells us of ..

if there is no change no transformation no desire to become completely dependent on Christ no desire for his word to feed your Spirit WHat is saved how is it self evident to even ones self ..

What goes into a man is what will come out The word tells us his love will be self evident in us he will begin to draw all men unto him self through us ..

[sac]

I'm not gonna argue this either there is more to it then just claiming salvation are you saying paul denied the change the tranformation are you saying he wasn't tranformed is it you Believe he continued to kill Christians while wittnessing and forming the Chruch ???

or was there a marked Change that 180 degree turn that allowing Christ and the word in to the heart ( Spirit) That Changed life only he (Christ) can bring the one the bible tells us of ..

if there is no change no transformation no desire to become completely dependent on Christ no desire for his word to feed your Spirit WHat is saved how is it self evident to even ones self ..

What goes into a man is what will come out The word tells us his love will be self evident in us he will begin to draw all men unto him self through us ..

I'm not following you on this?

[dman]

pray about it :)

Not even asking you to follow me follow Christ Thats where Eternal life is that is where real salvation is found , Definatly pray on it Cause if you can't follow the Thinking on A mans Change when he accepts Christ Then you need to pray on it Look to Jesus...

[dman]

That cross That Christ was sacrficed on was not dead wood That Cross Buded and Bore Fruit it was not a Cross of Death or dead wood ...

That fruit When we beileve Beocmes a living thing within us Bring our spirit to Life Marked 180 degree change tranformation of mind and spirit which the soul and Body will be moved by lead by the Holy Spirt which binds and ties with our spirit ..

The Heart Refered to Though out the bible is man's Spirit which was dormant Dead staved due to self rightiousness self glorification lack of food " man shall not live on bread alone but every word of God" Food of the Spirit..

see That Spirit That the word Feeds is not The holy Spirit at all The holy Spirit is one with the father and the son it is The Word the spirit that is being fed is our spirit our heart ..

[BHiles]

Iwas saved when I was 4 so it was hard to see a 180 degree change from what i was. I only now know my life is 180 degrees from what I would have become. What did change 180 degrees was my belief from unbelief. :nod

[Benja32one]

:freaked
In 50 years, I have seen many persons 'saved' by 'inviting Jesus into their heart'. Do most of them understand what the cross and resurrection of Jesus actually did for them? IF THERE IS NO CONTINUING HUNGER FOR THE WORD OF GOD YOU HAVE NOT BECOME HIS CHILD AND SHOULD EXAMINE THE EXPERIENCE CAREFULLY.
:nod

[Harley]

Just to be clear - I don't think there is anything wrong with using the phrase, I just don't care for it from a "now I'm being really picky" point of view. I, personally, would never use it in the pulpit.

I certainly would not apply some kind of cause and effect to receiving salvation dependent on what words you used - this smacks of an incantation.

Notice I said "receiving" salvation... another pet peve of mine is "Accepting Jesus as my Savior." Who am I to "accept" Jesus?

Now "receive Jesus..." - that's biblical.

[Benja32one]

Just to be clear - I don't think there is anything wrong with using the phrase, I just don't care for it from a "now I'm being really picky" point of view. I, personally, would never use it in the pulpit.

I certainly would not apply some kind of cause and effect to receiving salvation dependent on what words you used - this smacks of an incantation.

Notice I said "receiving" salvation... another pet peve of mine is "Accepting Jesus as my Savior." Who am I to "accept" Jesus?
:wave
Now "receive Jesus..." - that's biblical.
Yes, I think that too. According to John 1.11-13, the door is thrown open to all who come after those who first welcomed Christ as the Son of God. I am one of the 'as many as received Him', though I received Him and became a son in 1955.
:thumb :nod

[Harley]

Heb 10:16 This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;
Heb 10:17 And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.
OK - law in our hearts "after those days" I can buy that, probably a reference to the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. But no indication here that he means Jesus.


Joh 14:23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
OK - this is good. The plural is interested though - certainly don't think the Father enters as well. Probabaly another reference to the Holy Spirit. But I'll ponder this one more.


