Going to hell is a frightening prospect that many people want to avoid. The Bible provides guidance on how to escape eternal punishment and instead receive eternal life with God in heaven. Here are some key principles from Scripture on how to avoid hell:
1. Believe in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior
The Bible teaches that faith in Jesus Christ is the only way to heaven and escape hell. Jesus said “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). God’s free gift of salvation and eternal life is received when we put our trust in Christ’s death on the cross as payment for our sins and his resurrection from the dead (Ephesians 2:8-9). Believing in Jesus as Savior is essential to avoiding hell.
2. Repent of your sins
In order to receive God’s forgiveness, we must repent and turn away from our sins. Peter preached “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins” (Acts 2:38). Repentance means having godly sorrow for sin, confessing and turning from sin, and deciding to live a new life in obedience to Christ. A repentant heart is key to salvation.
3. Be born again
Jesus taught that we must be “born again” spiritually to enter God’s kingdom (John 3:3). When we place faith in Christ, we experience a spiritual rebirth. The Holy Spirit comes to dwell in our hearts, regenerating our sinful nature into a new creation in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17). Being born again is essential for heaven.
4. Produce fruit in keeping with repentance
True, lasting repentance will result in a changed life characterized by righteousness rather than sin. As John the Baptist said, we must “bear fruits in keeping with repentance” (Luke 3:8). Although we cannot earn salvation by good works, our actions and attitudes will demonstrate whether our faith is genuine. The fruits of repentance show a heart transformed by Christ.
5. Forgive others
Jesus taught that if we do not forgive others, God will not forgive us (Matthew 6:15). Holding on to bitterness and refusing to grant forgiveness to others who have wronged us will hinder us from receiving God’s mercy. We must forgive others just as God in Christ has forgiven us (Ephesians 4:32). Letting go of grudges is necessary to avoid hell.
6. Love God and neighbor
Loving God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength, and loving our neighbor as ourselves, are the two greatest commandments (Mark 12:30-31). The God who sends people to hell is a God of perfect love and justice. To spend eternity with Him in heaven, we must learn to love as He does. Our love for others demonstrates our love for God.
7. Obey God’s commandments
Jesus said “If you love me, you will keep my commandments” (John 14:15). Having faith without obedience is dead (James 2:17). God’s moral law, especially as embodied in the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:1-17), shows us how to live. Striving to obey God’s commands through the empowering of the Holy Spirit is essential.
8. Endure to the end
Jesus warned that only those who endure to the end will be saved (Matthew 24:13). Obeying Christ and persevering in faith through all trials and temptations is necessary, not merely an initial profession of faith. The Apostle Paul emphasized finishing the Christian race well (2 Timothy 4:7-8). Steadfastness is key.
9. Examine yourself
Paul encouraged self-examination to determine if we are in the faith (2 Corinthians 13:5). Assessing whether our profession of faith is sincere and evidenced by spiritual fruit can help assure our hearts before God (1 John 3:18-19). Those who find themselves failing the test simply need to repent and return to the Lord.
10. Hold fast to sound doctrine
Upholding biblical truth and resisting false teachings are central to enduring in faith (Titus 1:9, 2 Timothy 4:3-4). Sound doctrine not only instructs us how to be saved but equips us for salvation’s perseverance. Testing all teachings against Scripture safeguards us from deception and apostasy.
11. Be ready for Christ’s return
Jesus will return suddenly and unexpectedly, and no one knows the day or hour (Matthew 24:44). Being ready for Christ’s return requires living faithfully and obediently as His disciple day by day. The Bible warns about failing to be prepared for the Lord’s coming (Matthew 25:1-13). Watchfulness is necessary to avoid being caught off guard.
12. Pray for help and deliverance
Through prayer, we can cry out to God for His mercy and grace to help us turn from sin and obey His Word. Jesus urged his disciples to pray for strength against temptation (Matthew 26:41). Heartfelt prayer acknowledges our dependence on God to be saved from the penalty and power of sin.
13. Warn others
Part of enduring in faith includes exhorting others to flee from the wrath to come by repenting and believing the gospel (Jude 23). Just as Noah warned people in his day of coming judgment, we are called to urgently persuade people to be saved before it is too late (2 Peter 2:5). Our warnings can help snatch souls from hell.
14. Trust in Christ’s work, not your own
Avoiding hell ultimately depends on what Jesus accomplished for us on the cross, not our own righteousness or ability to earn salvation. God’s grace and the finished work of Christ are sufficient to save us from condemnation (2 Corinthians 5:21, Romans 4:4-5). Resting completely in Christ is key.
15. Hope in God’s mercy
Those who humbly acknowledge their sins and unworthiness can hope in God’s merciful nature to save them. As Psalm 130:7 says, “Let Israel hope in the Lord, for with the Lord there is steadfast love.” God takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but desires all to repent (Ezekiel 18:23). His mercy endures forever.
In summary, the Bible provides the truth about how to avoid hell. By God’s grace, living out these biblical principles will put one on the path to eternal life with God in heaven. With faith in Christ and genuine life transformation by the Spirit’s power, hell can be escaped. God freely offers salvation to all who humbly trust in His Son.