No. Hell’s eternal torment is unjust. However, it is just.
The terms “fair” and “just” differ significantly from one another. Or, at the very least, until the last several decades or so, there has been a significant distinction between them for English speakers.
- The traditional meaning of “fair” is “treating people equally.”
- Treating people fairly is the conventional definition of “just.”
Treated the way they deserve
One of the most significant lessons the Bible imparts about hell is that it is God’s method of making sure people are treated fairly. But not everyone receives the same treatment. Some people never receive the treatment they are due. They receive preferential treatment and are completely exempted from any sort of fair retribution for their deeds. This is blatantly prejudiced and far from fair.
The Bible makes it quite clear that although God is entirely just, He is not at all fair. Using Malachi 1:2–3 as an example “The LORD says, ‘Is not Esau Jacob’s brother? “Yet, I have hated Esau but loved Jacob.” All of these statements emphasize how God punished the people of Esau for their transgressions in a righteous manner. God continues in verse 3, saying, “I have left his heritage to jackals of the desert and laid waste his hill country.”
Although this was justified, it was unfair because Esau’s country, Edom, had done some terrible sins. Similar to Edom, God destroyed Israel (the nation of Jacob) and took them into captivity in Babylon for their heinous acts. The distinction is that, having freed Israel from captivity, God is now speaking these passages to them; rather than punishing them for their transgressions, God has chosen to show them mercy.
It is unfair to penalize Edom for their wrongdoings while forgiving Israel. It’s a major case of partiality.
How can God possibly be just and unfair at the same time?
How is it possible for God to be both just and unjust? That seems ridiculous, doesn’t it? Yes, it does, and the Bible makes it very clear as well. Check out Exodus 34:5-7. “The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children’s children, to the third and the fourth generation,” the LORD said as He descended into the cloud and stood with him there.
This well-known Exodus chapter demonstrates how contradictory God’s *name* is. Sin is pardoned by God. God, however, does not absolve the guilty. To put it another way, God justly punishes wrongdoing. But He is not just because He allows certain people to get away with murder.
You’re probably thinking something like, “But how can that possibly be right?” if you’ve read this far. How can God justly punish certain individuals based on the law of nature while arbitrarily absolving others of all responsibility?
The righteousness of God
It’s a valid question, and the New Testament answers it. The apostle Paul explains why God is justified in doing this in Romans 3:21–26, saying, “But now the righteousness of God has been manifested… the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe.” And we can see God is right as He acts.
The idea of God’s “righteousness” is essentially the idea that He acts morally. Paul continues, “For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith.” This means that God is right because every single person who has ever lived on the planet is wrong.
The definition of “justified” is “being made right.” Furthermore, “paying the punishment for wrongs done” is what the word “propitiation” denotes. Paul is arguing that all wrongdoings are grave and serious since they are done against God’s will. Nevertheless, since Jesus takes the punishment for our transgressions, we can all be set right even if we are all guilty. Why does this occur? Paul continues…
This was done to demonstrate God’s righteousness because He had pardoned past transgressions out of divine forbearance. It was done to demonstrate His righteousness in the here and now, so that He would be justified and the one who justifies the believer in Jesus.
God is just and punishes every sin
This explains how God can be both just and unjust and yet be righteous—that is, someone who always acts morally. Every sin is punished by a just God. He is unjust, nevertheless, as some individuals bear the cost of their own transgressions, while others get their punishment covered.
Consider how grave that implies our actual transgression to be. God had to take on the penalty and become a man in order to pay the price for our sin and transgression. Our sin is so great, somehow, that it takes something as precious as God’s sacrifice to atone for it.
Consider things in a different light. God is immensely more love for each and every person on the planet than you and I could ever be. God’s unending love for that individual is damaged and insulted every time I mistake or injure someone else.
Maybe consider it the way Paul discusses it above. Disobedience and falling short of God’s perfection are sins. The glory of God is immensely holy and good.
Wrongdoing is addictive
Lastly, the addictive nature of sin, transgression, and disobedience against God can be observed. Additionally, when individuals make mistakes, they frequently become defensive and dig in their heels, believing that they are right and God is wrong. The Bible makes inferences about what individuals in hell will look like. In hell, there will be “gnashing of teeth” in defiance in addition to “weeping.” The fact that those who live in hell never humble themselves, accept responsibility for their actions, or acknowledge that God is right and they are wrong is one reason why it never ends.
The Bible uses words like “eternal” to describe hell, where God exacts judgment on those who transgress. These are only a few of the reasons for this. Rebellion against God and transgression are limitless sins when viewed from many perspectives. Hell is merely because of this.
Hell is just, but fortunately it’s also unjust. You have the option, as readers of this, to choose not to go there. to be treated unfairly and with limitless favoritism; to be “justified,” or set right, since Jesus paid the price for your sins with His blood, rather than ever having to endure the consequences of your actions.
The Bible is also very clear on this point: Please do not enter hell. Don’t gnash your teeth and cry for eternity because God is just. If you place your faith in Jesus, you will experience magnificently blessed unfair treatment.
