Why is there infinite punishment for finite sins?

Question

I just asked the question to see how much the Bible could be twisted to justify a position. I guess the Bible can be used to justify just about any position.

Answer 1

How come every time that some one asks a good question, like this one, all of the retards suddenly wake up and start their damn yammering? I just wish that they would think with their heads and not their bibles!!!. But I agree with you, no sane parent would do that to their child.

Answer 2

Dear Beavis,

Your question presumes both that sins are finite and that punishment for them is infinite, yet you provide no support for either. Still, it's an interesting question, so let's think about this.

First, are sins finite? Perhaps they are, but not necessarily. This is because sins can have repercussions that ripple forward through time so their effects don't end at the time they happen. Also, to the extent that sins are not merely against other people but are offenses against an eternal Being, they might also be considered eternal, or "infinite."

Now let's ask if punishment (for sins) is infinite? Again, this is not necessarily so. Even if the punishment goes on forever, it could still be finite. How can that be, you wonder? There is a mathematical concept known as a convergent infinite series. In short, it is an unending sum of terms, whose total remains finite. As an example, if each day you filled half of the remaining volume of a fixed-size (finite) container with water, the container would not be completely filled in any finite amount of time. Thus, in principle, a punishment could last forever yet still be finite.

Next, can the notions of finite sin and infinite punishment be reconciled? Consider the analogy of debt. For instance, you borrow money to buy something. The debt is finite. But what if you don't pay the debt? The lender may require interest in addition to the original debt, so that the amount owed grows over time. If you don't amortize the debt and pay it off, it will increase without bounds. Thus, one can think of sin as incurring a finite debt, that when left unpaid results in an unbounded penalty. If there are no bankruptcy laws for sin and you cannot pay the debt, you must either turn to the one who is owed and ask that the debt be forgiven, or find someone else who is willing and able to pay the debt on your behalf.

Answer 3

The teaching that there is an eternal hell in which hordes of mankind will suffer eternal punishment can be a difficult doctrine to accept. We hear so much about God's infinite love and how He desires that all men be saved (1 Tim. 2:4). However, those who develop their theologies based upon the "gentle" side of God do so with an incomplete picture. Not only is God loving (1 John 4:8-10), gracious (Exo. 33:19; 1 Pet. 2:3), and merciful (Exodus 34:6; Psalm 67:1; James 5:11), but He is also holy (Isaiah 6:3; Rev. 4:8), just ( Neh. 9:32-33; 2 Thess. 1:6), and hates sin (Psalm 5:5-6; Hab. 1:13). God punishes the sinner (Jer. 50:31; Ez. 44:12; Matt. 25:46; 2 Thess. 1:9; 2 Pet. 2:9; Heb. 10:29).
The Bible teaches that there is a fiery hell, a place that Jesus warned people about.

"And if your hand or your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it from you; it is better for you to enter life crippled or lame, than having two hands or two feet, to be cast into the eternal fire," (Matt. 18:8).

Eternal fire is real. Jesus said it was. In fact, Jesus spoke a great deal about hell. It is what Jesus came here to save us from.
The great thing here is we don't have to go there. If we end up there is it because we failed to choose Christ and his forgiveness.
Our sins are finite simply because we do them, and they end, though the consequences of those sins is lasting unless we receive forgiveness... Its all up to you... Ask Christ to forgive you now... and the problem goes away. Every time you sin... just ask Him, and He will forgive. But that does not mean we can go on sinning willfully over and over. If we do, that shows we are not sorry for our sin. True repentance which Christ requires, means we stop doing the wrong and go the other direction.

Answer 4

Hell is Just.

Hell is a place where people experience the Just consequences for the harm they did to others (by their actions or by their inaction). The punishment will fit the crime. The Bible indicates that there are different levels of punishment in hell. And the language used in the Bible is consistent with Hell not being necessarily eternal.

Cordially,
John

Answer 5

I suppose you're talking about the god of the Bible. It's that way because it's just a fairy tale, that is the only possible explanation.


Infinite punishment for finite sins:

God is perfectly just, and yet he sentences the imperfect humans he created to infinite suffering in hell for finite sins. Clearly, a limited offense does not warrant unlimited punishment. God's sentencing of the imperfect humans to an eternity in hell for a mere mortal lifetime of sin is infinitely more unjust than this punishment. The absurd injustice of this infinite punishment is even greater when we consider that the ultimate source of human imperfection is the God who created them. A perfectly just God who sentences his imperfect creation to infinite punishment for finite sins is impossible.

Answer 6

It's a good question, and i'll give a good answer:

Sins are not "finite", as you say. Any and everything you do on this earth is final. You cant go back in time, and change something, you do it, it's forever. You kill a guy, and he's dead. You cant bring him back to life. You sleep with a woman before you're married, it cant be undone. Therefore, we are charged with the negatives things that we cause on this earth, but no matter what we do, we dont have to worry about it. Because Jesus died for us. He knew we were pittiful beings, and we needed help. So I hope i have answered your questions.

God bless you.

Answer 7

This would only apply to those who believe in Hell, which includes eternal damnation.

Religions, other than the Abrhamic ones, do not all have the ideology of eternal damnation. Many have more fair ways of dealing with bad actions, which may take place in this life, the next, or the afterlife.

Answer 8

Sin is basically disobediance. it is knowing to do right and not doing it.Kind of like saying yea God I know you said not to lie but who cares I'll do what I like. The bible speaks of a luke-warm person as not all the way bad but not all the way good. It says because you are luke-warm he will spit you out of his mouth and say he never knew you . God hates sin as so should you. if its a small simple sin then why are you willing to burn for it anyway.

Answer 9

God (OM) is both Just and Merciful. This means that punishment (as well as reward) is the result of our own action and is always in proportion to the act commited. Those who tell you otherwise are trying to pull a fast one on you. ;)

Krinvanto Vishwam Aryam - Satyam Eva Jayate

Answer 10

Because 1 it was committed against an infinite God and 2 we can never pay the penalty