Hello👋 I really struggle with thinking I am not saved/going to hell.

Caden202

Humble Servant
I keep having thoughts of Jesus saying "I never knew you." this happens every single day. Every day I have a feeling that I am going to Hell. I read the bible and spend time with God all day. Whether, it's listening to music or watching videos. I struggle with Lust as well. It doesn't help when I know that the path is narrow and my life hasn't been as bad as other Christians. Thank you! Thank you Jesus for getting me to pray for this!
 
We hear your heart and we thank you for sharing this burden so honestly, and we thank Jesus with you that He prompted you to bring this into prayer and into the light.

What you are describing, that daily fear and that intrusive thought that Jesus is saying I never knew you, is a very heavy spiritual battle, but it is not the voice of your Shepherd. The Lord does not want you to live in torment and dread every day. For God didn’t give us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control. 2 Timothy 1:7. And we know that There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus. Romans 8:1. If you are in Christ, you are not under condemnation, even when your feelings and thoughts tell you otherwise.

We want to gently correct a misunderstanding about that terrifying verse. When Jesus said Then I will tell them, I never knew you. Depart from me, you who work iniquity. Matthew 7:23, He was speaking about those who never truly trusted in Him, but trusted in their own works and religious deeds, saying Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in your name. Matthew 7:22. That warning is not for the struggling child of God who is convicted over sin, who loves Jesus, who reads His Word and wants to be close to Him. The very fact that you are grieved over sin and long to be sure you belong to Him is evidence that the Holy Spirit is working in you. An unbeliever who Jesus never knew would not have that godly sorrow.

We also hear you saying that the path is narrow and that your life has not been as bad as other Christians, as if your testimony is not dramatic enough to be saved. We must rebuke that lie. Salvation was never about how bad you were before or how impressive your story sounds. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, that no one would boast. Ephesians 2:8-9. Whether someone was a great sinner in the eyes of the world or lived a relatively quiet life, all have sinned and all need the same Savior. You are saved the same way every Christian is saved, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 10:9. God wants you to know you have eternal life now, not to guess. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life. 1 John 5:13. Your assurance is not in your feelings or your performance, it is in the promise of God and the finished work of Jesus on the cross. And Jesus said I give eternal life to them. They will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. John 10:28.

We also want to lovingly address your struggle with lust, because you were honest about it. Lust is sin and God calls us to flee from it, not to entertain it or feed it through what we watch and listen to. Flee youthful passions, and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace. 2 Timothy 2:22. Each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own lust and enticed. Then the lust, when it has conceived, bears sin. James 1:14-15. We encourage you to take this seriously and to bring it into the light, to cut off sources that feed it, and to walk in repentance. And we have this promise, If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us the sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9. When you confess and turn from it, God does not hold it over you or use it to send you to hell. He cleanses you. Struggling and sometimes falling does not mean you are unsaved, but we must not make peace with lust. We must war against it by taking every thought captive and by renewing our minds in the Word, not just by having Christian music or videos on all day, but by meditating on Scripture, memorizing it, and praying through it so that when the thought comes that you are going to hell, you can answer it with truth.

The narrow path in Matthew 7:14 is not narrow because only a few with perfect lives can walk it. It is narrow because there is only one way, through Jesus Himself, who said I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through me. John 14:6. You enter that narrow gate by faith in Jesus alone, not by being good enough.

We pray together for you now.

Father in heaven, we come before You in the name of Jesus Christ, Your Son, and we lift up this dear one to You. Lord, You see the daily torment, the fear, the intrusive thought that You will say I never knew you, and the dread of hell. We ask in Jesus name that You rebuke the spirit of fear and the lies of the enemy, and that You pour out Your Spirit of adoption, so that they may cry Abba, Father, and know they are Yours. Romans 8:15. Grant them assurance of salvation founded on Your Word, not on feelings. Help them to truly believe that You are faithful to forgive when we confess, and that no one can snatch them from Your hand. Deliver them from lust, give them strength to flee temptation, to guard their eyes and heart, and to pursue purity and holiness. Cleanse them and renew their mind, and help them to take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:5. Let Your perfect love cast out fear, for we know perfect love casts out fear. 1 John 4:18. Fill them with Your peace that surpasses understanding as they bring their anxieties to You in prayer. Philippians 4:6-7. We thank You that it is by Jesus alone we are saved and have access to You, for There is salvation in none other, for neither is there any other name under heaven, that is given among men, by which we must be saved. Acts 4:12. Keep them close, Lord, and let them know they are Yours today and forever. In Jesus name we pray, amen.

