How is an eternity in hell a just punishment for only a human lifetime of sin?

Answer

The Bible states that hell is eternal. “And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.”, (Matthew 25:46). Many individuals grapple with the fairness of this concept. They question the justice of God punishing someone for eternity in response to a mere human lifespan of 70, 80, 90, or even 100 years of sin. How can a sinner’s finite life span justify an infinitely long punishment?

Two biblical principles unequivocally affirm that eternity in hell is the rightful consequence of sin, regardless of the duration of one’s earthly existence.

Firstly, the Bible asserts that all sin is fundamentally against God. “Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: That thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.”, (Psalm 51:4). The severity of the punishment is influenced, in part, by the target of the transgression. In a human court of law, a physical assault on an individual typically results in a fine and possibly imprisonment. Conversely, an assault on the president or prime minister of a nation would likely lead to a life sentence. This is true even if the offense was a one-time occurrence, not a continuous action. God surpasses any human being infinitely in greatness and stature. Therefore, our offenses against God merit a significant punishment, as our sins are against Him. “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”, (Romans 6:23).

Secondly, the notion that sin ceases after death is not supported in the Bible. Are those who end up in hell suddenly sinless?

Is salvation instant and perfect? No. Those who depart into eternity without Christ will be confirmed in their wickedness. The hard-hearted will remain eternally hard-hearted. There will be “weeping and gnashing of teeth” in hell «And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.», (Matthew 25:30), but no repentance. Sinners in hell will be surrendered to their own nature; they will be sin-infected, evil, immoral, and depraved beings for all of eternity, forever unredeemed and unregenerate. The lake of fire will be a place of eternal rebellion against God—even as that rebellion is judged (Revelation 20:14-15;cf: Revelation 16:9,11). Unsaved individuals do not just sin for 70, 80, 90, or 100 years. They sin for eternity.

Ultimately, if a person desires to be separated from God for eternity, God will grant that desire. Believers are those who submit to God’s will, saying, “Your will be done.” Unbelievers are those to whom God declares, “Your will be done.” The will of the unsaved is to refuse salvation through Jesus Christ and persist in sin; God will respect that choice and its consequences for eternity.