Eph 3:17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,
This is good too. Although it does not refer to Jesus coming into our hearts as the salvific formula goes, it does refer to Christ dwelling in our hearts. I'll ponder this too.

2Co 1:22 Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.
Obviously the Holy Spirit here, so not germane to the discussion

Rev 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
Be here, done this...


Rom 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
Rom 10:10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Not sure how these verses fit, other than reference to heart.


Its all about the heart! :thumb
No argument here, just wondering about some of the picky details regarding the heart.

Thanks!

[dman]

They are not picky details of the Heart They are godly and biblical details.

Rom 2:29 But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.

Col 2:11 In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:



hmmm

circumcision of the Heart ( in the Spirit ) wow in the bible Godly detail wow being saved is a circumcision of the Heart (spirit). who would have thunk it ??

Study to show thy self and thy words approved :)

pray about it ..

[Harley]

They are not picky details of the Heart They are godly and biblical details.

Rom 2:29 But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.

Col 2:11 In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:



hmmm

circumcision of the Heart ( in the Spirit ) wow in the bible Godly detail wow being saved is a circumcision of the Heart (spirit). who would have thunk it ??

Study to show thy self and thy words approved :)

pray about it ..

Koodos on the nice use of condescending sarcasm...

Anyway, by picky details I simply meant the original question about "Asking Jesus into your (my) heart..." as a salvific formula. As if it really matters what words you use - which of course it does not. Therefore the reference to picky details.

[dman]

NO kudos to me praise God it is the Holy Spirit That Reveals
the truth of Gods word to us :)

[Harley]

OK, can't argue with that... not sure how it fits the discussion, but I agree with the sentiment.

[sixfingers]

I think I see what you are saying better now Harely. Its not a "formula" as you put it. There are no magic words that make it happen. Its about believing what Christ did for us. Understanding that we are guilty of sin, and Christ died for those sins, that we, through Him, might be reconciled to God. Having said this....

Have people been saved by "asking Christ into their hearts"? Yes, if they truly understand they are sinners and believe that Christ died for those sins, I would say they understand what it is to ask Christ into their hearts.

Have people been saved by never uttering those particular words, but rather something else like..... "God I know I am a sinner, forgive me of my sins, I repent now and accept your Grace through faith....amen! Yes!

Theres no secret sentence....its about realizing we are sinners in need of a saviour. If a person truly believes and accepts Christs redemptive works, a change WILL happen. And it happens in the "heart".

Why the heart?

Because thats where the problem of sin resides. ;): Its a Biblical truth that even Children understand the concept. :): No need to mence about words. A mute could believe without ever muttering any word, but the Change still happens in the heart! Make sense?

Blessings!

[Timothy]

For clarification of my comments, there can be some specific concerns of using certain catch phrases and cliches. For example, "give your life to Christ and you will be saved," or "pray and ask Jesus to come into your heart and you will be saved," "make Jesus lord of your life and you will be saved," etc. The gospel of the grace of God is so simplistic that many of these cliches can cloud how someone gets saved. Someone does not get saved by praying, asking, or making. They get saved by simply believing. Some of the catch phrases and cliches are loosely worded, and can have mutliple meanings and interpretations, some unintentional and others intentional. For example, to the advocates of "Lordship Salvation," they mean something specific when they say "make Jesus the Lord of your life" (i.e. the danger of their message is that they subtly mean that personal righteousness is involved in salvation).

[blitzkreig]

Were not going there with the Paul's Gospel vs Jesus' Gospel thing again :doh If you can not fathom the multiple facets of "good news" which were available to different peoples (Israel or the Gentiles) at different stages of revelation through out the Scriptures you are certainly missing the whole concept of dispensationalism and that methology of understanding Scripture ...

.

[BHiles]

If you can not fathom the multiple facets of "good news" which were available to different peoples (Israel or the Gentiles) at different stages of revelation through out the Scriptures you are certainly missing the whole concept of dispensationalism and that methology of understanding Scripture ...

.

Yeah right, ok whatever you say. I don't understand, that's right. Better get my money back i guess.

