How can God be just in applying an infinite punishment for finite sin?
Short Answer
Most people have an innate sense that “the punishment should fit the crime.” Small crimes deserve small punishment, worse crimes deserve more. But then, when we think of hell, it may seem that an eternal sentence is unfair for people who only sinned for one lifetime. It can seem like the punishment is much worse than the crime.
The problem is that we don’t comprehend the weight of our crimes.
The “infinite” aspect of our crime against God is not the factor of time, it is the factor of the person we commit the crime against. God is an infinite person, so crimes against Him deserve infinite punishment.
More Info
The Bible is clear that all sin is ultimately against the Lord and Him only.
Psalm 51:4 – Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment.
The Bible is also clear that God has sufficiently revealed Himself and His laws to all people (by signs and wonders and miracles and gifts) so that His punishments are always JUST.
Hebrews 2:2-4 – For since the message spoken through angels was binding, and every violation and disobedience received its just punishment, how shall we escape if we ignore so great a salvation? This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him. God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.
In addition to our sin and rebellion against God, the Bible describes that our rejection of the free gift of salvation through Jesus Christ only adds to our guiltiness.
Hebrews 10:28-29 – Anyone who has set aside the law of Moses dies without mercy on the evidence of two or three witnesses. How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one who has trampled underfoot the Son of God, and has profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has outraged the Spirit of grace?
Link: Got Questions.org https://www.gotquestions.org/eternity-hell-just.html
