Why Would a Loving God Send Anyone to Hell?

Is Hell Annihilation or Eternal Separation?

Our ongoing reflection on eternal topics now focuses on Hell. Some hold that Hell is where those who refuse God's free pardon for sin are ultimately annihilated. Annihilation is understood as being reduced to complete ruin or nonexistence, or as being utterly destroyed. In the passage we studied yesterday, Jesus used the Greek word aiōnios three times, meaning "eternal" or "perpetual,” to describe the everlasting separation from God faced by individuals in Hell (Matthew 25:41-46). This does not align with the idea of annihilation. Jesus's teachings clearly indicate that those who reject the Gospel and continue in their sin will face eternal punishment at the end of their lives.

Svetlana Stalin, the daughter of Joseph Stalin—who ruled Russia from 1922 to 1953—was present at her father's death and declared she would never sit beside a dying nonbeliever again. She described his departure as him going into Hell kicking and screaming. Hebrews 10:31 warns, “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” Philosophers and critics of Christianity, such as Voltaire, reportedly died crying out in torment, along with King Charles IX of France, David Hume, and Thomas Paine. Representing those who believe in God, C.M. Ward stated, “No Christian has ever been known to recant on his deathbed.”

What It Means to Stand "Condemned Already

The key question is: why would a loving God send anyone to Hell? How evil must a person be to warrant Hell? Is there a specific point at which someone crosses a line? Jesus spoke to this issue with the following:

¹⁶For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. ¹⁷For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. ¹⁸Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son (John 3:16-18; emphasis added).

The Gift of Free Will and the Rescue Plan (John 3:16-18)

The real question isn’t why a loving God would send people to Hell; it's why anyone would choose Hell over a loving God. The Creator has provided the way to salvation, and truthfully, all of humanity faces the same dilemma. We have fallen short of God's perfect standard—we've all sinned at some point. Even one sin is enough to label us as sinners. Sin is what eternally separates us from God. As James states: "For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it" (James 2:10). If there had been another way for God to bring us to heaven without sending His Son to suffer and die, wouldn't He have chosen it? God gave us free will, but His justice demands that rebellion be punished. A holy God cannot tolerate sin in His presence: “Your eyes are too pure to look on evil; you cannot tolerate wrongdoing” (Habakkuk 1:13). That’s why He respects the choice of those who reject repentance.

Because of His love for humanity, God devised a rescue plan where the Son of God took on human form to serve as a Substitute for sinful mankind, bearing the punishment Himself. This act fulfills God’s justice, enabling Him to extend love and salvation to all who surrender and obey Him. When we repent—changing our thoughts and life direction—and accept Christ, God's Spirit empowers us to live for Him. We also hold the keys to helping others, and the Holy Spirit gives us the courage and strength to share God's rescue plan for humanity. By proclaiming God's Word and freeing souls from the enemy's control, we undermine Satan's kingdom. God has revealed the outcome: those united with Christ will triumph! Keith Thomas

Continue Your Journey…

This devotional is part of our series, Insights into Eternity. If you want to dive deeper into what God has planned for your future, continue to the next lesson: Is Hell A Real Place?