When you hear someone say, “I accepted Jesus into my heart,” what do you think? Maybe you applaud the sentiment. Maybe it brings a tear to your eye. But here’s the thing: the Bible doesn’t say anything about accepting Jesus as if He’s waiting nervously for your approval, like a rejected prom date. Jesus is Lord, whether you accept Him or not.

The New Testament doesn’t beg for your acceptance. It demands your repentance. Over and over, the call is clear: Repent and believe the Gospel.

Jesus began His ministry with these very words: “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel” (Mark 1:15). Repentance isn’t a soft, feel-good word. It’s a battle cry, a call to turn from your sin and run toward God. It’s not about raising your hand at the end of a sermon or saying a sinner’s prayer and then going about your life as usual. Repentance is messy, hard, and life-altering. It means surrendering the sin you love and clinging to the Savior you’ve ignored.

Belief, too, isn’t just intellectual assent. It’s not saying, “Oh yeah, I believe Jesus existed.” Demons believe that much and tremble (James 2:19). The belief that saves is a trust so deep it changes your priorities, your actions, your very identity. It’s the kind of belief that Peter had when he stepped out of the boat and walked on water toward Jesus. It’s the kind of belief that makes you leave everything behind to follow Him.

But let me be clear—repentance and belief aren’t works you do to earn salvation. They’re your response to God’s grace. The Bible says, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9). You can’t earn it. But you do have to respond to it. Grace is free, but it’s not cheap.

When Jesus called people to follow Him, He didn’t sugarcoat the cost. He said, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me” (Luke 9:23). That’s not accepting Jesus. That’s dying to yourself and living for Him.

Some of you reading this might feel a little uncomfortable right now. Good. You should. The Gospel isn’t meant to make you comfortable. It’s meant to make you holy. Jesus didn’t come to affirm you in your sin. He came to save you from it. He came to call sinners to repentance (Luke 5:32). That’s why His very name means “The Lord saves” (Matthew 1:21).

Maybe you’ve spent your whole life thinking you were good because you “accepted” Jesus at a youth camp or a revival service. But let me ask you this: did you truly repent of your sin? Did you put your faith in Jesus alone, or was that prayer just an emotional moment with no lasting change?

The Bible warns us about false assurances. Jesus said, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 7:21). Salvation isn’t about lip service. It’s about a transformed heart. And transformation starts with repentance and belief.

If you’ve never repented, let today be the day. Don’t wait. Don’t put it off. Jesus said, “Unless you repent, you too will all perish” (Luke 13:3). That’s not a threat; it’s a fact. Sin leads to death. Jesus leads to life. You can’t have both. Choose life.

Belief follows repentance like thunder follows lightning. When you turn from sin, you’re turning toward Jesus. And when you turn toward Jesus, you’re placing your trust in the One who lived the perfect life you couldn’t, died the death you deserved, and rose again to give you eternal life. That’s not “accepting” Jesus. That’s falling on your knees before Him as Lord and Savior.

So what will it be? Will you cling to your sin, your pride, your self-reliance? Or will you repent and believe? The choice is yours, but the consequences are eternal. Jesus is Lord. He’s King. He’s the Savior of the world. That’s true whether you acknowledge it or not. But for you to experience the fullness of His grace, you must respond to His call.

Repent and believe. There’s no other way.