The Problem With Decision Theology

Have you heard the following expressions (or maybe even used them yourself)?

"Accept Jesus into your heart."

"Commit your life to Christ."

"Make a decision for Christ."

"Make Jesus Lord of your life."

"Give your heart to Jesus."

"Accept Jesus as your personal Savior."

"Pray to receive Christ."

What is common to all of these expressions?  Man's action as opposed to God's action.  The emphasis is on what the human is doing so that God will save them.

"But," you will say, "doesn't the Bible tell us to repent and believe the Gospel?  Aren't those things man's action?"  The Bible does tell us to repent and believe.  But any repentance and faith on our part is because of God's saving action, not because we just one day decided to repent and believe.  In addition, repentance and faith are something God continually works in us through His Word, not a one-time act of the will that happened in the past.

Using such expressions as those above to describe salvation puts one's assurance on shaky ground.  How can I be sure that I was truly sincere in my decision, or my commitment, or my prayer?  How do I know that I have truly made Jesus Lord of my life?  How do I know I have truly given Him my heart?  Through my works?  How can I know that I have produced enough good works to prove that I am truly sincere?

This is why looking to the status of one's faith or to one's good works for assurance of salvation can only lead to pride or despair.  "Do I really believe?" or "do I really have enough good works?" are spiritual dead ends.  We must look to Christ, and to Him alone – to Christ and Him crucified for the forgiveness of our sins.  It is He who delivers faith to us through His Word and sacraments.  We are to "fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith" (Hebrews 12:2).