Back to the basics-Does Jesus live in our Heart?- What it means to be “saved?”

6-12-22 Pastor Larry Booth

I. Introduction:

I have heard someone recently say that the greatest heresy in the church today is to say that “a person is saved by asking Jesus to come into your heart.” (video). I feel that he was quick to make these statements because it was like a dog with a new bone. Sometimes young preachers get a thought and pursue it because it’s a juicy new criticism of something, and do not choose to study out a matter. The word “trinity” is not in the Bible, but we still believe in the concept of trinity. To say that ministers who use this phrase of “asking Jesus into your hearts,” is heretical goes a bit far, and I would caution one to use wisdom around those who constantly criticize other believers who hold different views.

This is a common statement we say today, and according to this preacher, “it has only been taught for the last 50 years or so.” He then emphasized the need for one to “repent” of his sins and to live a life that proves what he has done, and that was true salvation. While I do not disagree wholly with this statement, I do have an issue with being against a persons statement of faith, that Jesus has “come into his heart.” So let’s look over the next few weeks at the words saved, born again, repentance, and then the concept of Jesus coming into one’s heart to be saved to see if this is a biblical term.

II. “Saved” from what?

“Salvation is moving from living death to deathless life”- Jack Odell

A. An Old Testament viewpoint

1. Delivering one’s soul from Hell

Job 33:27-28 (KJV) 27 He looketh upon men, and if any say, I have sinned, and perverted that which was right, and it profited me not; 28 He will deliver his soul from going into the pit, and his life shall see the light.

Elihu must have thought that Job had sinned. This statement is Elihu’s response to Job, and his philosophy of what he thought Job needed to hear: “Repent and God will save you from Hell.” This is an Old Testament viewpoint before Abraham, and before the CROSS. While we may agree with this statement, it is a man’s viewpoint at the time, and is not God speaking here. It is generally a good ideal to keep a repentant heart, but Job was already right with God for God had said this to Satan prior to all of Job’s calamities (Job 1:8). Many times we today want to judge someone on the outside and declare that they are going through a terrible time in their life because something they have done wrong. This was Job’s friend’s theory, but was the farthest from the truth. A person of the same mindset would read this verse and agree with Elihu’s statement. His statement is true, but was a statement out of place. We must understand here that we gather our modern view from many scriptures and traditional teachings. I’m seeing the same hard line statements today as the only way to look at salvation: “repent or you’re going to Hell!” Some are correct, and some are maybe not so correct. Let’s take a look.

2. The psalmist defines “saved” here as delivering one’s soul from death, and keeping one alive in famine.

Psalm 33:16-22 (KJV) 16 There is no king saved by the multitude of an host: a mighty man is not delivered by much strength. 17 An horse is a vain thing for safety: neither shall he deliver any by his great strength. 18 Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy; 19 To deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine. 20 Our soul waiteth for the LORD: he is our help and our shield. 21 For our heart shall rejoice in him, because we have trusted in his holy name. 22 Let thy mercy, O LORD, be upon us, according as we hope in thee.

The psalmist uses this phrase “saved” to speak of many things like being delivered by God from one’s enemies (44:7; 106:10), From one’s troubles (34:6; 107:13), and anything that seems to oppose.

Psalm 80:3 (KJV) 3 Turn us again, O God, and cause thy face to shine; and we shall be saved.

David used this phrase many times: “Cause thy face to shine, and we shall be saved.” This phrase refers to God’s favor that comes after one is humble, or repentant, or seeking God. The result is to be saved from one’s circumstances.

Even when Israel didn’t deserve it, God sometimes “saved” them to show Himself to men.

Psalm 106:7-8 (KJV) 7 Our fathers understood not thy wonders in Egypt; they remembered not the multitude of thy mercies; but provoked him at the sea, even at the Red sea. 8 Nevertheless he saved them for his name's sake, that he might make his mighty power to be known.

3. In Joel, when the future Messiah would come to judge the earth, the promise was given that “all who call upon the name of the Lord, would be delivered and saved.”

Joel 2:32 (AMP) 32 And whoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be delivered and saved, for in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be those who escape, as the Lord has said, and among the remnant [of survivors] shall be those whom the Lord calls.

“Saved” here has a duel meaning of deliverance from their enemy but also hints about the salvation that Jesus would bring through His blood for those who survive the Tribulation. Paul uses this verse to speak of the salvation of the believer.

Romans 10:13 (KJV) 13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

4. Jeremiah prophesied of it also and said this new covenant would be marked with an internal salvation, written in their hearts.

Jeremiah 29:11-14 (KJV) 11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. 12 Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. 13 And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. 14 And I will be found of you, saith the LORD: and I will turn away your captivity, and I will gather you from all the nations, and from all the places whither I have driven you, saith the LORD; and I will bring you again into the place whence I caused you to be carried away captive.

Jeremiah 31:31-34 (KJV) 31 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: 32 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD: 33 But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people. 34 And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.

B. A New Testament viewpoint

This viewpoint begins with Jesus and His message to the Jews before they rejected Him. It was about entering God’s kingdom spiritually and physically. They rejected His message. Ultimately Jesus brought salvation to the Jew and Gentile alike on the cross, and we are truly “saved” by the blood of Jesus that was shed there at Calvary. The concept of salvation for the Jews at first was more about following the Messiah into the kingdom. Jesus helped them understand.

