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Am I going to heaven?

When I was younger, I was a strong christian -- went to bible school and church, hung out with a church group after school, etc. In church (baptist), we were taught that if we accepted Jesus into our hearts as our personal Lord and Savior that he would always be there and through Him we would be saved and would go to heaven. I truly believed in the Lord and accepted Him willingly and honestly.

Well, in the 30 years since then, I've become a devout atheist and recognize the bible as a collection of fairy tales (some loosely based on historical fact) and see religion as a means for those in power to control and manage the population.

But, I think that I'm covered just in case I'm wrong and there is a god, right? Jesus wouldn't abandon someone who accepted him into their heart, right?

Update:

Martin: but I *did* accept him - do I need to do it again? Did jesus abandon me?

17 Answers

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  • 1 decade ago
    Favorite Answer

    Jesus said "Be it done unto you according to your faith".

    Either you believe God or you are calling Him a liar. You are either with him or against Him. You are either a believer, or an unbeliever. Jesus said if you confess Him before men, He would confess you before God. So which is it?

    "We accept man's testimony, but God's testimony is greater because it is the testimony of God, which he has given about his Son. Anyone who believes in the Son of God has this testimony in his heart. Anyone who does not believe God has made him out to be a liar, because he has not believed the testimony God has given about his Son. And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life."

    I John 5:9-13

    "If they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and are again entangled in it and overcome, they are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning. It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than to have known it and then to turn their backs on the sacred command that was passed on to them. Of them the proverbs are true: "A dog returns to its vomit,"and, "A sow that is washed goes back to her wallowing in the mud."

    II Peter 2:20-22

    Repentance is still an option - but it won't be forever.

  • 1 decade ago

    Faith alone in Jesus alone = salvation :)

    To be saved all you have to do is believe that Jesus died on the cross for your sins, and accept him into your life. All saved believers are still sinners but when you believe and accept you are forgiven and allowed into the kingdom of God.

    Being good, and works do not save, only Jesus saves.

    Ephesians 2:8-10

    John 3:16

    Romans 4:2-5

    Here is a link that will help you a lot with your salvation. :)

    http://www.faithalone.org/Sure/Default.htm

  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago

    I would hope so. If Christian murderers can get in, why can't a civilized atheist. I'm not an atheist, which explains a lot about my acceptance to any religion. If you are kind and peaceful, you should experience the same thing as a hateful theist.

  • 1 decade ago

    I think that if Jesus existed he'd have more respect for people who have a critical mind (like you) as appose to those that blindly believe whatever they were taught as a child. You're concerned that since you don't believe in the Christian god, you'll be punished (even though you admit there's no evidence that he exists). By that logic you should also fear the wrath of Allah, Zeus, Thor etc.

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  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago

    There is a group of people called apostates. They have known the truth and deliberately left it. They are not saved. If you are really saved, at some point in your life, you will repent and turn back to your early faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

    (This is my belief. I'm not absolutely sure I'm right.)

  • 1 decade ago

    You MUST believe in Jesus as God's Son. You MUST repent of your sins, Acts 2:38 , and BE BAPTIZED for the forgiveness of your sins. Yes, being an atheist is a sin. It is renouncing the God of the universe. You must be sorry for those feelings, and promise God you will try to be a good Christian in order to go to Heaven. Yes, that is strict, but Bible teaching is strict. No room for hanky-panky. Visit your local church of Christ and talk to the minister. He will help you understand, and will not be critical. He is there to help you. Now GIT !

  • 1 decade ago

    sounds like a silly troll question so I'll say sure yer fine whatever .. all devout atheists go to heaven .. for how long they remain in heaven is another subject ..

    I really doubt young peoples faith and whether they are or aren't really isn't much of my business .

    as an adult christian for many years I know in whom I have believed ,,, it's much less a matter of simple faith and much more of something that resembles aa real fact ..

    the clear suggestion to avoid unbelievers

  • kALIEN
    Lv 7
    1 decade ago

    You've ever read it, no?

    27 Everything has been entrusted to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.

    28 Come to me, all you who work hard and who carry heavy burdens and I will refresh you.

    29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me for I am gentle and humble of heart; and you will find rest.

    30 For my yoke is good and my burden is light."

    (Matthew 11)

    Faith is an invitation.....

  • 1 decade ago

    Well, I don't know what happened to you during the 30 years, but it sound to me your going to purgatory, no offense though. Here's why:

    Everything in the New Testament is true. The Scriptures are proof.

    Next, you can't just worship God a lot then become an atheist. You need to worship god your entire life. If you don't, you won't have enough grace to enter heaven, but you after you die, you go to purgatory without enough grace. Purgatory is like a waiting room to get grace and once you have enough, you go to heaven. So, hope this helps.

  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago

    You sound to me more like an agnostic than a " devout atheist "

    To answer your question , the only way you will get to heaven is to accept Jesus as your lord and saviour .

    If you do not , then you will not go to heaven when you pass away.

    its not too late , you can still regain your faith .

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