Is eternity in hell really justice?

Hello,

I have posted this on other forums, but no one honestly has given me a straight answer to this question. Why does God punish us for eternity even though we don't fully understand the severity of our sin in relation to how holy God is? I get that sin must be punished, but in all seriousness why does it have to be for eternity. I cannot understand why any crime would be worthy of such a horrible punishment. Perhaps if the torment eventually ended and we faded into oblivion after a certain time. Honestly, why would God see it as perfect justice to pose such a sentence on someone, even more so if he pre-destines these individuals for hell? If you respond to this post, please answer the question directly and try not to bring other topics into the post such as God's love for humanity and how he died so we wouldn'tt have to go there.

God did not predestine anyone to hell. We do that all on our own. As CS. Lewis wrote "the gates of hell are locked from the inside". Those that reject God, reject Him for eternity, consequently, hell is eternal.

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“You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.- Our Lord and Savior.

Yes well, I have been infected by Calvinism I guess, so I am coming to believe more and more that we have no say in our own salvation.

I am a calvinist but not a hyper-calvinist. Calvin did not believe nor teach hypercalvinism either. Food for thought: if Jesus died for all of our sins, and faith is needed for salvation then all that have faith in the Son will be saved. Predestination is biblical but is not fully understood nor will we be able to understand it fully. God has not chosen to fully resolve the tension between free will and predestination.

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“You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.- Our Lord and Savior.

Originally Posted by Ultima4257

Hello,

I have posted this on other forums, but no one honestly has given me a straight answer to this question.

Really? How is "yes" not a straight answer? I'm sure you've gotten that from people who know.

Originally Posted by Ultima4257

Why does God punish us for eternity even though we don't fully understand the severity of our sin in relation to how holy God is?

How could you not know the severity of your sin? Do you read the Bible? Do you go to church? Do you believe what you've read and heard? Then you are particularly without excuse as to the severity of your sin. If you are an unbeliever who does not go to church or read the Bible, unless you live in a cave on the top of Denali, or in the deepest, darkest jungles of Central Africa, you have heard that God has prepared hell for unbelievers, as well as for the rebellious angels He originally created it for. There is no excuse. Personally, if someone told me that a certain crime which didn't sound particularly heinous was subject to the death penatly, I'd want to check that out and see where they got that information. If I didn't do so, and committed that crime, was arrested, convicted and sentenced to death, who am I to blame? The legislature that passed the law? The governor who signed it? Perhaps the person who told me of the death sentence? No, I would have only myself to blame. God doesn't send people to hell. They send themselves.

Originally Posted by Ultima4257

I get that sin must be punished, but in all seriousness why does it have to be for eternity. I cannot understand why any crime would be worthy of such a horrible punishment.

Now you are just trying to argue with God. He is the standard bearer, we are playing in His ballpark by His rules. Even if you don't like the rules or the game, you have little choice. Either play by the rules, or don't. But don't gripe and complain when "don't" rises up to bite you on the butt.

Originally Posted by Ultima4257

Perhaps if the torment eventually ended and we faded into oblivion after a certain time. Honestly, why would God see it as perfect justice to pose such a sentence on someone, even more so if he pre-destines these individuals for hell?

God's thoughts are higher than our thoughts, and His ways are higher than our ways. He determines what is perfect and what isn't. Again, His ballpark, His rules. Love it or don't, but you got to play the game.

Originally Posted by Ultima4257

If you respond to this post, please answer the question directly and try not to bring other topics into the post such as God's love for humanity and how he died so we wouldn'tt have to go there.

Why not? Afraid of being convicted of the truth?

Tradition tradition tradition.

The original Greek shows no eternal suffering...period.

"Hell" is a Platonic idea.

"Aion" has NO sense of eternity either.

Does this ring a bell??
***Isa 38:10 I said in the cutting off of my days, I shall go to the gates of the grave (HELL??): I am deprived of the residue of my years.

Matt. 25:46
46 These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

Is it not God's promise that those who believe in the Son will spend eternity (aionios) with Him?

__________________
“You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.- Our Lord and Savior.

And even better read The Great Divorce.

__________________
"Goodness is stronger than evil,
love is stronger than hate,
light is stronger than darkness,
life is stronger than death,
victory is ours through him who loved us."
(+Desmond Tutu)

If you don't understand the full severity of your sin than that means that you are not going to be found guilty. God does not want you or anyone else to feel condemned or guilty, he wants us to feel innocent because he has made us innocent.

An eternal sin has to be punished eternally. Christ has paid for your punishment, and his payment is eternal. He has conquered your sin and the wages of your salvation have been paid by his blood. Not just your salvation, but the salvation of the world. One cannot speak of God without speaking of God's love for man, nor can one speak of Hell without speaking of the Christ. If you fear Hell, than that is good. If you despise Hell, than that is good. But do not fear for the sinner's soul because the sinner's soul is none of your concern.

You can sit around and worry about other people's private business with God all day if you want but you still won't have changed anything. Why do you think that you know better than God what to do with someone else? Is God not the master of his people? Has he not already told us that he will go after the lost sheep? Does he not know better than you what is necessary or just? He will not abandon you or anyone else. If there is even the slightest bit of hope, the slightest shred of love, the smallest hint of mercy, than he will make that seed bloom into a tree of life.

God will do what is necessary. We just have to trust in him, and not let ourselves think we know more than we do.

Yep.

__________________
“You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.- Our Lord and Savior.