You want to open sacs can of worms be might guest :doh

[UNeverEverNo]

I would highly recommend reading Waking the Dead by John Eldredge. His explanation of the "heart" gives great insight into where our love for Jesus resides.

We tend, in this day and age, to believe that the heart is only a feeling. It is so much more. The heart brakes when we lose someone we love. The heart jumps for joy when we hear the voice of our child calling from Iraq. Our heart loves Jesus, our Savior. Our heart longs to be with Him.

Read the book. I can't explain it like Eldredge can. http://www.ransomedheart.com


Waking the Dead
The Glory of a Heart Fully Alive

Living from the heart so you can live for the hearts of others…

There is a glory and a meaning to life that most people – including believers – never see. They live as the dead in heart, moving from difficulty to drudgery and continually misinterpreting their days. In this new book, John Eldredge reveals the path of seeing with the eyes of the heart. He offers deep and life-changing answers to three key questions: Why is the heart so important? Can we really trust our hearts? And how do “ordinary” people live from the heart? The powerful answers, which flow straight from the new covenant taught in Scripture, will bring dead hearts back to life.

The heart is central to life. Not only is the heart essential; the heart God has ransomed is also good. Building on these precious truths, John explains why real Christianity is a process of restoration whereby the broken parts of our hearts are mended and the captive parts are set free.

Waking the Dead will help you understand how to live from the heart, care for your heart like the treasure of the kingdom that it is, and give from fullness instead of emptiness. This message also shows how living from the heart can energize your love for God and others in a way you’ve never experienced, revealing life’s purpose: fighting for the hearts of others.

If you want life, you’ll need your heart. Isn’t it time you got it back?

[blitzkreig]

You want to open sacs can of worms be might guest :dohI think you would be surprised at the following that literal/non-traditional interpretation has ...

.

[AndyPLS]

Heb 10:16 This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;
Heb 10:17 And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.


Joh 14:23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.

Eph 3:17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,

2Co 1:22 Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.

Rev 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.


Rom 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
Rom 10:10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.


Its all about the heart! :thumb

:thumb

And let's not forget this one ...

At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you. Jn 14:20

The way I see it is like this ...
In order to have Christ dwell in you, you must be saved, born again.
In order to be born again you must believe.
In order to believe you must change your understanding: (from self-righteous, self-willed pratical atheism to a realization of your sin, revelation that there is a God and that Jesus Christ is His Son who died on the Cross for your sins and rose again the third day.)

Sincerely aksing Christ into your heart is equivalent to turning from "practical" unbelief to belief, desiring forgiveness, salvation, and really, communion with our God, the one true God.

Peace.

[Harley]

:thumb

And let's not forget this one ...

At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you. Jn 14:20.
This is were I go Hmmmm...
There are three "in's" here: 1) Jesus in the Father, 2) Us in Jesus, and 3) Jesus in Us. For this to mean that Jesus somehow becomes present in us (Himself) then we would also have to say (to be consistent) that we are in him and he is in the Father in the same manner. And I don't think we want to go there, so it must mean something else. I'd say something relational.

[Harley]

I guess it boils down to the nature of the resurrected Lord. When he was on earth in his pre-resurrection body he was locationally limited by it the same as we are - he could only be at one place at one time.

I understand the ability of the Father to be omnipresent, as well as the Spirit, but the New Testament seems to show Jesus as being (self)limited by location. He is seated at the Father's right hand, or walking among the lampstands, or riding a horse.

I wonder if the limiting of his omnipresence extends to his resurrected state as well?

[Harley]

I would highly recommend reading Waking the Dead by John Eldredge. His explanation of the "heart" gives great insight into where our love for Jesus resides.[/url]
I read it and didn't really care for it. I don't remember finding anything "wrong" with it - just a style thing I guess. I heard Wild at Heart was better but have not read it.

[AndyPLS]

This is were I go Hmmmm...
There are three "in's" here: 1) Jesus in the Father, 2) Us in Jesus, and 3) Jesus in Us. For this to mean that Jesus somehow becomes present in us (Himself) then we would also have to say (to be consistent) that we are in him and he is in the Father in the same manner. And I don't think we want to go there, so it must mean something else. I'd say something relational.

