Clarity: Why Does a Loving God Send People to Hell?

Part of the Clarity Series: Building a Christian Worldview


In 1829, George Wilson was convicted of robbing a U.S. mail carrier and sentenced to death. However, public outcry led President Andrew Jackson to issue Wilson a pardon. But Wilson did something unthinkable—he refused it. The case went to the Supreme Court, and Chief Justice John Marshall wrote these striking words:

“A pardon is a deed… The value of the pardon must be determined by the receiver. It has no value apart from that which the receiver gives it… Therefore, George Wilson must die.”

The pardon was real, but Wilson’s refusal sealed his fate.

This story helps frame the difficult question we’re exploring in today’s Clarity post: Why would a loving God send people to hell?

It’s a hard question—one that makes us uncomfortable. We recoil at the thought of eternal separation or torment. Even for people we disagree with, the idea of hell is almost too much to bear. If we feel this way, how could God possibly send anyone there?

But maybe we need to rethink the question. In a sin-corrupted world, suffering is already normal—death is the natural end for everyone without divine intervention. Even the universe is winding down toward decay. So perhaps the better question is this: Why does God offer a way out?

And if He does…Why do some reject His pardon?

To answer that, we need to explore three questions:

1. What does the Bible say about hell?
2. Why is hell necessary?
3. How do we avoid it?

1. What Does the Bible Say About Hell?

Hell is not a peripheral idea in Scripture. Jesus Himself spoke about it often—especially in connection to judgment.

In Matthew 25, He describes the final judgment and says that those who fail to live out His values of compassion and justice will go to “eternal punishment,” while the righteous will enter “eternal life.” Hell is described as exclusion (being thrown out), darkness (separation from God’s light), and destruction (Matthew 10:28).

Hell wasn’t originally made for people—it was created for Satan and the rebellious angels (Matthew 25:41). But those who reject God’s character and refuse to bear His image end up there as well. It’s not about a single mistake—it’s about a life lived in rejection of God’s grace and authority.

While theologians debate whether hell involves eternal conscious torment or ultimate destruction (conditional immortality), the central truth remains: Hell is real. And it’s tragic.


2. Why Is Hell Necessary?

Let’s consider two reasons:

First: Hell is justice.

Imagine watching someone abuse your child or grandchild. You would do anything to protect them—and demand justice. God’s love includes justice. He doesn’t ignore evil.

Sin corrupts creation, and part of restoring all things means dealing with evil—removing it from His New Creation. Hell holds spiritual beings and people accountable for unrepentant rebellion. It’s not about cruelty—it’s about protection and justice.

Second: Hell separates rebels from the Kingdom.

In Luke 19, Jesus tells a parable of a king and ten servants. One servant refuses to serve the king and is ultimately grouped with the rebels.

This story isn’t just about punishment. It’s about allegiance. God’s New Creation is for those who recognize Jesus as King. Hell is not arbitrary; it’s the logical outcome for those who refuse God’s rule.

We understand this in our world. Treason has consequences. So does rejecting the Lordship of Jesus.

3. How Do We Avoid Hell?

The answer is simple—but not easy. Declare Jesus as King.

This is why repentance, confession, and baptism matter so much in the life of a Christian. We turn away from our old lives, publicly acknowledge Jesus as Lord, and pledge our loyalty to Him.

Then we live that out—day by day—aligning our lives with His.

What about those who’ve never heard about Jesus?

Romans 2 suggests they may be judged by what they do know. But Scripture consistently shows the clearest path is through hearing, believing, and following Jesus.

That’s why we support missions, preach the gospel, and share our faith—we want people to be confident in their salvation.

Why Do People Reject God’s Pardon?

Why would someone—like George Wilson—refuse rescue?

Because, at the heart of it, they want to be their own authority. They don’t want a King. They want to do what seems right in their own eyes—just like in the days of the Judges.

God honors that choice. He gives people what they want—even when it breaks His heart.

Our Calling: Love People into the Kingdom

Our role is not to judge and condemn but to proclaim and love.

We don’t weaponize hell—we weep over it.

• We pray.
• We share.
• We hope.

Because hell is a terrible reality, and it should bring tears to our eyes. That’s why we do what we can to love people into God’s Kingdom.

Hell is the result of not wanting Jesus to be King.

If we reject Jesus as King, we can’t be part of His Kingdom—and we won’t experience the joy of His New Creation.

Your Challenge: Do two things this week:

1. Pray for someone who needs Jesus.

2. Reaffirm your loyalty to King Jesus.

Next in the Clarity Series:

Stay with us as we continue exploring how a Christian worldview helps us face life’s toughest questions with confidence, compassion, and clarity.

Identity: From Corruption to New Creation

 

We often hear that human beings are created in the image of God. But what does that really mean? It’s about more than just physical likeness; it’s about purpose. Being made in God’s image means we are meant to represent Him in the world—to reflect His character and love in all we say and do. To help us accomplish this, God has equipped us with tools like intelligence, creativity, and discernment, enabling us to steward His good creation.

