Grace Evangelical Society

P.O. Box 1308, Denton, TX 76202
  • About
    • Home
    • Beliefs
    • Staff
    • Board of Directors
  • Resources
    • Grace in Focus Blog
    • Grace in Focus International Blogs
    • Grace in Focus Radio
    • Grace in Focus Magazine
    • Free eBooks
    • Journal of the GES
    • Book Reviews
    • Partners in Grace Newsletter
    • Audio Messages
    • Videos
    • Email Subscription
    • Bookstore
    • Online Tracts
  • Store
    • Main Page
    • On Sale
    • Return Policy
    • Your Cart
    • Your Account
  • Events
  • Seminary
    • Seminary Info
    • Fall 2023 Classes
    • GES Seminary Curriculum
    • GES Seminary Faculty
  • Connect
    • Contact Us
    • Free Grace Church and Bible Study Tracker
    • Free Grace Jobs
    • Ministry Links
  • Donate
    • One Time Donation
    • Monthly Donation
    • Your Account
  • Search
Home
→
Grace in Focus Articles
→
Receiving is Believing

Receiving is Believing

September 1, 1991 by Bob Wilkin in Grace in Focus Articles

A common evangelistic appeal today is: “Receive Christ and you will be saved.” While that appeal is commonly used, it is very uncommon in Scripture!

Only one passage refers to “receiving Christ” as a condition of eternal life. yet there are over a hundred which refer to believing in Him as the one and only condition.

If we want our witnessing to convey the emphasis of Scripture, ninety-nine times out of a hundred we should call people to believe in Christ. Only rarely if at all should we even mention receiving Christ.

Even the one passage which mentions “receiving Christ” makes it clear that believing is the sole condition of eternal life. John 1:12 says, in effect, that as many as receive Christ–that is, as many as believe in Him–become children of God.

The reason I bring this up is because of the confusion which this common evangelistic appeal often causes. It can be confusing in three ways.

First, if left unexplained, this appeal can leave the unbeliever completely in the dark as to what he or she must do to be saved. The typical unbeliever doesn’t know how to “receive Christ.” They know how to receive a phone call or a UPS package, but not how to receive Christ. Do they need to pray some prayer? If so, which one? Should they look to a feeling to know if they really have “received” Him?

Second, if the one witnessing mistakenly defines receiving Christ as inviting Christ into one’s life, then the unbeliever may wrongly think that if he does that sincerely he will be saved, regardless of what he believes. Of course, that is not the case. (For further discussion of this point, see my August 1991 GES News article, Don’t Ask.)

Third, if this appeal is wrongly explained as including turning from sins and committing one’s life to Christ–as it is commonly explained by Lordship Salvationists, then unbelievers incorrectly think that they can buy salvation by moral reform and promissory notes.

Anytime we prefer some invitation other than that which the Scriptures prefer, we risk garbling the Gospel.

I find it much clearer and simpler to call people to believe in Christ and Him alone for eternal life.

If someone asks me what it means to receive Christ, then I turn them to John 1:12 and explain to them that receiving is believing. Those who reject Christ and His message, as most of His countrymen of His day did, do not believe (John 1:11). Those who accept Him and His message do believe in Him (John 1:12). It’s that simple. Receiving Christ is simply a synonym for believing in Him. It has nothing to do with praying a prayer, feeling a feeling, turning from sins, or promising to be good.

Receiving is believing.

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
Bob_W

by Bob Wilkin

Bob Wilkin (ThM, PhD, Dallas Theological Seminary) is the Founder and Executive Director of Grace Evangelical Society and co-host of Grace in Focus Radio. He lives in Highland Village, TX with his wife, Sharon. His latest books are Faith Alone in One Hundred Verses and Turn and Live: The Power of Repentance.

Cart

Recently Added

December 7, 2023

Romans–Part 50–Rom 13:1-7–The Believer’s Relation and Submission to Government

Welcome to Grace in Focus radio. Today, Kathryn Wright and Ken Yates are in one of the central passages in the Bible about the believer’s...
December 7, 2023

Why Does the Desiring God Ministry Want You to Doubt Your Salvation? Part 1 

I received a powerful email from Jerry: Thank you for your ministry. I read an August 9 [2023] article on the Desiring God website. Here...
December 6, 2023

Romans-Part 49–Rom 12:17-21–Forgiveness

Welcome to Grace in Focus radio. Today, Kathryn Wright and Ken Yates are in Romans 12, talking about forgiveness. Why is forgiveness hard to do?...

Grace in Focus Radio

All Episodes

Listen on Google Podcasts

Listen on Spotify

Grace In Focus Magazine

Grace In Focus is sent to subscribers in the United States free of charge.

Subscribe for Free

The primary source of Grace Evangelical Society's funding is through charitable contributions. GES uses all contributions and proceeds from the sales of our resources to further the gospel of grace in the United States and abroad.

Donate

Bookstore Specials

  • The Ten Most Misunderstood Words in the Bible $15.00 $10.00
  • Chosen to Serve: Why Divine Election Is to Service, Not to Eternal Life $18.00 $12.00
  • The Atonement and Other Writings $10.00 $6.00
  • Here Walks My Enemy: The Story of Luis (Paperback) $6.95 $3.00
  • Faith in His Name: Listening to the Gospel of John $10.00 $6.00
Grace Evangelical Society

(940) 270-8827 / ges@faithalone.org

4851 S I-35E Suite 203, Corinth, TX 76210
P.O. Box 1308, Denton, TX 76202

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Instagram