This question is asked by almost every believer at some point in time: how can a loving God send people to hell? I’ve heard lots of people try to explain it and some have done a good job. It’s a hard question! I mean the easy answer would be to say “God is holy and just and can’t except sin into His presence. Therefore, unrepentant sinners will go to hell. A person must be a believer in Jesus so that through Him a person’s unrighteousness is deemed righteous because of His atoning sacrifice for sin.” Bam. There is the simple, easy answer. But some people have a hard time excepting that!
I claim to be no expert on answering this question perfectly but based on some grace God has given me through some study - I pray the Lord will shed some light on it through me for those who struggle with it.
In answering this question it is imperative to make one thing clear first: the sinful, wicked and totally depraved state of being for all people. The Bible says of people:
All we like sheep have gone astray;
we have turned—every one—to his own way;
and the Lord has laid on him
the iniquity of us all. [1]
“None is righteous, no, not one;
no one understands;
no one seeks for God.
All have turned aside; together they have become worthless;
no one does good,
not even one.” [2]
…for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,[3]
And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.[4]
…for the intention of man’s heart is evil from his youth.[5]
And you, who were dead in your trespasses…[6]
The list goes on and on. I don’t know how many verses are in the Bible pertaining to people’s disease of sin but I know there are so many that it would take a person a long time to read them all. That being the case, here are six from both the Old and New Testament to give you the idea.
In essence this question is like wrestling (or wrastlin’ where I come from) a 500 pound gorilla for some Christians. I encourage the reader to search out the Scriptures and see for him or herself the condition of humanity. The problem began in Genesis 3. That might be a good place for starters. Recognize the development of the sinful nature throughout the book.
With the preunderstanding of humanities total depravity, answering the question gets just a little easier. The nature of the question (why does a loving God send people to hell?) should change. What I mean is; the question itself should be looked at in a converse fashion: “why does a holy and righteous God who hates sin and abhors evil except any person into heaven?” Clearly the Bible states that all people are sinful (wicked, evil, depraved by nature) at birth.
If your having trouble understanding what I’m saying then maybe you don’t have a clear grip on your humanity, your falleness, your sinfulness and your depravity. It is crucial that all Christian’s understand their depravity and apart from Jesus Christ, you too would enter hell with those who are not among the elect. Because we (Christians) are still sinners and apart from the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit, we to would be following the course of this world!
Mark Driscoll states it best in his book Religion Saves:
Understanding our desperate condition as sinners, the question is not how can a loving God send anone to hell but, rather, how can a just and holy God allow anyone into heaven? Indeed, apart from divine intervention and an amazing act of saving grace on God’s behalf, everyone is utterly doomed and without hope. Thankfully, God has made a way for sinners who are hostile to Him as enemies to be reconciled to Him as friends through Jesus Christ.[7]
The best way to end this discussion is obviously Scripture and the best verse that should make any Christians heart find joy, especially in the context of this question is Romans 5:10:
For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.[8]
Do you see that? Find joy, my brother or sister, that God decided to save anyone at all and you get to take part in His act of salvation!