However, there is a problem: sin. In Genesis 3, we see the introduction of sin into the world, corrupting the image of God in us. The Apostle Paul sums this up clearly in Romans 3:23: “All have sinned and fall short of God’s glorious standard” (NLT). Sin disconnects us from God, distorting our ability to live as His representatives. Instead of being guided by the Spirit, we are led by our flesh, bringing dishonor to God.

This disconnection from God leads to a deep identity crisis. People wander through life, unsure of their purpose and significance. Across different cultures and belief systems, we see this search for meaning—Who am I? Why am I here? In a world grasping for answers, the Bible gives us the truth: we are created in God's image, but that image has been tainted by our choice to define good and evil on our terms. However, there is hope! The Gospel reveals that through Christ, we can rediscover our identity and purpose.

The Problem of Sin and the Promise of Reconciliation

In 2 Corinthians, Paul addresses this profound truth. His second letter to the Corinthians came after a period of significant challenges within the church. In his first letter, he had confronted them about division, immorality, and false teaching. By the time of this letter, there had been genuine change, and Paul was encouraged. He took the opportunity not only to reaffirm his apostleship but to remind the Corinthians of the reconciliation we now have with God because of Jesus.

Paul’s motivation is clear in 2 Corinthians 5:14-15:

For the love of Christ compels us, since we have reached this conclusion, that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all so that those who live should no longer live for themselves, but for the one who died for them and was raised. (CSB)

Paul is driven by Christ’s love. Because Jesus died to bring reconciliation to people, Paul was willing to sacrifice his own comfort to bring the Gospel to the world. And just as Jesus died for us, Paul urges us to “die” to our old way of living—our beliefs, desires, and goals—and live for Christ. As believers, our mission is now tied to Jesus' mission: to reconcile people to God.

In 2 Corinthians 5:16-17, Paul highlights a critical shift in perspective:

From now on, then, we do not know anyone from a worldly perspective. Even if we have known Christ from a worldly perspective, yet now we no longer know him in this way. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, and see, the new has come! (CSB)

Before, Paul evaluated everything—including Jesus—through the lens of the flesh. But now, as a new creation in Christ, everything has changed. The Holy Spirit transforms us, preparing us for the entirety of New Creation, complete with a new heaven and a new earth. This transformation is ongoing; the moment Jesus rose from the dead, a new creation began, and we are invited into it. Sin no longer defines us because we are no longer enslaved to it. Instead, we are empowered by the Spirit, producing the fruit of eternal life like love, joy, and peace. We are made new to reflect God's character once more.

A New Creation with a New Mission

In 2 Corinthians 5:18-21 Paul explains that through Jesus, we are reconciled to God.

Everything is from God, who has reconciled us to himself through Christ and has given us the ministry of reconciliation. That is, in Christ, God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and he has committed the message of reconciliation to us. 

 

Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us. We plead on Christ’s behalf, “Be reconciled to God.” He made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (CSB)

This reconciliation is not something we accomplish on our own; it is God’s work. Sadly, the world doesn’t realize they are separated from God. They are living their lives the best they can with the wisdom given to them.

This is where followers of Jesus come in. Paul refers to himself as an ambassador for Christ—someone sent from the Kingdom of God with a message of reconciliation. As we mature spiritually, this is our calling as well. We are no longer just stewards of God’s creation; we are ambassadors, sent into the world with the Good News of Jesus.

Christ took on our sin so we could be reconciled to God and restored to our original design. As ambassadors, we carry this message of peace into the world, to people who desperately need it. Our purpose shifts from simply tending to creation to bringing the message of salvation to a lost and dying world.

Sin Corrupts, but Jesus Restores
We are made in God's image, designed to reflect His character. Sin, however, corrupts that image, separating us from God and leading us to dishonor Him. But God, in His great love, sent Jesus to be our representative, dying in our place so that we could be part of His new creation. Through Jesus, we die to our old life and are made new, empowered by the Holy Spirit to live for God’s Kingdom. As we mature in Christ, our purpose becomes clear: to be ambassadors for Christ, taking the message of reconciliation into the world.

Moving Forward in Christ
What does this mean for us today? It means focusing on our spiritual formation in Christ. What is your next step? Perhaps it’s confession and prayer, or maybe you need to forgive someone or take up the discipline of Bible reading. Maybe it’s time to share the Gospel with a friend who is searching for purpose. Our spiritual growth equips us to be better ambassadors for Christ, able to share the Good News with others.

Though sin may distort God's image in us, it does not have the final word. God's love for His creation remains, and He has made a way for us to be renewed—through Jesus. Our true identity is found in Him, and as we walk with Christ, we become more like the people God created us to be.