Someone unfamiliar with the OT might ask, “Why did God’s plan of salvation include the gruesome death of Messiah?” The answer is that Jesus’ death not only fulfilled OT prophecies of a “prophet” like Moses (DT 18:15) and a “suffering servant” (IS 53), but it also completed and ended the Mosaic sacrificial system, as explained in Hebrews 7:18-10:1. It is logical to believe that an all-loving God’s plan of salvation would be just, the best and save the most. Paul taught (in RM 5:6-11) that the crucifixion of Jesus not only manifested God’s love but also provided the way for Him to forgive sins justly without abrogating free will and abetting sin.
Jesus bore the just consequences of the sins of all humanity (called “atonement”) so that those who truly repent can receive forgiveness rather than having to experience those consequences or hell. We must underline the word “truly”, however, because God’s free grace is not cheap or unjust, allowing evil to go unpunished (cf. MT 7:21, 2TM 2:19, TIT 1:16). A person cannot play games with God, who knows the heart (GL 6:7-10, HB 4:12-13). Jesus is the only person qualified to be Messiah and atone for others’ sins, because he was innocent of sin even though tempted like every human (HB 4:15, 5:7-9 & 6:26-28).
Anyone who thinks God should punish each individual for his/her own sins thinks too highly of himself and too little of the holiness of God. Even though some sins, such as murder, seem worse than others quantitatively, because they cause more obvious harm, all sin—even that of omission (JM 4:17)—is evil qualitatively and equivalent to murder for being diametrically opposed to the perfect will of God (JM 2:10-11). Thus, while it might seem that the just consequence for your own sins would be a hell much less horrible than for someone like Hitler, all ungodly souls are on Satan’s side and cannot earn heaven by trying to be good without cooperating with God. So instead of seeking salvation our own way, it is wise to be grateful for grace and ask for clarification of one’s (mis)understandings in heaven.
Because perfect justice is not attained during this earthly existence, there is a resurrection and judgment (HB 9:27-28), when those who serve the Spirit of love (although imperfectly, PHP 3:12) are separated from demonic souls who do not even want to try to cooperate with the Holy Spirit (MT 25:31-46). Otherwise, there would be no ultimate justice and the entire biblical revelation would make no sense (1CR 15:14&19). If atheists/evil-doers remained unconscious after death, such ignorance would be relative bliss and morality would be nullified (ECC 2:12-17). Thus, hell (as a potential destiny) as well as heaven is good (part of the DOD)!
The horror of self-condemnation for serving Satan is this: apparently the misery of hell does not motivate genuine repentance. Thus, God abandons people assigned to hell or second death (RV 20:6, RM 1:28-32), because they are hopelessly corrupt (JN 6:44). This destiny is eternal for anyone whose sins are infinite. For the rest, after justice is accomplished hell will end in destruction or non-existence per the following passages:
JN 17:12, “None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled.”
RM 9:22, “What if God, although choosing to show his wrath and make his power known, bore with great patience the objects of his wrath—prepared for destruction?”
GL 6:8a, “Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction.”
PHP 3:19a, “Their destiny is destruction.”
2THS 1:9a, “They will be punished with everlasting destruction.”
2PT 3:7, “By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.”
Jesus bore the just consequences of the sins of all humanity (called “atonement”) so that those who truly repent can receive forgiveness rather than having to experience those consequences or hell. We must underline the word “truly”, however, because God’s free grace is not cheap or unjust, allowing evil to go unpunished (cf. MT 7:21, 2TM 2:19, TIT 1:16). A person cannot play games with God, who knows the heart (GL 6:7-10, HB 4:12-13). Jesus is the only person qualified to be Messiah and atone for others’ sins, because he was innocent of sin even though tempted like every human (HB 4:15, 5:7-9 & 6:26-28).
Anyone who thinks God should punish each individual for his/her own sins thinks too highly of himself and too little of the holiness of God. Even though some sins, such as murder, seem worse than others quantitatively, because they cause more obvious harm, all sin—even that of omission (JM 4:17)—is evil qualitatively and equivalent to murder for being diametrically opposed to the perfect will of God (JM 2:10-11). Thus, while it might seem that the just consequence for your own sins would be a hell much less horrible than for someone like Hitler, all ungodly souls are on Satan’s side and cannot earn heaven by trying to be good without cooperating with God. So instead of seeking salvation our own way, it is wise to be grateful for grace and ask for clarification of one’s (mis)understandings in heaven.
Because perfect justice is not attained during this earthly existence, there is a resurrection and judgment (HB 9:27-28), when those who serve the Spirit of love (although imperfectly, PHP 3:12) are separated from demonic souls who do not even want to try to cooperate with the Holy Spirit (MT 25:31-46). Otherwise, there would be no ultimate justice and the entire biblical revelation would make no sense (1CR 15:14&19). If atheists/evil-doers remained unconscious after death, such ignorance would be relative bliss and morality would be nullified (ECC 2:12-17). Thus, hell (as a potential destiny) as well as heaven is good (part of the DOD)!
The horror of self-condemnation for serving Satan is this: apparently the misery of hell does not motivate genuine repentance. Thus, God abandons people assigned to hell or second death (RV 20:6, RM 1:28-32), because they are hopelessly corrupt (JN 6:44). This destiny is eternal for anyone whose sins are infinite. For the rest, after justice is accomplished hell will end in destruction or non-existence per the following passages:
JN 17:12, “None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled.”
RM 9:22, “What if God, although choosing to show his wrath and make his power known, bore with great patience the objects of his wrath—prepared for destruction?”
GL 6:8a, “Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction.”
PHP 3:19a, “Their destiny is destruction.”
2THS 1:9a, “They will be punished with everlasting destruction.”
2PT 3:7, “By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.”
