So people whose sins are paid for will die and go to hell?
If they by their own choice, in willful ignorance die in a state of sin dominating them than, yes.
The belief that individuals who have their sins paid for but still end up in hell, particularly those who willfully continue in sin and refuse to accept Christ's payment for their sins, contradicts core biblical teachings on salvation and repentance. According to Christian doctrine, salvation is offered through faith in Jesus Christ, as stated in
Ephesians 2:8-9, "8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast." This passage emphasizes that salvation is a gift from God, received through faith, not through human efforts or moral perfection.
However, accepting this gift of salvation involves repentance and a transformation of life, which is a turning away from sin and toward God.
1 John 1:6 "6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:" This suggests that a genuine acceptance of Christ's sacrifice is incompatible with a willful continuation in sin. Furthermore, Jesus himself calls for repentance, saying in
Luke 13:3, "3 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish." Repentance is therefore a crucial aspect of true faith.
The argument that willful sinners who refuse Christ's payment will still inherit eternal life overlooks the necessity of repentance and a living faith that bears fruit in a changed life (James 2:17). While Christ's sacrifice is indeed sufficient to pay for all sin, the Bible teaches that this gift must be received through faith, accompanied by repentance and a sincere commitment to follow Jesus. Rejecting this offer of salvation, therefore, has eternal consequences, as affirmed in John 3:18, which states, "Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son." This underscores the idea that faith in Christ is not merely intellectual assent but involves a transformation of the heart and life that turns away from sin and toward God.
The biblical narrative presents a holistic view of salvation that involves both faith in Christ's sacrifice and a repentant life that seeks to follow Him. The claim that individuals can willfully persist in sin, refuse the offer of salvation through Christ, and still receive eternal life contradicts the essential biblical teachings on the nature of faith, repentance, and salvation. The Bible clearly teaches that a genuine acceptance of Christ’s sacrifice necessarily involves turning away from sin and living a life that reflects the transformative power of the Gospel.