Gal 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the

Perhaps the difficulty arises from using the language of this physical existence to try and convey a spiritual communion/relationship. But even if one does tend to think of it in an almost physical sense, the main idea of an intense desire for closeness of relationship with the Lord still comes through
and it's that heart's desire that the Lord looks upon no matter how simplistic our understanding, wouldn't you agree?

[Harley]

Gal 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the

Perhaps the difficulty arises from using the language of this physical existence to try and convey a spiritual communion/relationship. But even if one does tend to think of it in an almost physical sense, the main idea of an intense desire for closeness of relationship with the Lord still comes through
and it's that heart's desire that the Lord looks upon no matter how simplistic our understanding, wouldn't you agree?
Yeah - I would agree.

[AndyPLS]

I guess it boils down to the nature of the resurrected Lord. When he was on earth in his pre-resurrection body he was locationally limited by it the same as we are - he could only be at one place at one time.

I understand the ability of the Father to be omnipresent, as well as the Spirit, but the New Testament seems to show Jesus as being (self)limited by location. He is seated at the Father's right hand, or walking among the lampstands, or riding a horse.

I wonder if the limiting of his omnipresence extends to his resurrected state as well?

I don't believe so. We have many quotes from the Lord Himself ....
"where two or more are gathered in my name, there I am in the midst of them"
"lo I am with you always, even unto the end of the world"
"I am he that trieth the hearts and searcheth the reins"

which seem to indicate His omni-presence.

Being seated at the right hand of the Father indicates His power and authority. I don't think it is a physical description ... God is spirit.

[Harley]

Very good points

[Chronus]

I "prayed Jesus into my heart" when I was six. Do you know what happened? I deluded myself into thinking that I was a Christian.

I was 23 years old when the Lord decided to open my eyes to my sinfulness and the terrifying reality of my destination to hell. The constant crying out to him for mercy, the shameful admitance of my sin, the turnaround in my life, the new Christian friends, the joy of seeing His will and pleasure being done . . . now that's when I became a Christian.

I think the phrase does have a ring of truth to it. The Spirit of Christ does dwell in His children as many of the above quoted Scriptures show. However, I am in greater agreement with those who are bothered by its use as a "salvific formula". I, and I suspect many people like me, use/used it as a means to get to heaven without really having to repent or have Jesus as their Lord. Tragically, several members in my family think this phrase has saved them and so now they have "free reins" to live like the Devil. :(:

To be clear, I'm NOT saying that children cannot become Christians. Nor am I saying that EVERYBODY who claims to have become a Christian this way is deluded. Like the others above, I think it's a heart issue. But I'm also alarmed at the number of people who "became Christians" this way and yet fail to bear good fruit.

[dman]

I don't think anyone in this discussion said that Repentance was not important or was not the Key at all..

Look Christ Loves us enough to die on The Cross as offering for our sins while we were Still in si, concord sin and death By raiseing but that is as far as it went.

He will only enter in When we come to in renpentance admiting our ways our self rightiousness and self serveing atitude is wrong and come to Fully rely on him completely ...

Mind you it is not a physical Heart that the word speaks of but the Spiritual our Spirit he enters..

and also to remind you the fruit That is to be seen in christians is not our fruit But his iwe retirer in our repentance we dont do the Work its Christ who who does The works of faith Through us we can not gain or earn salvation in our own works we can do nothing but depend on Jesus for all things in our life ..

Loyalty to our Faith Is obedience to Christ in all ways complete surender allowing him and him only to work through us adding nothing of our own to it undeluted, everything that does come out of us that is not Christ from us is stubble dead wood that which will be tried and burned away..

if one says they Dont see the fruit in a person it is to say they don't see Jesus working through them in the Spirit ..

You are right to say you don't beileve any are deluded they Truely are not deluded if they say they have asked christ into there heart unless they are saying they have repented admited Christ is the only way and repented Then this will show out in time This will be false conversion ..