1. It’s hard for a rich man to be saved

Mark 10:23-27 (HCSB) 23 Jesus looked around and said to His disciples, “How hard it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!” 24 But the disciples were astonished at His words. Again Jesus said to them, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! 25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” 26 So they were even more astonished, saying to one another, “Then who can be saved?” 27 Looking at them, Jesus said, “With men it is impossible, but not with God, because all things are possible with God.”

Notice the disciples had equated salvation with going into the “kingdom of God.” This is possibly based off of our previous verse and many verses out of Ezekiel, Isaiah, and Zachariah. The disciples had been taught that riches were a sign of God’s favor, but Jesus taught this was not always true. In fact riches could hinder a person from “ENTERING THE KINGDOM.” The disciples first connected this with being “SAVED.” Saved in general here may have meant something different to them, today we understand more of what Jesus meant. Look at Jesus’s first statements prior to this, to better understand why he was explaining what “saved” is.

2. Welcoming the kingdom of God like a child- readily accept

Mark 10:13-16 (HCSB) 13 Some people were bringing little children to Him so He might touch them, but His disciples rebuked them. 14 When Jesus saw it, He was indignant and said to them, “Let the little children come to Me. Don’t stop them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 15 I assure you: Whoever does not welcome the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” 16 After taking them in His arms, He laid His hands on them and blessed them.

The KJV used the word “receive” here which is the Greek word δέχομαι, dechomai

δέχομαι, dechomai

“Usage Notes: signifies "to accept," by a deliberate and ready reception of what is offered (cp. No. 4), e.g., 1 Thess. 2:13, RV, "accepted;" 2 Cor. 8:17; 2 Cor. 11:4.”[1]

The kingdom belongs to those like these children, Jesus said. The kingdom of God must be accepted by one like a child would accept it, or it cannot be attained. Interestingly enough here, Jesus did not say anything about repenting or being “saved.” Israel would one day enter the kingdom of God where Christ would rule the earth. This is how they interpreted the Lord’s words, we assume. Christ’s words ring true for every believer who has given their lives to Him today. A child already has an innocent and tender heart who accepts the simple truth. Being “saved” is like a child accepting the gospel truth, and spiritually entering the Kingdom of God.

Psalm 116:6 (AMP) 6 The Lord preserves the simple; I was brought low, and He helped and saved me.

3. Jesus used the word “saved” in regard to Israel’s deliverance at the end of the Tribulation period. (See also Matthew 24:13)

Matthew 10:22 (KJV) 22 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.

4. Jesus hints of the salvation experience here in Matthew 9.

Matthew 9:16-17 (KJV) 16 No man putteth a piece of new cloth unto an old garment, for that which is put in to fill it up taketh from the garment, and the rent is made worse. 17 Neither do men put new wine into old bottles: else the bottles break, and the wine runneth out, and the bottles perish: but they put new wine into new bottles, and both are preserved.

We don’t patch the old with new patches, and we don’t put the new into old. For salvation to be true, it is the new wine coming into new containers. Both are true. A heart must be new again to contain the Spirit of God which is represented by the new wine. Could this also represent Israel having to be made new, before the real messiah could come into His kingdom? Could this have to do with putting a new covenant into the old law based system? Maybe so. What is clear, is that new covenant salvation isn’t a patch job of fixing the old man up to work right. The Lord chooses to give man a new spiritual heart, and call him a new creation. This is not a physiological thing but spiritual. This is how salvation must begin in the heart (spirit and soul) of man.

5. The New Testament salvation after the cross- Ezekiel spoke of this experience in the future for the remnant Jews this way:

Ezekiel 11:19 (KJV) 19 And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh:

He said that God would give them a new heart of flesh, or a soft heart. He also said that God would put a new spirit within them. We know now, this is speaking of the New Testament salvation experience.

2 Corinthians 5:17 (KJV) 17 Therefore if any man bein Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

In Christ a person is called a new creation. Of course this does not mean the persons spirit has been changed out with an entirely different one. It just means that the true salvation experience can only be described this way as a brand new life, where the old life is gone. It doesn’t change the fact that this is a supernatural experience.

6. Christ purpose in coming was to “save the lost.” Or to recover, and make whole the lost.

Matthew 18:11-14 (KJV) 11 For the Son of man is come to save (Gr. Sozo) that which was lost. 12 How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray? 13 And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray. 14 Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.

The Greek here is: σῴζω, sōzō

“Usage Notes: "to save," is sometimes used of "healing" or "restoration to health," the latter in John 11:12, RV, "he will recover," marg., "be saved" (AV, "he shall do well"). See HEAL, PRESERVE, SAVE, WHOLE.””[2]

Notice the disciples statement about Lazarus

John 11:12 (KJV) 12 Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well (Gr. Sozo).

So here to be “saved” could be mean: to recover from harm or brought back to health. To be saved includes salvation, wholeness, healing, deliverance, and freedom.

7. Salvation that Jesus paid for saves us from sin and sickness, and gives us eternal life

His benefits

Psalm 103:2-5 (KJV) 2 Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: 3 Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; 4 Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; 5 Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's.

Romans 6:22-23 (KJV) 22 But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. 23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Lessons to come:

III. “Born again?”

IV. Repent from what?

V. Does Jesus come into our hearts?

[1]William E. Vine, Vine's Expository Dictionary of Old Testament and New Testament Words, (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 1940), WORDsearchCROSS e-book, Under: "Acceptable". [2]William E. Vine, Vine's Expository Dictionary of Old Testament and New Testament Words, (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 1940), WORDsearch CROSS e-book, Under: "Recover".