The Attributes of God

If God is Love, why does He punish people in hell?

God's attributes: Holy, Just and Love do not contradict each other.

God is Holy and righteous. In fact, He is the Truth Himself. And Someone who is so Holy, righteous and pure should not be able to tolerate the tiniest sin or error. Therefore, He must also be a Just. A God that is righteous and holy acts like a sieve, separating the dirty from the clean. The fact that He punishes implies that He is a God of both justice and holiness. Moving on to the third attribute: Love. God is not only loving, but He is Love Himself. He is very much disgusted by the slightest hint of sin, yet He is constantly exposed to the sins of the world and many generations. The ones He loves so dearly are the ones who pierce and crucify Him. Yet, He isn't just a God of justice, but also of Love. He is a merciful God and His grace overflows. He loves His people so much, He sent his only begotten Son to die to wash away the sins of the world, which has been predicted and prophesized long before it happened.

Now imagine a god who brings everyone to heaven (cause people believe a loving god must not condemn). Then he cannot be a just god, for what kind of judge rights the wrong? He cannot also be holy, for how can he tolerate sins in heaven, his dwelling place? Finally, he must not be Love. Because he loves the righteous and people who believe in him the same way he loves people who despise him all their lives.
Now when I say He washed away our sins, this doesn't mean that Christians today are without sins. We still are all sinners. But we should not live in sins, dwell in sins and enslaved by sins. Our chains are gone and we've been set free. When we confess our sins and repent, He is a loving Father who pardons His sons, He is a Shepherd who collects His sheep although His sheep are always prone to running away. He is a Groom who pardons us, the Lovers of His soul. And what kind of good Father rewards and never punishes? What kind of Shepherd not set walls around His sheep? What kind of Groom does not embrace His bride when she begs for forgiveness? Surely I tell you, there are no other gods like this. Or there are no other gods period. There's only Him or not him, and everything that is not coming from Him is coming from the devil.

"Bless the Lord, O my soul,    and all that is within me,    bless His holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul,    and forget not all His benefits, who forgives all your iniquity,    who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit,    who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,
who satisfies you with good    so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's".-Psalm 103:1-5 (ESV)

In Christ,

Alice