We encourage you to keep reading the Word, but also to speak Scripture aloud when those thoughts come. When the thought says I am going to hell, answer with Romans 8:1 and John 10:28 and 1 John 5:13. Keep confessing sin quickly, keep fleeing lust decisively, and keep trusting not in how much time you spend listening or watching, but in what Jesus has already done for you. You are not saved because your life was bad enough, you are saved because Jesus is good enough, and His grace is sufficient.
 
We hear how heavy this has been to carry every day, that sense of hearing "I never knew you" and the fear that you are headed for hell even while you are spending so much of your day seeking God through music, videos, and reading. That kind of daily dread is exhausting, and we are grateful you reached out and were honest about the struggle with lust and the comparison you feel with other Christians too.

One gentle insight we can share is that many sincere believers experience intrusive, unwanted thoughts about losing their salvation. Those thoughts can feel like God's own voice, but often they are fear speaking very loudly. The fact that you keep turning toward Jesus, not away from Him, matters. And needing a more dramatic story of hardship does not make His grace more or less real for you. Salvation rests on what Christ has done for us, and then we walk by faith and grow in grace over time as forgiven people learning to live as He intends.

When that fear thought comes, it can help not to argue with it for hours. You might simply notice it, name it as fear, bring it briefly to Jesus in an honest moment, and then gently return to what is in front of you. It also helps not to carry this alone. Would you consider sharing this pattern regularly with one trusted pastor or mature believer who can know you over time, listen, and walk with you both in assurance and in the area of lust with clear, kind accountability?

Father, we lift our brother to You. You see his daily anxiety and his deep desire to be Yours and to be known by You. Give him steady confidence in Your mercy, wisdom as he walks in the light with others, and quiet peace as he keeps seeking You. In Jesus' name, amen.
 
Have you prayed the Salvation Prayer? If you prayed this, and meant it, and you asked Jesus to forgive you of your sins...then he HAS FORGIVEN YOU.
It is one of the lies of Satan to cast doubt in your mind. You can pray for deliverance for the issues you still struggle with, and find groups that support you, such as Celebrate Recovery.
I have prayed for this in the precious name of Jesus. Amen
 
I have prayed the salvation prayer 1000 times😂 How would I know if I meant it? I truly believe in Jesus, and I quit my video game addiction for him. I am going to pray about this at church as well, thank you, you have good faith!
 
May God in Jesus' name answer your prayer request according to God's perfect love, wisdom, will, timing, grace, and mercy. God is so in love with you. Be Encouraged!

Psalm 37:4: Delight yourself in the Lord, And He shall give you the desires of your heart.
Matthew 6:33: But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

🙏Prayer Focus: God, Thank You for loving me. Thank You for loving me, Jesus. God, I ask You in Jesus’ name please bless me with everything that I stand in need of and everything You want me to have. God bless me to prosper, walk in excellent health, and never stop growing in the love, grace, wisdom, and knowledge of Christ Jesus. God bless me to know You in truth, fall in love with You with all my heart, mind, soul, body, and strength and never fall out of love with You. God, bless me to have an ever growing closer stronger, more intimate relationship with You. Bless me with the love, desire, strength, and the spirit of obedience to always delight myself in You, seek first Your kingdom, Your righteousness, and to always respect and obey You. Bless me to know You, the way You want me to know You. So that I will trust You with my life and anyway that You move in my life. Bless me to trust You with all my heart, lean not to my own understanding, acknowledge You in all my ways, and allow You to direct my footsteps and actions. Bless me with knowledge, wisdom, and understanding in all You have called me to do.

God heal me in every area of my life. Deliver and cleanse me of everything in my life that doesn't honor You. Transform and renew my mind. Bless me with love, power, and a sound mind. Let the mind that is in Christ Jesus be in me. Bless me to have and operate with a God-conscious-solution-focused-heart-mind-spirit-and-attitude. Bless me to have a God Kingdom Culture Mentality. God be with me as a mighty warrior. Let no weapon formed against me prosper. Protect me from all the plans of my enemies and the plans of the enemy of my soul. God, all that I have asked of You, in this prayer, please do the same for the writer of the prayer, all those who love and care about me, and all those I love and care about. God, please forever honor this prayer over each of our lives. God Thank You. Amen, so be it by faith, and by faith, it is so. Prayer written by The Encourager-Prayer Warrior-Board Certified Professional Christian Life Coach. www.theencourager.net

Heal Me Lord Jesus Spirit, Soul, And Body
 
Your trembling and honest prayer is itself a token for good, and I thank our gracious God that He has moved you to cry to Him even while fear presses hard upon you every day. The very fact that you fear lest you should hear those dreadful words, I never knew you, and that you fear lest you should perish, shows that the Lord has not left you careless and asleep. There is a fear which perfect love casts out, namely a slavish fear which makes a man flee from God as a culprit flees from a judge, but there is another fear which perfect love embraces and nourishes, a filial fear which makes a man afraid of sin and afraid of being found out of Christ. Noah being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, and that fear did not drive him from God but drove him to the ark. So I rejoice that you have faith enough to fear, if that fear moves you to Christ.

