If I decided to stop following Jesus would he throw me in hell when I die?
Once you're saved you're always saved. Nothing you do can separate you from Christ. Sometimes Christians wander, sometimes very far, but they're still Christians. 2 Timothy 2:13, "If we are faithless, He remains faithful." And
However, there are clearly verses that warn against apostasy.
Some of these are as follows:
1 John 2:3-6, "[SUP]
3 [/SUP]We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands. [SUP]
4 [/SUP]Whoever says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person. [SUP]
5 [/SUP]But if anyone obeys his word, love for God[SUP]
[a][/SUP] is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him: [SUP]
6 [/SUP]Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did."
1 John 2:18-19, "[SUP]
18 [/SUP]Dear children, this is the last hour; and as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come. This is how we know it is the last hour. [SUP]
19 [/SUP]They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us; but their going showed that none of them belonged to us."
Clearly, these verse are talking about people who, although they claimed to be Christians, weren't really Christians. They lied. Maybe even to themselves.
Likewise, Jesus discusses how some people believe they are Christians but hear Him say to them, "I never knew you."
He points out that the way to tell a Christian from someone who either pretends or falsely believes him/herself to be a Christian is by the person's fruit. It's impossible for someone who is a Christian not to have their life transformed by Christ. It might not be all at once and, of course, Christian still sin, but God shows them how to do right.
A true Christian would never choose to reject Christ. He/she might choose to sin and then repent of it. But a true Christian would never say, "Christ never died for my sins," or , "Christ died for my sins but I'm going to live like it cost Him nothing."
Now, I know that there might be some objections to this way of seeing things, but this is the best answer I have at this moment.
Of course, it makes one a bit scared because the people Jesus referred to clearly thought they were Christians, so what if we think we're saved but really aren't? How terrifying to think one might hear Jesus say He never knew us! The best answer I have to quelling those fears is to trust that God is good and merciful, that the Bible clearly states those who have faith in Jesus are saved, and to trust God. After all, our salvation isn't dependent on us but on Jesus, so all we can do is trust in Him.