Depression, anxiety and hell.

I've been battling depression and anxiety for the past decade or so, and have completely isolated myself from everyone, friends and family and have been alone all that time. It's only the past 4/5 days ago that I finally saw the light and turned to Christ. Things do seem to be already turning around, even if slightly, though one thing does give me anxiety, which is hell. I accept Jesus as my lord and savior, and he died for my sins to save me from eternal separation from him and his love. Now people say just this acknowledgement alone is enough for my salvation, but I still doubt.. How can it be that simple? I won't go into detail, but I've been living in sin for a long long time, and I feel disgusting.. I'm a repulsive human being but now I accept Jesus as my king and lord, I'm now saved? I just seems too easy. Any thoughts? I have no one at all to talk with about this. I feel so alone and helpless

Hi, welcome to CC james1090 and YES it is that easy!!! “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved" Romans 10:13.

I'm here to help.

What a heart to reach out and seek such answers . Others here share your desire. I just found this clear presentation again a little bit ago that hits those points. I would listen to it a time or two with an open Bible and see if it makes sense afterwards. I went through the same confusion as you for a time because I listened to so many opinions. I then begged God for understanding and read the Book of John, gospel as well as the subject of salvation in general. No doubts about it now.
May you experience complete assurance after your study and peace that passes all understanding through Christ Jesus.

The Gift of Everlasting Life

Read His Words.. Take on His teachings.. Accept His will as truth and good.. That is accepting His meat..

Read His Words.. Trust that the sacrafice He gave upon the cross pays the penalty for your sins.. That is accepting His Blood..

He is the Passover Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world..

(John 6:47-54) "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life. {48} I am that bread of life. {49} Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead. {50} This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die. {51} I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world. {52} The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying, How can this man give us his flesh to eat? {53} Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. {54} Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day."

Amen. Welcome @james1090. And yes, as easy as falling asleep (He causes us to rest, just like God did Abram when He cut the covenant between them)!

Thank you all for the kind words and reassurance. I was going through it a little yesterday and was at my wits end. I've been gorging on so much information over the past week or so and wound myself up to the point of panic. Growing pains I suppose. Though it says in the bible that most Christians will end up in hell. "Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it". If it is so simple to be accepted into his kingdom, why is the gate so narrow, and difficult? It seems to counter what people say.

In the bible there was a man named Saul. He was a very religious man, but not holy. As Christianity began to spread he hatred to see it happen. So he decided to end it completely. He took off and began killing Christians (I'm sure he wasn't alone, but was definitely the leader). His goal was to murder all Christians. Wipe them all off the face of the earth. Basically he found God along the way. What happened with him? He was renamed Paul, and he wrote much of the New Teatament in the bible and is one of the most respectable people on the bible.
So if God can forgive a mass murderer hell bent on killing God's people, surely God can forgive you. And not only forgive him but see him to be so instrumental in the New Teatament.
Even after his salvation he said...
15 This is a trustworthy saying, and everyone should accept it: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”—and I am the worst of them all.
I Timothy 1:15

Yes James,
I saw so many different ways and wondered which one was correct.
I had been to a few different churches and one day I was taken to what I thought was just another denominational church.
As I entered, before I reached my chair,
A voice came from nowhere,
Into my ear, saying,

“this is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.”

(Yes, that is written in the Bible.)

Sure enough, the scripture is taught and kept in this church.
What a miracle it was to me, to find such a place, when I was not even searching.

I was just someone who believed and had such a longing to hear more of what the Bible said.
Not knowing that I was not yet saved.

This refers to the ease of getting into hell. Meaning it's an easy path to take.
The narrow path means that not many will make a genuine choice to accept Jesus and truly live for him.
Consider all the different religions of the world, many promising some sort of ascendancy or heaven, if you do the work put in. Easy. Fake gods, many of which hold fairly loose views of morality and spirituality. A wide road.
Making it to heaven as a Christian is easy, genuine belief. That's why it's narrow. One way to God many ways to hell.

The difficulty isn't in the salvation, it's in the daily living. Easy life is not promised to Christians. Struggling with sin is a daily effort. Studying to grow, not always getting your way, because God may have other plans for you, persecution, etc...
But God doesn't expect you to do it on your own. He's there to help and guide along the way. Just a matter of learning to hear when He speaks. He's also there to comfort when it seems to hard.

Also, I've had depression for over 30 years and have struggled with anxiety on and off for almost 20 years. So I know how it goes. It makes life harder. So you're not alone in that struggle.

You believe God came in the flesh, in the form of His Son Jesus Christ, born of a virgin, conceived by the Holy Spirit, died to pay your sin debt, and rose again on the 3rd day? And have you confessed with your mouth all that, and believe in your heart to be true?

If so, you ARE a born again child of God!!!! That's it. Any doubt you have is from the enemy who hates you, and wants you in fear and ineffective to bring others to Christ.

We were ALL "repulsive' human Beings. But NOW it is only the enemy telling you that. You ARE a child of God. God's children are NOT repulsive.
IT WAS NOT "EASY" FOR GOD TO SEND HIS BELOVED SON TO DIE FOR US!

If I told you had to bring the pelts of 50 Duck Billed Platypus, climb Everest and K-2, and the swim the English Channel, and you would be saved, would that make you feel better?

The whole point is that there is NOTHING we can do to "help" God save us. Simply believe. In fact, it is highly offensive for us to try and help Him. He, who gave His Son, as the ONLY way, will be disgusted with those who make His Sacrifice void by trying to get to Heaven on their own.


So be at peace. You are GREATLY loved and safe in Him.

To be clear and to say what Jesus said, you must repent, acknowledge your sins, confess them to GOD and sin no more.

Christ has paid the penalty of your sins and everybody's, just follow his directions and you will be fine, forget about hell, just sin no more because you love god and want to do as he asks.

welcome to C.C.

Blessings

i have heard people say to others, "that's all you have to do is proclaim Jesus Christ as your personal savior". that's only a small start. although Jesus is "free", no one can have a relationship with anyone if you don"t communicate & associate. praying, praising, singing, church attendance, Bible studying, sharing testimonies with Christians is what we do . definitely, searching out the work God has planned for each individual is amust. all born again Christians have the Holy Spirit living inside them for life. the H.S. communicates with us telling us right from wrong, good & bad do this, don't do that. in other words, He is our guide & teacher (John 16:13 & 14:26. if you are born again as John 3:5 teaches, you will want to seek out Jesus, study the Bible, assist others, pray for others. it is a joy & a great remembrance to do so. the gospel of John, 1st John, James & Romans are fine starting point in reading the Bible. but just don't read the Bible, study it &develop a plan to remember important teaching points. my personal method is verse memorization which i have 310 Bible verse memorized. some people write their favorite verses on index cards. blessings to you.

Welcome!

Happy New Year 2024

Romans 10:13-15

Acts 10:43~ All the prophets testify about Him that everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins through His name.

If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart
that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 10:9

John 3:16

I would caution you to be careful not to read things into the text which are not there, since clearly
the text does not say any such thing as, "most Christians will end up in hell." Sub explained this
quite well in his post #10. Those who pass into the second death are those whom Christ never knew.
And, yes, the security of the believer is a hotly contested topic... But after all is said and done?


John 6:37