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QUESTION 35
If God is a merciful God how can He put people in hell forever? Would He not be unjust in doing so?

ANSWER:
It is not really God that puts people in hell, but their sins. It is not "who" but "what" put a person in hell.

Who can blame a judge for putting criminals in Dorchester? The judge could have never put them there had they not be found guilty of the crime. "The wicked shall be turned into hell." - Psalms 9:17, The word "turned" in Hebrew means "to turn oneself." It is in the active voice, which means they are performing the action themselves. "The wicked is driven away in (or by) his own wickedness," Proverbs 14:32. "Woe unto the wicked! It shall be ill with him: for the reward of his hand shall be given him," Isaiah 3:11 These verse makes it clear, that it is not God, but wickedness that put a sinner in hell. God says in Ezekiel 33:11, "As I live, saith the Lord, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live." Again, "Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? saith the Lord God: and not that he should return from his ways and live? Ezekiel 18:23

God would be most unjust if sinners did not go to hell. We cry our, and rightly so, at the lack of justice in our courts, how much more would an Holy God, who hates sin, be unjust in not giving the just rewards to all spiritual criminals. But God has a remedy. He has sent His Son to take our sins upon Himself and died for us. Now God can be just and the justifier of all that trust in Jesus," Romans 3:26

Have you trusted Him yet? Will you spend eternity with Him or in hell? It is your choice that will determine whether Jesus Christ will be your Saviour or Judge. Make the right choice, and choose Him today.

All comments and questions to: Harold Smith

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Updated July 2009, by Shelly Allen