Misconception: People go to hell because they do bad things.
Truth: We do bad things because of the curse of a sin nature that was imputed to us from Adam. It is this sin nature that we must seek God’s forgiveness from. If we fail to do so before death, this is the one and only reason we would end up spending eternity in hell.
Wherefore, as by one man din entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: Romans 5:12
For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. 1 Corinthians 15:22
(God speaking to Adam in the Garden of Eden) But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die. (Spiritual death, and being cursed with a separation from God forever) Genesis 2:17
And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:
For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.
And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat. Genesis 3:4-6
Misconception: A person must get saved every time they do something bad, or sinful.
Truth: Salvation is eternal. Once a person has repented, or turned from the aforementioned sin nature, and asked Christ to deliver them from a future in hell, there is no condemnation to go there ever again. We must, however, continue to seek forgiveness for the stuff we do that we shouldn’t. The sins we commit on a regular basis.
There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. Romans 8:1
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9
These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. 1 John 5:13
Misconception: Salvation is earned or kept by doing good works/deeds.
Truth: Salvation is only by God’s grace, freely given to us at Calvary, that we can have forgiveness of our sin nature and have a future in heaven with him.
Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 1 John 4:10
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Not of works, lest any man should boast. Ephesians 2:8-9
For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 6:23
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,
Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 1 Peter 1:3-5
Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Titus 3:5
Misconception: I am too far gone. God would never save someone like me.
Truth: God knew you, loved you, died for you anyway. Nothing you have done could ever take your chance for salvation away. While you are still breathing here on earth, if you have a desire to know God, there is room at the cross for you. He loves you so much. He wants you to love him back, and accept his free gift of eternity in heaven with him. Have you accepted it? Will you?
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16
But God commendeth (proved/showed) his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8
And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ. 2 Thessalonians 3:5
For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39
