For my own part, I'll share that is was a very strange and wonderful thing to realize (really realize) that Christ had entered into my life and literally saved me from Hell itself.
I had done everything the Catholic church had asked me to do. I had been Confirmed. I had gone to CCD classes for years. I was an altar boy. I prayed the rosary. I had gone on retreats. I had stacks of prayer cards. I wore Catholic medals of saints around my neck. I lit candles. I went to Confession. I went to Mass 2-3 times per week. Among my family, I was considered the "most Catholic" among them.
I will say this in all honesty, shame, and nakedness: I knew, without a shadow of a doubt, that I was going to Hell. I only came to this firm realization after 2 months of closely examining and studying scripture. The ugly truth was as plain to me as the black and white print at which I was starring.
Let me tell you, THAT terrifying truth was hard to bear. I knew I had not accepted Christ. My Catholic faith had no answers. I went to a priest, and asked him, straight out, if there was some way I could be sure I was not going to Hell. I was fearful....I didn't want to go to Hell, but I knew I was definitely going there! I wanted to know who I could enter into heaven and be with God forever.
His answer left me crestfallen:
"Errr....well.....that's a Great Mystery."
I asked another priest, who gave me almost exactly the same answer. I asked more Catholics and more priests. I got collections of everything from "good works" to "sacraments" to "be a good person" to "go to Mass every day for a year" to New Age philosophy.
One day at work I heard a man and a women who I both admired very much discussing scripture. The were talking about this verse:
"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, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God." 1 John 5:13
They were both happy. Joyful. Relieved. At peace. And they spoke about what it felt like to know you were saved. Saved from what? I knew. Saved from damnation in Hell. Because, I knew that was where I was going.
It took many more weeks of reading, listening to sermons on the radio, and talking to Christians before I finally relinquished and surrendered to Christ.
Now, let me tell you, DESPITE knowing I was Hell-bound I was STILL reluctant because I a part of myself wanted to somehow hold onto my own destiny, my own pride, my own lusts, my own desired, my own sins.
I didn't want to change. I didn't want to transform. I was a coward. But, Christ would not let go of His pursuit of me.
When I finally knew that I was saved, it was the most profound thing I have ever experienced. I cannot express to you the joy and relief. I LOVED this guy (Christ!). I loved Him. I read the Gospels and re-read them. I watched a movie about Him over and over again. I loved my fellow Christians. Looking back, I could not believe how stupid and foolish I had been.
I had wanted to earn my way into Heaven and out of Hell. When someone first told me about the concept of Grace, I about fell out of my chair.
Praise be to Him.