If you believe in God, have sinned in the past(but have asked for forgiveness over and over)and try to do good. What if you don't go to church? How do you truly know if you are going to Heaven or Hell? Some people say that they know when they die where they are going-but what if you don't know-how can I find out? I have sinned, I don't go to church but I believe in God and trust Him.
2006-09-04 16:29:00 · 39 answers · asked by ? 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Try not to be to hard on me please :)
2006-09-04 16:29:43 · update #1
I have been Baptized, Saved and Bought.
2006-09-04 16:57:20 · update #2
Good question.
1John 5:13 Pretty much answers that.
"These things that I have written to you,that believe in the name of The Son of God, that you may KNOW, that you have eternal life"
It pretty much sums it up. if your saved, you will KNOW it. If a person doesn't feel saved, or not sure. I would talk with a Pastor and see why. Could be, that maybe you just feel "unsaved", because you feel guilty about not going to church. I dunno. It doesn't cost anything to find out :)
church is not for salvation only. you can be saved anywhere. church is for "spiritual growth" among other believers. Can you grow on your own? probably. but the average person can't and won't. Thats why the Bible says: "Forsake not the fellowship among other believers".
Have a good week.
.
2006-09-04 16:41:45 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
A lot of people don't go to church,and can serve the Lord,and will,or have' I'm sure gone to heaven My father was one of them but he was daily reading the Bible praying.But a lot of people if they don't have contact with other Christians ,will go back to the way they were before, God doesn't live in a building and is waiting for everyone on Sunday morning to show up,church is just a build where we gather as a group to worship him and fellowship with others ,it really helps to have friends that you can call on and they will help you no questions ask,I enjoy going to church,we have a really great pastor,I love singing in the choir,this week is our home coming,where after church we go to the fellowship building,and there so much food and everyone enjoys talking and eating,its just nice to be able to have a group other than family you can count on,and a lot of time you can count on these people more than your family.
If you do have doubts about if you will go to heaven,you may not have been saved,believing in God and accepting him as your savior is two different things,I believed in God all my life,but until 3 years ago did i accept him as my savior,now I live for him,my life is changed ,and I know without a shadow of a doubt that if i die now I will go to heaven.So you need to talk with a christian that you trust ,a preacher or friend and get that doubt out of your mind,OK,God Bless You,I know you will find your way.
2006-09-04 16:56:21 · answer #2 · answered by purpleaura1 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well you know youve sinned, then you need to take those faithful steps found in Scripture......
A. Repent of your sins, turn away them, give them to God, they are his to deal with now!
B. Confess Jesus as Lord (God) the Son that died for your sins.
C. Baptism- Simplest thing to do! Yet people deny it! Get emmersed in water by another believer for forgiveness of sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit.
D. Live faithfully for Jesus
Yes you should go to church because that is where Gods will is done and people like Don (above) will never see Heaven because theyre not serving God, giving 10%, taking communion, evangelzing the lost, baptizing people. In short read Matthew 28:19, that is the "great commission" (things you and the church should be doing)
Will idle people go to Heaven? No. What is a good way to become idle? Dont goto church!
2006-09-04 16:37:10 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
How can you believe if you don't hear, Gods word? All of us have sinned . If we say we have not we are a liar and the truth is not in us.I am not trying to be hard on you, it sounds like you are being pulled to the Lord, go to church with an open heart and mind,and receive the gift he is trying to give you. He stands at the door knocking, please let him in.(to your heart that is) OBEY HIS commands and be set free from your sins. God does not hear the prayers of a sinner. You must go through Christ for him to hear you, and you must be in Christ for him to pray to the Father for you. Be baptized for the remission of your sins and be made hole,and clean as a new born babe.Then will all your past sins will be forgotten,never to be remembered any more, by the Lord I mean, and they will not be counted against you at all never. you will be forgiven by God the Father.
2006-09-04 16:50:06 · answer #4 · answered by littlecwoman 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Romans 3:23 says everyone is a sinner, so don't worry about that one. You're not alone! :D
Romans 6:23 says the penalty for sin is death. You should worry now (haha I'm just kidding sorry).
