The Condemnation Conundrum

The question we are tempted to ask:

Why does the Bible place so much focus on condemnation and hell?

Condemnation noun:

con·​dem·​na·​tion

the action of sentencing someone to a punishment; final judgement

Christian implication ~ condemnation = eternal guilty verdict; an action that sentences mankind to eternal separation from God as a result of transgression/sin against God’s holiness, established law, and absolute truth.

Perspective

Why do pregnancy courses spend time teaching infant CPR?

Why do firefighters go into schools to teach children the dangers of fire and how to safely avoid or escape them?

Why do we tell toddlers not to stick their finger in a light socket over and over…and over again without throwing our hands in the air and just giving up on them?

The answer:

Each of these case scenarios are warnings and preparations presented out of care for the health and wellbeing of the listeners. Without such, the likelihood of harm and natural consequences is heightened and at times, inevitable.

To withhold the warning would be careless.

To deny the preparation would be cruel.

We’ve already learned that everyone has sinned, disobeying God’s law (Rom. 3:19-20), and the price of even one sin is death, i.e., eternal separation from God in hell. (James 2:10; Rom. 3:23; Is. 59:2; Matt. 5:22; Matt. 10:33)

The price demanded for our own action is inevitable condemnation – a guilty verdict and sentencing exacted at the moment we die. (Heb. 9:27)

God didn’t have to warn us of this natural consequence.

Often times, in our own humanity, we may be tempted to enjoy watching someone suffer the consequences of wrongdoing against us. However, God, being holy and just, does not delight in watching us pay for our sinful action. (Eph. 2:4-5)

Instead, He spends a great deal of time in the Bible, His love letter to us, warning us of the inevitable consequence of our sin nature so that we can make the preparations necessary to avoid them. (2 Pet. 3:9)

He had no obligation or responsibility to make a way to change our sinful status.

It is our own action that condemns us.

He has nothing to do with our choice to sin.

However, in His great love and mercy, He desires that everyone should have the opportunity for rescue. (John 3:16; 1 Tim. 2:3-4)

So….why does the Bible place so much focus on condemnation and hell?

The answer is simple. God is a loving Father that doesn’t want to see the consequences of our own choices exacted upon us. He couldn’t bear to look on as we continued to insist on sticking our finger in a light socket without at least offering us a way of rescue.

God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. (John 3:17)

However, as every loving parent knows, it is up to His children to make the choice to receive His offering of rescue. Our punishment was inevitable until He stepped in and made a miraculous way of escape.

In love, He made a way.

The outcome – condemnation or salvation.

Will we be like a stubborn toddler who realizes that a loving warning was to prevent deadly consequences? Or will we open our eyes to the mercy offered, providing opportunity for life and grace?

He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God [Jesus]. (John 3:18)

Continue Back to Basics – The Price of Propitiation

Angie Ward

Find us on Facebook