Isn't there SOMETHING I can do to be saved from Hell?

Question

I have led a life that is mostly without sin, by most people's definition of the word "sin". I have tried to reduce the suffering of my fellow man. My conscience is clear.

Yet I cannot believe. I am an atheist. I doubt there is much that is real in the Bible---I know the history of its origins, and I think it likely that it is a dubious transcription of ancient fictional stories. I doubt that the Jesus story is anything like historical truth. I doubt there is anywhere like Hell, but, of course, one cannot be certain about such propositions. The fact that many people and cultures have believed is some evidence for its existence, and it seems like a place that should be avoided at all costs. Yet I cannot participate in Pascal's wager---I simply don't believe, and cannot make myself believe.

I am certainly not without sin, but I have never done anything to substantially harm anyone and I believe I have done more good than bad, by anyone's measure.

Prayer dosn't work for me. I used to pray as a child, but now it's just talking to myself.

I actually go to Church from time to time, mostly to please my mother. I enjoy the sermons, but they are mostly interesting as stories and ethical questions. They do nothing to persuade me from my atheism.

Answer 1

Absolutely not. Actually, men have invented their own salvation systems where they choose God (He does not choose them). Men want only to trust in their own works to save themselves. They want to be in control and to make the final decision about their eternal destiny. Appearing to seek salvation, mankind has invented a very wicked, totally man-centered, self-centered false “gospel” of salvation.

Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. (Matthew 7:22-23)
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9)

God Bless.

Answer 2

I understand your position. You should not believe unless you have a reason to believe. Nor should you accept Jesus as Savior unless you actually believe he is the savior. However, if unrelated cultures come up with similar cosmological principles -- as you have noted about Hell --, I think it foolish to smugly dismiss such patterns in favor of materialist reassurances.

I was an atheist until I had a few undeniable paranormal experiences that caused me to reconsider my own certainty about the non-existence of spirituality and uncorporeal realities. A good starting point is to question the implicit certainty of the materialist that nothing can exist outside of the five senses. To paraphrase a comment by Aleister Crowley: electromagnetism, economic laws, and radiation cannot be directly perceived by the physical senses, but no atheist would dare deny the existence of these items. Perhaps this observation can at least be taken as food for thought.

Answer 3

You are indeed going to Hell, sorry, but that is the truth.
There you will be burn over and over again. Very pain full, I think. Your conscience at that time will be clearer, this I can assured. This is afterall Christian will say.
Enjoy life here, like you are doing now, and I am sure you are enjoying every minute of it.
Why waste time worrying of going to Hell? Go with your guts feeling. Or your intelligence. It is better.
You may be right, so don't worry, be happy and keep on being an atheist ,it is only a slim chance that it could be right.

Answer 4

Just sit on your couch, turn off the television close your eyes and ask god to come into your heart, u have to acknowledge that at least a part of u think he is real if u are worried about going to hell instead of heaven, and this is the time to make the committment to god and ask him to forgive u for your sins and try to live for him... it takes a while but u will see the light and when u know u asked god to come to u and save u from your sins u will see the world is a better place...

Answer 5

The reason you can't believe is because you don't believe you have much sin in the first place. All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. The only thing YOU can do to be saved is to believe that the Lord Jesus died to save you from your multiple (even if you can't see it) sin.

May God open your eyes and give you faith.

Answer 6

You must be born sgain, you must repent of your sins, you must believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. Sorry but that is the truth. Your doubts are your business, but just because you doubt does not mean that the Bible, God, Hell and Jesus don't exist. Your good works are to be commended but they probably will not get you into heaven. God decides who goes to where. Your good works may however have a positive mitigating effect on your punishment in Hell. Those that believe in the things you doubt, but still do not obey will be punished more than you ,if thats any consolation to you. To me nothing less than eternal Paradise is acceptable . As I said before, God decides who goes where. However the Bible is quite clear what a person has to do to get into Heaven, and what a person has to do to get into Hell. Therefore you want to do the things that will get you to Heaven and avoid the things that will get you into Hell. Now all this is said from a practical point of view. The real truth is that we love God because he first loved us. He is worthy of our love and obedience. Nothing less than a personal, loving respectfull and obedient relationship with God is your goal. He came to earth as a man ,Jesus, and suffered a terrible death so that you could be with him in Paradise. Accept his free gift of pardon and start living the life he wants you to.

Luke 12:47 & 48 And that servant, which knew his lord’s will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.

God is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentence..... ( 2 Peter 3:9 paraphrased a bit)

Beware , you do know the Lord's will, I beg you to prepare yourself and come to Christ.

Answer 7

w/o belief, you are in serious trouble.

How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed?
and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard?
and how shall they hear without a preacher? (rom 10:14)

you must feel there is more than what you know or believe.
even tho you may find it difficult, ask God to help you believe.
you must learn as the verse above says...
you must hear preching of the Word to aid your belief.
for the most anointed preaching, find an apostolic church.
they have saints in the church who really know how to pray & will intercede for you.
hell is real & so is God & heaven.
don't wait until it is too late... your eternity depends on it.

Answer 8

If you do not believe, why do you seek answers to a question that requires you to believe in sin, hell, and such, anyways?

However, there is no hell, nor is their sin, and nether is there god of any sort of an afterlife.

Answer 9

Sure there is. Believe in your interpretation of truth to the best of your own ability, because when it comes down to it, that's all God can really ask of you.

Answer 10

So say
Jesus I can't believe help me believe in you if you are real because if you are real I don't want to miss out on eternal salvation!.......is it really that difficult..........you can say "Jesus I feel like a fool even talking to you when I have no belief you are there but just in case........I'm talking to you based on what I"ve heard from people who do believe in you. "please help me believe".