The question is asked, "Why should we accept Jesus as our personal Savior?" It may surprise you to know that such terminology, including "Asking Jesus into your heart," is relatively brand new in history. None of the Reformers, nor John and Charles Wesley, used such terminology; least of all the early Christians of the first three centuries. However, if you ask most modern "pastors" this question, they immediately turn to Romans 10:9-10:
"that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that god raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, leading to righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, leading to salvation."
First of all, quoting this passage should include verse 8: "But what does it say? "The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart"—that is, the word of faith which we are preaching." Secondly, modern "pastors" think in terms of "tradition" rather than Scripture. Do you see any reference to Jesus as Saviour in this passage? No, no you do not!
The "you" in this passage is singular, not plural. In other words, it is addressing individuals—not groups of believers. In old English Bibles, such as Tyndale, Geneva, and the KJV, this is made clear by the use of "thee" and "thou" as opposed to "ye."
Jesus is Saviour, regardless of whether we accept it or not. Yahweh calls Him Saviour repeatedly throughout the Gospels. So what is our response supposed to be? Let us observe what Scripture itself says:
The response Peter demanded of the Judaites?"Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Christ Jesus for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." Acts 2:38The response that was demanded of Saul, before he became the apostle Paul?"Rise up and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on His name." Acts 22:16The response Paul demanded of the Gentiles when he preached to them?"I did not prove disobedient to the heavenly vision, but kept declaring both to those of Damascus first, and also at Jerusalem and then throughout all the region of Judea, and even to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, practicing deeds appropriate to repentance." Acts 26:19-20
Repentance is central to the apostolic Gospel. Those who teach that repentance is a "work" and is not necessary for salvation are teaching "another gospel." *Cough* Dispensationalists. *Cough* In Acts 11:18 we read, "God has granted to the Gentiles also the repentance that leads to life." Repentance leads to life because repentance is belief in the Gospel. How many "pastors" do you hear preaching this biblical truth today? Not many, because most of them have been seduced by easy-believism and their Pope-ish gimmicks of proclaiming people to be "Christians" who really are not.
Jesus can be Saviour because He is God's Son and God's anointed, divine, eternal King, which is proven by His resurrection (of which Romans 10:9-10 is the focus—not His death). The correct response to this revelation is to bow our knee and confess, just as Scripture says:
"To Me every knee shall bow, and every tongue shall confess to God." Rom. 14:11; cf. Phil. 2:10-11
We do not "Ask Jesus into our hearts" or "Accept Jesus as our Saviour." Jesus is Saviour. If we want Him to be our Saviour, we must repent, be baptized, and practice deeds that bear evidence of repentance. This is the biblical prescription for salvation. Any "pastor" who teaches contrary to this is a wolf and should be marked and avoided! Any "pastor" who teaches that Jesus can be your Saviour without being your Lord is likewise a wolf and should be marked and avoided! Jesus died so that "He might be Lord both of the dead and of the living" (Rom. 14:9).
If Jesus is not Lord of your life, you can be certain that He is not Saviour of your life.