How can I stop being afraid of going to hell?

"Don't be afraid, little flock. For it gives your Father great happiness to give you the Kingdom." —Luke 12:32 (NLT)

The fear of experiencing God's judgment and going to hell is a common one—even for many Christians. Honestly, a healthy fear of hell is OK. We don't want to be the one Jesus tells, "I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God's laws" (Matthew 7:23 NLT) and sends us to the place of darkness, weeping, and gnashing of teeth (Matthew 25:30).

A natural fear of God's judgment should cause us to look at ourselves, realize that we can't be saved on our own, and accept that we need to rely on Jesus. The horrors of hell should lead us to the gospel of Jesus—not cause continual anxiety that makes life harder.

No More Need for Fear

"God chose to save us through our Lord Jesus Christ, not to pour out his anger on us." —1 Thessalonians 5:9 (NLT)

What the Bible tells us exactly how to be saved from the punishment of hell (Romans 5:9). For those who have placed their faith in the gift of salvation through Jesus, there is no longer a need to fear God's judgment.

Jesus Christ added humanity to His nature and lived out the full human experience, dying on our behalf so that we could restore our a relationship with Him. Once we've sought His truth in repentance, why would He still pour out His wrath on us (John 5:24)? God's forgiveness is free to anyone who asks (1 John 1:9).

It's true that there are those who call themselves Christians, but who don't truly respond to God's free offer of salvation (Matthew 15:8). Such people won't be able to avoid hell if they die without truly accepting Jesus (Matthew 7:23). But for those who recognize their sin and ask for God for forgiveness, there's no reason to fear this warning!

When Fear Lingers

"God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him." —John 3:17 (NLT)

Sometimes our fears and phobias can be irrational. While we may know certain facts intellectually, sometimes our fears and anxieties don't seem go away. Maybe you know that the Bible is clear that those who have placed their faith in Jesus do NOT need to fear God's judgment, but even knowing this, you may still be fearful at times.

There are believers who may even doubt whether they are truly saved or if they've repented enough. If they're putting their faith in their works or personal perfection, they'll never feel "good enough."

If you still struggle with fears of hell and God's judgment, please reach out to someone in your life—such as a pastor or Christian loved one) who can help walk alongside you and minister to you. Anyone whose name is recorded in the Book of Life is safe from hell (Revelation 20:15).

What if I'm not really saved?

Nobody can answer this "Am I really saved?" question for anyone with 100% certainty. It will take some introspection and self-examination to really know if you truly believe. Do you understand the gospel of Jesus? Have you responded to God's call for faith? Have you noticed any change in how you live your life and what you desire?

The Bible teaches that when we accept Christ, we are gradually transformed into a "new creation" (2 Corinthians 5:17) who desires God more and craves sin less.

What if I still sin?

Now, just to be clear, even after being saved, we will all still struggle with sin (1 John 1:8), but this is not necessarily a sign that you aren't saved. It's a sign that you're a flawed human being—like every other person on the planet. When you're examining yourself, be graceful and forgiving about your own process. Look for is a general trajectory of being better off spiritually than you were prior to accepting Jesus. Look for progress—not perfection.

If you have responded to God in repentance and have generally undergone a "change of life," those are signs of a genuine faith, and you can have confidence in your own salvation. God didn't save us only for us to continually doubt whether we are truly in good standing with Him. We can be confident that we will stand before God covered in Jesus' righteousness!

"[God] does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us." —Psalm 103:10-12

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TL;DR

A natural fear of God's judgment should cause us to look at ourselves, realize that we can't be saved on our own, and accept that we need to rely on Jesus. The horrors of hell should lead us to the gospel of Jesus—not cause continual anxiety that makes life harder. The Bible teaches that when we accept Christ, we are gradually transformed into a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17) who desires God more and craves sin less. Even though we will still struggle with sin, that doesn't mean our salvation is lost. God didn't save us only for us to continually doubt whether we are truly in good standing with Him. We can be confident that we will stand before God covered in Jesus' righteousness!

Writer: Andrew Stout

Andrew Stout is a young adult who converted to Christianity at age 15 in 2021. In addition to writing articles, he is a member and moderator of the 412teens Discord server and makes short form videos for the 412teens social media channels. His hobbies include hiking, making videos, and discussing theology.

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