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If by what you say is true, then a Mass murderer can confess his sins to the minister two minutes before they inject him, and he would be saved. From what you say, if it is true, then if everyone in teh world were to go to church and confess, we'd all be going to heaven?
Why not? King David committed adultery and murder, and yet, when confronted with the reality of his sins, confessed them and found forgiveness (Psalm 51). And Saul of Tarsus, a man who persecuted, imprisoned, tortured, and even killed Christians, was confronted with his sins and found forgiveness and mercy (Acts 9), and became St. Paul the Apostle. I suggest reading the citations I post here, because you'll see this was not an easy process for either man: to be confronted, to have their private little worlds shattered by the condemnation of their sins. And yet, in both cases, forgiveness and cleansing were granted.
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If I slept with my neighbours wife, went to church, confessed, repented, would I be saved?
If I go out and say "God damn it", go to church and confess and repent, would I be saved?
If I stole $50,000 from a bank, went to church, confess and repent, would I be saved?
Bear in mind, Cola, that "repent" is not mere arbitrary words, but a renunciation. It is not the mere acknowledgment of a deed, but open confession of the guilt that it bears. A man might sleep with his neighbor's wife, and find forgiveness, but not if he continues to see her every night. A man might curse God and find forgiveness, but not if he continues to abuse God's name and treat is as something filthy. A man might steal and find forgiveness, but not if he keeps the money he stole. If a man confesses, "I killed a man last night. I repent," but means little other than, "God, just overlook that," then he will find he still bears the guilt. But, if, like David, the man pours out his soul before the cross, surrendering himself in utter submission before the mercy of God, that is a different matter. And I do not believe such a person goes away unchanged.
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If God is so forgiving, then why is there a Hell in the first place? Is it there for show? Is it there so we can fear it but not actually go to it? How do we know its there?
It's there because there are some people who do not accept that forgiveness and cleansing. There are those who feel like they don't really need God's forgiveness. Either they defy his Law, or take his grace for granted while they continue to live in their sins, or they think they can rely on their own powers and do not seek forgiveness at all. The mercy and grace are there for them; but like a gift that is never opened, but is tossed in the attic and forgotten about, or into the trash can, it does them no good.