How can we reconcile God’s mercy and His justice? At first glance, His mercy and His justice appear to be at odds with one another. He is the Creator of heaven, yet He also made hell. He died for those who rejected Him, yet He also punishes those who reject Him. It can seem like two sides of the same coin. However, we will see that God is love, and that both His mercy and His justice rest on that foundation.
1. Justice Is a Reflection of God’s Goodness
God’s justice reflects that He is good, not evil. Imagine living in a world with no order, no law, and no enforcement—complete anarchy. Liars, thieves, adulterers, rapists, and murderers could do whatever they pleased without consequence.
Though our justice system is far from perfect, a moral person would still prefer some system of justice over none at all. Only a corrupt person would desire a world without justice, since the absence of accountability allows harmful desires to go unchecked. Justice, even when imperfect, is a good thing. A world without justice would not be loving—it would be terrifying.
2. God’s Justice Is Threatening Because No One Is Truly Innocent
If this reasoning follows, a moral person should rejoice in God’s justice—right? Yet Scripture challenges this assumption. The Bible states that “none are good” (Rom. 3:12) and that “all have sinned” (Rom. 3:23)—even those we would consider morally upright.
Therefore, all of humanity, including the morally “good,” possesses some level of corruption and stands under God’s impending justice. This is why God’s justice does not feel comforting in the same way our human legal system does. Unlike earthly courts, which punish obvious wrongdoers, God’s justice exposes the guilt of everyone. What feels threatening, then, is not God’s justice itself, but the realization that we are not as innocent as we assume.
3. Why Hell Feels Excessively Harsh
As a child, I could understand that God must punish sin, but the extent of suffering and the horror of hell seemed devastatingly harsh—especially for those who appeared morally “good.” If God is loving, how could such an eternally agonizing punishment be just? “How could a loving God send those who reject Him to hell?” is a common question in our society.
Interestingly, however, some other cultures ask the opposite question: How can a just and holy God die for sinners and allow them into heaven? This realization helped me see that my assumption—that hell is excessively harsh—was rooted in my cultural beliefs. Had I grown up in a different culture or historical context, I might instead struggle with the idea that God would forgive sinners at all.
Additionally, what makes sin such a great offense is who we sin against. If I wrong a family member, that is serious. If I wrong the president, it is even more serious. But if I wrong the infinite Creator of the universe, the consequences are far greater—which leads to the next point.
4. Sin Is an Offense Against Infinite Goodness
God is not merely good; He is infinitely good. Sin, therefore, is not simply the breaking of abstract rules—it is a personal offense against the infinitely holy Creator who is the source of all goodness, truth, and life. The seriousness of an offense is measured not only by the act itself, but by the worth of the one against whom the act is committed.
We recognize this principle in human justice. If an employee steals $100,000 from their employer, justice demands repayment. If that same employee murders the employer, the crime is far more severe—not only because of the action itself, but because a human life, something of immense value, has been wrongfully taken. The punishment increases because the gravity of the offense increases.
5. Hell Is the Just Consequence of Rejecting Infinite Goodness
In the same way, when human beings sin against God, they are not offending a finite authority, but an infinite and perfectly good one. Because God’s worth is infinite, rebellion against Him carries consequences of infinite seriousness. However, Scripture is clear that God does not delight in judgment for its own sake. He is “slow to anger,” patient, and desires that none should perish (2 Peter 3:9). God’s heart is inclined toward mercy, not wrath.
Yet mercy does not erase justice; it fulfills it. When mercy is rejected, justice remains. Furthermore, hell is not merely punishment for past sins—it is the continuation of a settled posture of rebellion against God. There are no changed hearts in hell, no repentance, and no desire for God. Therefore, this ongoing rejection results in ongoing justice.
Hell, then, is not an arbitrary or excessive punishment, but the just result of rejecting the infinite source of goodness and life. If God were to treat rebellion against Himself as a merely temporary matter—allowing sin to be “paid off” and dismissed—He would no longer be just. Such a response would trivialize evil and deny the infinite value of the One who was wronged. God’s justice, therefore, does not make Him cruel; it reveals His goodness by affirming that evil truly matters and that wrongdoing has real and lasting consequences.
Therefore, since we are lawbreakers, we can see that God’s justice is consistent with His character. Sin must be punished. Thankfully, God is also abundant in mercy, and He actively offers that mercy rather than withholding it. This mercy is received by those who trust in Him. However, this raises another question: does everyone have the opportunity and ability to trust Him?
We will explore that question in the next article.
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