Good news: Romans 5:8 Jesus Christ died for our sin. And Romans 10:8-10 says to be forgiven of our sins all we must do is believe and confess that Jesus is Lord. Salvation comes from Jesus Christ! Yay! :D
And about going to church: You don't have to go to church to be saved and make your way to heaven. All you have to do is believe. The want to go to church is fulfilled when you have the need to be in fellowship with other Christians and hear and study the word of God weekly.
I have to tell you I am so happy to answer your question and tell you of the good news of Jesus Christ! I hope my answer brought insite and I hope your question is answered.
2006-09-04 16:41:20 · answer #5 · answered by Ern 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Taking up space is what i thought i was doing. Didn't have my life together. drugs and alcohol, no money saved, no vehicle, no place to live, out of work. Still i believed that if i kept going to church, somehow god would turn things around. What i didn't see was that i relyed too much on "church going is everything" and not going was not my decision. One day as i was struggling even to keep going, the minister invited me for a drive in the mountains and said that i should think less about coming to church and more about straightening my life out, so i would be a responsible christian to the other members. I understand that more than economics he hoped that i would continue to turn away from bad habits and bad associations and become a christian before my god first, and a socialite churchgoer second. Now it's been 7 years. Economically i have entered into the arena of small business and am fledgling at it. But more importantly, i long for the people on my terms: That i will soon return with more maturity to greet,listen,sing,talk to the feet if i'm a toe and belong right where i am as once again being like one of the children in my approach to honoring god, as well as doing what i can to join in the activities of my choice and ignoring any part of the social goings on, in trade for working out my own salvation in timid high regard for a Wonderfull Counselor who has seen me through much hell these past sad years. So, remember the first love reason you enjoyed going and maybe i'll see you at the dance. I asked my dad once through tears that i thought i had blasphemed the holy spirit. He said if you're concerned about it, you didn't. Same with going to hell as being seperated from all the exciting rewards offered to those who shape their will to please Him. Those unconcerned and hatefull toward the idea of one good authority over their lives will either recieve a lesser reward or be seperated from us so they can't poison the Body. You seem anxious to know answers. Find them in life, at work, in church, on vacation, with family and friends or... here with us at Answers. I suggest church online and literature and good friends and of course study of the meaning of certain scriptures. You'll be surprised the ready lies in disguise from preacher guys."every one that the Father has given into my hand shall in no way be lost."-drv.
2006-09-04 17:16:08 · answer #6 · answered by frndchps 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
2Cr 1:22 Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.
Eph 1:13 In whom ye also [trusted], after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
Eph 4:30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
These scriptures mean that you will know in your heart if you are a true believer. Also, God has saved you (you didn't save yourself) and He will not lose you. And you will not be able to stray from Him if you are His - because He will be sure to keep you safe in the palm of His hand.
You must not go by your feelings - you must go by God's word. Become aquainted with the bible and what it says about salvation. Especailly start to read things like Romans, Ephesians, Galatians...and other books by the Apostle Paul..
I don't know why you don't go to church - but it is NOT a sin. It is hard to find a good church - there is so much politics in churches... Ask God to lead you to a good one so you can learn about His word and have fellowship with other believers.
2006-09-04 16:43:06 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
You will probably get some good advice, but I will add to it.. The Bible is the key and you need to go to church and hear teaching and preaching and get to know your christian family.. You need to pray and God will guide you to a church where you will fit in..
Read your Bible and pray every day..
The questions you are asking will be answered when you go to a good church and you will learn to be confident in the Lord and his word.
God promises that if you seek him you will find him. so don't worry just keep on the right path and all will work out fine..
2006-09-04 16:41:00 · answer #8 · answered by † PRAY † 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
""What if you don't go to church?""
Going to a Church has nothing to do with Salvation.
#1==Become a True Believer by accepting the PAN of Salvation.
#2== Appologize ONCE for each Sin and error committed.
#3== Rest Assued that THE GOD will Do What HE SAYS and YOU WILL BE IN HEAVEN after death.
See below for Plan of Salvation>>
2006-09-04 16:33:29 · answer #9 · answered by whynotaskdon 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
First of all- the only one without sin is Jesus Christ, we as humans are going to sin, that is why he was sent to the cross for us, second, going to church does not mean you will automatically get into heaven- ask for forgiveness and it shall be done.
2006-09-04 16:45:15 · answer #10 · answered by justme 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