How to get to hell

DarkProphet said:

How does someone end up in hell? Do they simply have to not believe or is it something more?

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You die without your sins being forgiven. You die in your sins. You die with full responsiblity for your own iniquity.

It's simple; you die without accepting the King of kings, Jesus Christ, into your heart. The requirements for getting to hell are nothing more than that.
I often wonder why soooo many people refuse this awesome gift, but then again, I was once one of those people. I knew God was knocking on my heart's door, but did I let Him in? No. I refused Him many times. I knew that hell was my eternal destination if I ignored Him; I knew it. But, did that change my mind? No. I kept refusing Him. However, when my hardened heart finally weakened enough for me to break down and allow Christ to live in me, my life changed and my eyes were opened. I only wish that I had accepted Him sooner.

DarkProphet said:

How does someone end up in hell? Do they simply have to not believe or is it something more?

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Hi,

Here is the answer:

And so I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven

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This is the only unforgivable sin. The Holy Spirit calls us every day, until we come to believe, or die.

This scripture is not about saying bad words about the Holy Spirit.

This is the unforgivable sin of unbelief.

The only sin that condemns someone to hell.

DarkProphet said:

How does someone end up in hell? Do they simply have to not believe or is it something more?

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I would have to use a metaphor. Each of us creates a tapestry each day of our lives, weaving in threads of every colour, some dark, some shining and bright. But we cannot see the whole, because we are too close to it. And once in a while there is a thread of pure gold.

When we get to eternity, we get to see what we have created, and we get to see the full picture, which is what God sees all the time

Some of us weave for ourselves an eternity focussed on loving and giving. Some weave one of selfishness and narcissism. And whatever you create here on earth, you get to live with in eternity.

The only people excluded from God's presence will be those who refuse to enter it, because they cannot see that it is there, just as here and now they cannot see anything other than their own selfish desires, and following their own path.

In the Christian context, we get a unique relationship with God, because we become co heirs with Christ, and as such are granted the privilege of calling God 'Father'. Christianity is the only faith which offers this intimate connection with God, through Christ, and because of it Christians strive to become more like Christ every day, and to follow his example in all things. Other faiths address God in different ways, and no doubt are judged according to their own values and mores.

DarkProphet said:

Does that mean that a murder who believes in the Holy Spirit would not go to hell?

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An unrepentant murderer has excluded himself from the presence of God, and unless he genuinely repents and tries to make reparation for his sin he will remain excluded, not by God but by his own choices.

A penitent murderer who confesses his sin before God, with true contrition, will be forgiven his sins, but God may make demands of him after this point, in order to put his change of heart to the test.

If any person has confessed Jesus Christ as his/her savior, from that moment on he/she will go to Heaven, no matter what they do, including murder, commit suicide, etc.

Murder is no differant that any other sin, and if a murderer is unrepentant he/she will loose their fellowship with God here, but if they are truely saved they still have a home waiting for them in Heaven. That can't be taken away, else Jesus' sacrifice is worthless.

As for the original question regarding what one has to do to go to hell... not a single thing.

God Bless
Kevin

DarkProphet said:

How does someone end up in hell? Do they simply have to not believe or is it something more?

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When it is all said and done....

Forgiven people go to Heaven.
Unforgiven people go to Hell.

DarkProphet said:

Does that mean that a murder who believes in the Holy Spirit would not go to hell?

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Hi, A person who believes in Christ is indwelled by the Holy Spirit, a seal, a deposit guaranteeing our redemption (salvation.)

We can never lose our salvation.

If a Christian commits a murder after coming to Christ, the Holy Spirit does not leave them, they are still saved.

Take Andrea Yates who though of course I don't know if she's a Christian or not, only God knows; and she murdered her children for an example.

As Christians we grow, and we grow in love and we grow and change.

However, anyone can become enraged for example seeing his wife with another and have a moment of madness and take someones' life.

It's not right, and we are not supposed to take advantage of the grace given us in any way, however I think the man above who murdered out of a moment of maddness did not consciously have the time to think he couldn't do such.

Aside from the point of murder, though a heinous sin; there are Christians who destroy their children thru words and deeds and beatings (abuse) and they believe they are doing the right thing.

I had a Christian man try to kill me. (he was high on acid)

Also, God does not say, we'll you committed murder, while the other only lied, so the liar can come into heaven but not the murderer.

Christians sin.

Some will say they were never Christians then, but I can tell you I know my heart and we have sin in our hearts buried and deep and it isn't pretty.

Also some believe one needs to repent after any sin to be saved. This is inaccurate and not truth. We'd be in big trouble if that were true for our hearts are full of sin and we sin all the time, and continue in certain sins perhaps.

So, for example, gluttony, given to eating..does this mean every day a person need mouth the words I repent to be saved. So in other words every single heavy person that are Christians are not saved, cause they didn't repent (turn away)?

In regards to non Christians it is the sin of unbelief which condemns them, not that they've murdered, etc.

Blessings,
tapero

John 3:17-18
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.

A person goes to hell when they do not believe in Jesus Christ and do not obey the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Your question :"What about people who go their whole lives without hearing that name?"

This is a hard question and one that I don't have a complete answer for.
I did, however, recently see a movie that depicted a true/life story of how God reached a whole group of people that fell into that category. It's the account of the Wyodani Indians called "End of the Spear". What I found most interesting in this account was that it wasn't until one small girl in the tribe faced the truth that the way she'd lived her whole life brought nothing but pain,misery and emptiness and made a choice to turn from that and seek a better way to "live well" that God reached down and begin to speak to her and then to her whole tribe. Her name was Dayumae' and her choice to recognize that her life was desolate and to seek a way out brought her the answer she was seeking.
This really is the same way that God deals with everyone of us... whether we are living in the most isolated jungles of this earth or in the most populated concrete jungles of what we call civilization.
Sorry but I have to quote Lewis again:
"It is after you have realised that there is a real Moral Law, and a Power behind the law, and that you have broken that law and put yourself wrong with that Power - it is after all this, and not a moment sooner, that Chrisitanity begins to talk."
Even a little girl living in a totally depraved, autonomous, violent and isolated society was able to recognize what Lewis was talking about.. and when she sought the better way to "live well"... God came and met that need.
As far as what a person needs to do to go to hell? First they must decieve themselves into believing that they are fine on their own and don't need God and second they must deny that something is terribly wrong with them and that something is their sin nature. By doing these things they can ignore their condition and therefore refuse the need for the cure... which is the Cross of Jesus Christ.
Here's a poem I wrote that explains what I'm attempting to convey.. hopefully with some small hint of clarity.
Hope you don't mind my sharing it, which feels awkward to me... but it fits the question.
The Mountain,
They don't recall The Mountain from which they broken fell - But of the wounds that now remain, their lives will often tell. - These wounds that fresh and open lie, - Will cause them oft in pain to cry. -And though the cure waits at the peak, they'll not turn back for it to seek. - And so the Mountain for a time, - was humbled and layed low, - To build a bridge, to lift them up where healing waters flow.- But instead they choose, to mask their constant pain, - To lie in false contentment, though ill they still remain. - With earthly cares and treasures, they'll often medicate, - Until they're numbed enough to ignore a sickened state. - Their eyes look ever downward; they fear the lofty site, - For to look up will certain cause awareness of their plight. - So though the cure if free to take - many never will. - They shun the Great Physician and feign that they're not ill.
Matt: 13:15 "For this people's heart has become calloused: they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them."
Praying that you will find the courage to "look up".
Keep Seeking!!!