For follow-up discussion and general commentary on the topic. Comments are sorted chronologically.
Steven Scott
I remember kneeling by my bed with my mom, when I was 9 years old. I remember asking Him to come in my heart, forgive me, & change my life.
Since then, I have backslid, & sinned again and again. Each time I have asked Him to forgive me.
Why, then do I still not feel clean? Why do I still think about sin, AND perform the sinning deeds?
Is there something I have missed? I KNOW Jesus died on the cross for me. I believe this with ALL my heart. I REALLY want to KNOW that I am saved & going to heaven.
Suzanne Kozial
Please reread "how can I not go to hell", and all others like it. Then ask the Holy Spirit to enter into you fully. Continue to pray vigilantly for more guidance and assistance and to repent to our loving Lord every day. That's what I need to do to get any peace or assurance that I may be lucky enough to be acceptable to our loving Lord who sacrificed all so that sinners like us have a chance at a wonderful eternity. Your best defence against satan and the ways of destruction is to arm yourself with knowledge and lots of it as well as fervent prayer. GOD bless in your ongoing quest for salvation. With love in Christ, Amen. Thank you, Suzanne
Suzanne Kozial
Remember the most important thing is that Jesus is "the way, the truth and the life, and that no-one comes to the Father except through Him. This simple fact is the way to eternal heaven. Know in your heart that Jesus willingly became man, was tortured and crucified for us, he was buried and defied death by rising to life again. This is our eternal promise if only we believe.
Jack Gutknecht
This is an excellent question! In fact, this is the very reason that I became a Christian! To avoid hell. But I would have if I had not repented and believed in Jesus as my only hope of salvation. Jesus said, "There is none good except God alone." That means you and me, not good. That's why we need to be saved.
Daniel Veler
The only way you can keep from going to hell is by not rejecting Christ. The Father tells us the sin that sends us to hell but telling us what it is that gives us eternal life. It is written in John 3:16. 16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
The Lord even tells us in John 16 the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. 8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9 Of sin, because they believe not on me; this is what will keep you from hell.
Danny Hickman
These are, to me, sad commentaries; they are so normal, however. "How can I not go to hell?" Not, 'How can I enter into a relationship RIGHT NOW with the Maker of heaven and earth?' Or 'How can I get closer to the Most High Mighty God?'
Neither of these are the concern spoken of here; the concern is, 'I've been told that if I don't "get saved," I'll suffer in a terrible way for eternity; that's my main concern!' That is not good... That isn't what David was talking about when he wrote, "As the deer pants for the water brooks, so pants my heart for you, O God (Psalm 42:1). Then in verse 2 he writes, "My soul thirsts for the living God. When can I go and worship in your presence?"
He's talking directly to God; he didn't say, 'In HIS presence,' as if he's writing ABOUT God, but in 'YOUR presence,' as if writing a letter TO the living God.
This is a person who wants badly to take the relationship he has with God to another level. He wants to meet with God in person. That's very different from only wanting to be saved from a terrible place to which you've been led to believe you might end up going!
I've never believed hell to be anything more than a place for the eternally dead, and heaven a place for them who has eternal life.
Death sounds horrible to me! "There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth." (Mt 8:12, Mt 25:30)
I love life in the Spirit more than I fear death! I've experienced Jesus' presence! There's nothing like it!! I want the deluxe package! In the kingdom!