Jesus Is Not In My Heart

“God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.” – Hebrews 1:1-4

“Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” – Hebrews 12:2

“There is also an antitype [compared to Noah’s family saved through the water] which now saves us—Spiritual baptism through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, angels and authorities and powers having been made subject to Him.” – 1 Peter 3:21-22

“But he [Stephen], being full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God, and said, ‘Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!’” – Acts 7:55-56

So what is my point? I am certain that you are familiar with the verses I quoted – some if not all.  Not everything that is said or sung is Biblically accurate. “Since Jesus came into my heart …” is a phrase that is probably familiar.  There was no malintent when those words were penned by Rufus H. McDaniel and published in 1914, I am certain. Let’s look at a couple of those verses.

“What a wonderful change in my life has been wrought, Since Jesus came into my heart;

I have light in my soul for which long I have sought, Since Jesus came into my heart.” (Public Domain)

Does this seem to be a trivial point?  I hope not. I am not arguing about how many angels can stand on the point of a needle – that argument may have never actually happened by the way – but making a point (pardon the pun).  I want to encourage you to be like the Bereans.

“Then the brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea. When they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.” – Acts 17:10-12

When they heard Paul and Silas refer to the Word of God, they looked at the scripture themselves. We live in dark times. There are many who would lead you to belief that “Thus saith the Lord.” When, in fact, it was not said.  The world would have you embrace another Gospel. Satan sprinkles just enough Truth in his lies, to convince the “spiritually weak” that his lies are truth.  Read about Jesus being tempted in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1-11). Jesus put what Satan said in context. What Satan says through the culture seems reasonable to the reasonable man or woman – but it is merely a reasonable lie – a perverted truth.  But I digress – back to the heart.

“But now I go away to Him who sent Me, and none of you asks Me, ‘Where are You going?’ But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: of sin, because they do not believe in Me; of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged. “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you.” – John 16:7-14

Jesus is at the right hand of the Father and the Spirit was sent in His stead. 

“In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.” – Ephesians 1:13-14

It is the Spirit of God that is in us.

“Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?” – 1 Corinthians 6:19

So what about Jesus and our hearts? We may surrender our hearts by faith to the Lord, but He is not in our hearts.

“The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith which we preach): that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” – Romans 10:8-10

Think about it – Pray about it - Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory.

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone