If denominational preachers do attempt to tell folks "how" to receive Jesus, they usually make some vague reference to prayer and instruct the sinner to say something like, "Jesus, I now receive you into my heart," or they will tell him to "pray the sinner's prayer" and then proceed to give him a man-made model prayer to pray.
Dear reader, such a prayer for the alien sinner cannot be found within the pages of God's Word. In fact, God never has authorized the alien sinner to pray for his salvation. In fact, he does not have such a privilege, because prayer is the privilege of "sons" (Romans 8:14-17). Prayer has never been the way to "receive Jesus."
The instruction to "receive Jesus" is indeed a biblical one, for the inspired writer, John said, "He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name" (John 1:11-12). But this instruction alone is not sufficient to those seeking salvation. The Bible tells us "how" to "receive Jesus." It need not remain some kind of mystery.
The key to the "how" in receiving Jesus, is seen in John 1:11-12 KJV. Receiving Jesus involves the same process as becoming "sons of God." One becomes a son of God "by faith." This faith includes our obedience to the command to be baptized (Acts 10:47-48), "For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ" (Gal. 3:26-27).
After folks have heard the "good news" of Jesus Christ, they already know that in order to enjoy its benefits, they will have to "receive [the prophecies about and teachings of] Jesus" (cf. Luke 24:25-27; Acts 8:35). Why don't denominational preachers tell folks what they must do in order to "receive Jesus" according to the Scriptures? (Acts 8:36-38). See also Acts 9, specifically noting vs. 6 & 18).
It is indeed a tragedy for so-called religious teachers to bring a sinner right up to the point of crying out for their sins to be forgiven them, and then fail to tell them "how" to accomplish it. The New Testament teachers had no such problem. When sinners cried out on Pentecost, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?" They were told in no uncertain terms by Peter to "Repent and be baptized ever one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins......" (Acts 2:37-38).
Note that these sinners were not told to "receive Jesus," because they already knew they should do this. But "how" did they "receive Jesus"? By being willingly obedient to God's word through an obedient "faith" (Romans 10:17), motivating them to "repent and be baptized" so their sins could be remitted.
—Mike Riley, Gospel Snippets
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