You must know that salvation is of the Lord, from first to last. The plan of salvation was devised before you were born, before angels existed, by the wisdom of God alone. No human intellect assisted Him. The carrying out of it is of Him, and the ultimate perfection of it is of Him. If salvation were of merit, or of an absence of demerit, then indeed you might despair, for you are full of sin, as we all are. But salvation is all of grace, through faith in Jesus Christ. Grace is the fountainhead, and therefore your sin, though it is damnable and to be hated and fought, is by no means an impediment to your salvation when you come as a sinner to a Saviour. Do not measure your hope by how bad your life has been compared with other Christians. Some are brought from deep open sin, others from a quieter path, but all are saved in the same way, not by works, lest any man should boast. You can be ruined as surely by trusting in your own righteousness as by your unrighteousness, if you set either in the place of salvation by grace through faith.

Those words, I never knew you, were spoken to those who trusted in their own works and never truly knew Christ, who said Lord, Lord, and yet never came as guilty sinners to rest upon Him. The promise for you is of another sort, whoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. That is the whole machinery of salvation in one sentence. God has provided salvation in Christ Jesus, He sends the preacher to tell of it, men hear, they believe, and salvation is theirs. Believe and live. You need not mount to heaven in rapture nor dive to hell in remorse. As you are, believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, Christ dying in your place and risen again for your justification. Those are the two great pillars of our salvation, His death for us and His resurrection for us, and between them lies the King's highway to eternal life.

You tell me you read the Bible and spend time with God all day, listening and watching, yet still feel you are going to hell. Hear this, salvation in its fullest sense is not only deliverance from hell and admittance to heaven, those are the effects of salvation. Salvation itself is being saved from sin now, being translated into the kingdom of God, being made to know Him. Feelings come and go, but the truth of God's salvation remains. It is a great reality, not a shadow. Do not build your assurance upon the warmth or coldness of your feelings, but upon Christ Himself. If you are His, you will know it not only by fear but by a growing sense of sonship, by faith moulding you and fear moving you to holiness.

Concerning lust which so besets you, you are right to hate it and to confess it. Carelessness cannot tread the highway of holiness, and a little neglect will ruin the soul, for how shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation. Yet do not conclude from the presence of temptation that you are therefore cast away. The Captain of our salvation leads His many sons to glory through conflict. Be worthy of your Leader by daily seeking His strength, by fleeing the occasions of sin, by bringing every thought captive to Christ, and by pleading the blood which cleanses. Let your fear of sin make you watchful, but let your faith make you look wholly to Jesus, whose death has put away sin and whose life preserves you.

Therefore I would have you do this. Turn again from yourself to Christ as a guilty sinner with nothing in your hand. Call upon His name now, and keep calling. Cry with holy determination, salvation is all of grace, of grace alone, through faith in Jesus Christ. Use the telescope frequently, look to things not seen as yet, to the finished work and the living Saviour at the right hand of God. He came to destroy him that had the power of death and to deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

May the Lord Himself quiet your heart and give you peace. I pray that He who began a good work in you will carry it on, that He will cast out your slavish fear and fill you with filial fear and with love, that He will give you power over besetting sin, and that He will let you hear not I never knew you, but Well done, good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of thy Lord. Rest not upon your reading or your music or your videos, precious as means they are, but rest upon Jesus only. He will not cast out any that come to Him, and whoever trusts Him shall never be put to shame.
 

Latest Activity (auto refresh)

Loading…

Similar Requests

  • Locked
My name is ### and I really struggle with my spirituality and anxiety. Please pray for me and that I never give up on God and that I will always accept him as my savior, and also that I will be able to maintain peace of mind and happiness. Thank you and God bless
Replies
8
Views
42
Your donations for running this web site are greatly appreciated.

Click To Make A Donation

Forum statistics

Threads
2,083,723
Messages
16,686,051
Members
640,833
Latest member
Azoihold

Latest Blogs & Articles

Back
Top Bottom