Monday, September 12, 2011

Why does God torture people in hell?


God will not “torture” anyone. He will simply give them justice. A criminal who viciously raped three teenage girls may believe that his being thrown into a cold prison is torture. The judge rather knows better. He calls it “justice.”

God will “damn” rebellious sinners from all that is good in a prison called “hell.” He gave them life and lavished His goodness upon them, and they despised Him, violated His Law, and then refused His mercy. He is extremely kind and “rich” in mercy, and offers complete forgiveness to all who repent and obey the gospel. Those who despise that mercy will get what the Bible calls “equity” (see Psa. 98:9). Equity, according to the dictionary, is “the quality of being fair or impartial; fairness; impartiality: the equity of Solomon.” In law, it is “the application of the dictates of conscience or the principles of natural justice to the settlement of controversies.” In other words, impartially doing that which is right, fair, and just.

The Bible tells us that God takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked (Ezek. 33:11). His Word even says that “mercy triumphs over judgment” (James 2:13), meaning that God would rather see someone sorrowful and repentant and have their sins forgiven, than receive the full wrath of His justice. But if sinners remain hard and impenitent, His Word warns, “But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, who “will render to each one according to his deeds” (Rom. 2:5,6).

Psalm 98:9 For He is coming to judge the earth. With righteousness He shall judge the world, And the peoples with equity

No comments:

Post a Comment