Infinite Punishment for Finite Sins?

Question

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 1

The idea of a fiery torture pit where people are punished for eternity was tossed into the mix much later by Roman Catholics.
God never thought that one up.

Answer 2

The Bible doesn't speak of that kind of punishment. In fact, when it comes to punishment by fire, God says that "such a thing has never come up into my mind." The book of Romans says that "the wages sin pays is death", so when a person dies, that is the punishment for all of his or her sins. Then, Jesus Christ, as God's appointed Judge, will determine which among the dead will receive the gift of resurrection. The Bible states "I know for a certainty that there will be a resurrection of the righteous and the unrighteous." Thus, those who strive to do God's will have the opportunity to live forever in paradise. Those who do not receive the resurrection are simply dead.

Answer 3

Hell is a creation of man to make people behave in a certain way. Many will argue that Earth is hell, and the only way to eterniny in heaven is to live piously here on Earth, otherwise, you get reincarnated and have to do this all over again.

Answer 4

Yes, it is impossible. Here are some points: first of all, God did not create humans to be imperfect; imperfection came as a result of getting away from God (sin). Throughout history God is trying to reach human beings and turn them back to the perfection they had before, and Satan (the one who led us away from God) is trying to do the opposite: lower the human race.

It is true that we have like ranks of sins (which one is a higher offence or a lower offence). But eventually, sin is sin; it's terrible. We don't see how awful sin is because it's part of our experience, but for God, the angels, etc, it is not. Its consequences are beyond we can even imagine. Every action has a consequence. Every action we made --good or bad--, though we think the consequences would only affect us, actually the consequences can reach second or third persons; they can even go beoyond generations! We see the consequences of sin in the death of Jesus. Sin deserves death, and though we sinned, God coudn't let us die without giving us another chance. But if the transgression existed, then the penalty should be applied; that would be justice, right? God's love is shown in His justice as well as His mercy. So He shows His mercy towards men by forgiving sinners, and at the same time shows His justice by taking the penalty the sinner deserved for Himself. "Christ was treated as we deserve, that we might be treated as He deserves. He was condemned for our sins, in which He had no share, that we might be justified by His righteousness, in which we had no share. He suffered the death which was ours, that we might receive the life which was His. 'With His stripes we are healed.'"

Sin is the transgression of the Law, and the transgression of the Law of God is death. This principle could not be changed. The penalty should be applied, and the sinner had to die unless God decided to take his place. And He did; even more, He takes death and gives us life (the life He gained by living a righteous life as a human being), and now He lives to give us the strength to overcome sin. But if we fall, now we know that Someone already paid for our mistakes, so right when we ask for forgiveness, our penalty is paid, and Jesus gives us His righteousness, the one we need to be saved. But when we keep in sin --that is, remaining far away from Jesus-- we'll eventually die; because when we separate from God, we're actually cutting off ourselves from the fountain of life, because God is life, the Creator. It's like a plant trying to live away from the roots. By the way, we know a plant gives fruits, but who does the work? The roots. The plant itself doesn't give fruits; actually it couldn't even live without the roots! It is when we're with Christ that we give good fruits (or good works). Separated from Jesus we can't do anything.

God does not want anybody to die. "Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked? declares the Sovereign Lord. Rather, am I not pleased when they turn from their ways and live?"(Ezekiel 18:23); "The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance" (2 Peter 3:9). There's another verse in which He says that He's put before us life and death, and encourage us to choose life. God wants to save everybody but doesn't force anyone. The choice is ours. He can only call your attention by His love and tenderly careness, but He does not force you to follow Him, though it means salvation. The ones who finally will die are the ones who chose that way. Everybody will have the chance to decide. The Bible says that no one can serve two masters; and Jesus says that whoever is not with Him, is against Him. If Satan cannot succeed in making humans to follow him, at least he'll try they do not follow God. Even if we decide to stay "in the middle", we're already taking a decision against Jesus.

Finally, there's not an eternal inferno. A merciful God will not let the wicked people to be burned forever and ever. Though the wicked people will be burn by fire, it's not going to be eternal. They'll be punished in proportion to their actions. The ones with a few sins, will die fast, and so on. Satan, the biggest sinner and the instigator of sin, is going to be punished the most; but not even him is going to be burned forever, but he'll die too.

There's so much to tell about: I highly recommend to you the following websites. They surely will resolve many remaining doubts:
http://www.amazingfacts.org/media/radio/question_archive.asp?tName=Hell
http://www.whiteestate.org/books/pp/pp.asp
http://www.whiteestate.org/books/da/da79.html
http://www.whiteestate.org/books/sc/sc.asp

Answer 5

Roast beef.