So I have been convinced that there must be a God, but before I commit to a religion I would lie one question answered which I don't quite understand.
Commit in the Bible does not always mean "I will do it" like a man's commitment mean. Commit can mean "entrust" or to roll the burden unto another whereas in this case, believe in Jesus Christ for all things and not just for salvation.
John 6:28 Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?
29 Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent....
37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.
38 For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.
39 And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.
40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.
Although the Catholics have turned Christianity into a religion, and even Billy Graham's altar call to gain assurance of salvation by making a commitment to follow Christ, the gospel of Jesus Christ is about believing in Him for eternal life and for Him to deliver you from your sins so sin will not have dominion over you any more, and then after salvation, believing in Him as your Good Shepherd to keep you from your sins so you can follow Him so that your joy may be full..
So do not look to yourself in making a commitment to Christ, but rather learn of Him and His words to you to look to and believe in Jesus Christ in what He is committed to you for doing; that by believing in Him as your Saviour, He saves you and then afterwards by believing in Him to be your Good Shepherd, He will help you to abide in Him & His words in the KJV in following Him as His disciple in living that reconciled relationship with God through Jesus Christ.
So this is a question similar to ones many people considering religion have wondered.
Religion is what man can do. The Jews, God's chosen people, had that chance to do it in obtaining salvation and making themselves good by the deeds of the law but failed and the whole point of that is for them to look to God to do what the Jews could not do by the Old Covenant. This is why the New Covenant came as this New Covenant is God's turn now. All He asks from us is to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ & that God has raised Him from the dead.
Once saved by having believed in Him, we can trust Him as our Good Shepherd to help us to follow him, laying aside every weight ( provision for the flesh ) & sin daily in walking in the light in fellowship with the Father & the Son.
Basically, why does God tell us of his existence and what he wants of us through prophets? If it were some more undeniable way, like if in a way everyone understands, in the sky was written 'God is real.' This is significant because, without significant proof many will go to hell.
God the Father knows who is seeking Him from those that are not, but prefer their evil deeds rather than come to the light to be reproved of them.
John 3:14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:
15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
16 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.
17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
His word to us is that all those who seek, shall find.
Matthew 7:6 Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.
7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:
8 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
We see this in the early church ministry in the Book of Acts how God knew who would receive the gospel from those that are not looking at all.
Acts 16:6 Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia,
7 After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not.
8 And they passing by Mysia came down to Troas.
9 And a vision appeared to Paul in the night; There stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us.
10 And after he had seen the vision, immediately we endeavoured to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them.
The sad truth is many sinners in the world are not looking, unless they come face to face with a loss of a loved one or facing a terminal illness or dying from an accident, but if they have opportunity before they die and that is to believe in Him to be saved, He will save them. However, death can happen at any moment & quickly too, just as sin has a way of getting worse and worse in the life of a sinner and so by procrastinating, they may not even consider calling on Him to save them when death comes even though they put it off willingly because they want to "live" which usually means doing whatever they want for pleasure and fun, living on and by impulses rather than discretion and abstinence.
Thanks to the false science called the evolution theory, many are not seeking God at all even though creation all testify to a Grand Designer and not some occurrence from random chance,.
Romans 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;
19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.
20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
1 Timothy 6:20 O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called:
21 Which some professing have erred concerning the faith. Grace be with thee. Amen.
Furthermore, how is it fair to send people to hell if all of their wrongdoing was only ever done through ignorance, and God never stopped them. He just watched the wrongdoing, never warned the person, but after death it's a massive punishment.
I'd be very grateful if this were explained to me. Thank you.
You are seeking God.
Pray and ask the Father to reveal His Son to you so you can believe in Him to be saved and may you find that the Good News is not a religion but a reconciled relationship with God that is lived by trusting in Jesus Christ for all things.
Matthew 11:25 At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.
26 Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in thy sight.
27 All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him.
28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
Romans 8:31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?
Philippians 4:6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
