i believe in god because i needed someone to forgive my sins because i felt guilty of them. while some people believe in god just to escape hell. is there a difference between this? can people who believe in god just to escape hell really go to heaven? so confused here. pls help !
thankyou!
2007-09-22 13:05:13 · 17 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Yes there is a difference. You believe in God because you hate sin. That is good. The bible says to hunger and thirst after righteousness. To hate sin is a good beginning, and can lead to a healthy, fear of God.
To believe simply because you don't want to go to hell, can be a good start. But if you stay there and never progress, then it is not doing what the bible says working out your salvation in fear and trembling. Many believe wrongly that to accept Christ is all that is necessary to avoid hell, but that is not bible. You must endure to the end. You must study to show yourself approved. You must be a doer of the word and not just a hearer, etc. So, to simply believe to escape hell is not enough.
2007-09-22 13:16:21 · answer #1 · answered by Capri 1230 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Everybody comes to God with selfish motives. Sinful man is not capable of anything higher than this. That is exactly why we need to be saved, because as sinners are nature is corrupt and selfish. Jesus said "You must be born again"
When we are born again, we receive the gift of the eternal Life that dwelt in Jesus when He walked the earth and we become children of God.
This is received by simple faith in the Gospel, that Jesus Christ came down from heaven, lived a sinless life, died on a cross for the sins of mankind (but for your sins in particular!), and rose again from the dead.
When we believe this WITH OUR HEART, and confess (speak out) our belief to others, the Bible says we are saved.
Read the Bible - especially the New Testament, and ask God to teach you. He will give you His Holy Spirit who will bear witness to the truth about Jesus, and lead you into all Truth.
read this story:
http://www.near-death.com/storm.html
2007-09-22 20:20:39 · answer #2 · answered by William F 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
There probably is a difference but is there any reason why a proper fear of punishment cannot lead to a true love of God?
Christ spoke a lot about Hell and even asked, Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?
A true realisation of the punishment deserved surely leads to a greater love?
Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.
2007-09-22 20:18:30 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You have the seed of belief and the beginnings of faith. God knows and understands that it is not easy to believe in today's world and culture.
My best recommendation is that you go seek a Church where you are welcome (which should be just about any church) and where you can make some friends. Just the simple act of fellowship and attending Sunday school can give you a lot of opportunities to learn from other believers.
In any case, realizing that you have sinned and need forgiveness is a valid reason to choose God. Make a public profession of your faith and accept the forgiveness you seek. God does not forget His promises.
God bless.
2007-09-22 20:17:13 · answer #4 · answered by ? 5 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Believing in God just to escape 'hell' is a wrong motive to believe in God.
Religion is about loving God because He loves us as His children. Nothing more, nothing less.
2007-09-22 20:15:12 · answer #5 · answered by Andy Roberts 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
It is a little of both -- and a whole lot more. You asked God to forgive your sins. Was it for the purpose of not doing them again? Or was it for this weeks sins, and next week you will ask for next week's sins? The one who feared hell didn't want to be forgiven sins, just didn't want to go to hell for them. Being a Christian includes forgiveness for sins and heaven, rather than hell.
But, to be a Christin means that one realizes that they will never be able to keep from doing the same sins over and over again, and that, even if their behavior could change, their heart would never feel the right way all of the time, and even if it did, it's already felt the wrong way in the past. In essence, there is no power we have in ourselves to become the loving person we would want to be.
Jesus came to earth and kept the law. Incidentally, what He received for doing this from men was rejection, death -- a horrible, horrible death, torture, ridicule -- but He died. Since He didn't sin, He was allowed to live again. If we believe that He died to pay the penalty for our sins, and rose again, to claim victory over the power of sin -- and that His Spirit lives in us to help us overcome sin -- if we love Jesus for doing this and want to know more and more about Him and want to do His will more and more because of this incredible feeling of release that we are no longer BOUND as slaves to sin, then we are saved.
It's not that we won't sin again because our bodies have not been changed (it will happen in heaven), but when we commit sins after salvation, we feel worse than ever about them because we HATE sin, and LOVE GOD. So, we repent (turn away from the sin), ask forgiveness and move on. If you hate sin enough to want to stop it, and have faith and love in God who can help you overcome sin, THEN you are saved. And, when you die, you go to heaven and get to see this Jesus who died on your behalf and who helped you overcome sin.
2007-09-22 20:31:43 · answer #6 · answered by Rhonda F 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No, dear one. One can't. God knows the difference between a sincere heart and an insincere heart.
I too, was convicted of my sins and recognized the fact that I needed a Savior. Jesus literally MELTED me with His amazing love! I deserve hell, yet I will spend eternity with my Savior!
God bless you!
2007-09-22 20:22:50 · answer #7 · answered by Devoted1 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Just believing in God will not get you to heaven.. You must first know that you are a sinner. " For all have sinned and fallen short of the Glory of God. You must also know the penalty for sin is death. " For the wages of sin is death." Your part is to receive Jesus Christ Gods son. " For God so loved the world that he gave his only son that whosoever beleives in him shall not perish but have everlasting life."
Good works will not get you to heaven we must believe that God sent his son to die on the cross for our sins and on the third day he rose from the dead and is alive today. Jesus is the mediator between man and God. God promise for all who believe... Enternal Life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
2007-09-22 20:32:02 · answer #8 · answered by blublu042 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No. If you believe in God, then you believe in God. God drew you to Him. We all want to escape hell, but God draws us to Him and if we accept Him as our Savior then we are saved.
Without faith it is impossible to please God. You said first thing that you believe in God.
Get a Bible and read the Book of John in the New Testament.
Reading God's Word will help strengthen your faith and that will help you. In prayer tonight ask God to strengthen your faith. Just say, "Father in Jesus' name I ask that you strengthen my faith." amen Real simple. Another prayer could be, "Father, in Jesus' name I ask that you fill me with the Holy Spirit who will teach me all things." Amen
After you pray to God, just sit still and wait for awhile and give God a chance to make Himself known to you. Never pray and just get up and leave. Wait on the Lord and let Him answer you.
2007-09-22 20:20:58 · answer #9 · answered by Jeancommunicates 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Only God knows if your heart is repentant or if you are just doing to stay out of hell and are not really penitent
2007-09-22 20:13:21 · answer #10 · answered by budleit2 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