Is eternal punishment in hell fair?
The concept of eternal damnation is postulated on the basis that the crime that is committed by transitory human creatures is a crime against One who is infinite in His perfection.
In fact, I’m saying that there is almost an ontological, cosmic impossibility for justice ever to prevail, even in hell. Because eternity is not long enough to satisfy the heinousness of the crime that I have committed against my Creator and against my God who is infinitely perfect in every way. And so my guilt remains eternal.
So again, it’s not enough. That’s the big problem: how can an eternal punishment in hell be enough to balance the scales of justice?
Lightly edited for readability, this is a transcript of R.C. Sproul’s answer given at our 2016 National Conference. To ask Ligonier a biblical or theological question, email ask@ligonier.org or message us on Facebook or Twitter.