Born Again Again

Q. I cannot thank you enough for your site, may God bless you!

I have a friend who asked me a question I could not answer. He is struggling with some issues about salvation and hell. He asked me the other day if there was truly a hell, he cannot imagine a loving God, full of mercy and Grace leaving one of his own to suffer in eternal punishment (hell). I think he is struggling with his own fear of not being saved. He does believe that Jesus died for him and paid for his sins, I told him he was saved, he replied that he had no different feelings after wards, like the born again experience some get, but that was not good enough for him. Is there any scriptures that I can point to him to better explain this.

A. Here’s what your friend might not fully understand. When we’re born we belong to God, but when we become old enough to know right from wrong and our sins are counted against us, we become a child of Satan unless we make the conscious choice to remain a child of God. We do that by accepting the death of Jesus as payment in full for our sins and asking Him to be our savior. It’s how we’re born again as a child of God. (John 1:12) Failing to do that, we’re no longer “one of His own” and our assignment to Hell is considered by Him to be our own responsibility. Though He wishes that everyone would come to repentance, He respects that it’s our decision. (2 Peter 3:9)

The thought that salvation will be a powerful emotional experience for everyone is fantasy. For example for me it was a very logical one, the only one that made sense once I had the facts. If your friend is questioning the validity of his decision take him through it again. Use John 3:16, John 6:28-29 & 39-40, Romans 10:9-11, Ephes. 1:13-14, 2 Cor. 1:21-22, Titus 3:4-7 as guides. Remind him again that it’s our belief, not our feelings, that’s important.