A key point in the Christian faith is that the seriousness of sin is not measured by how long it takes to commit, but by the worth of the One sinned against. If you offend a neighbour, that has one kind of weight. If you rebel against the holy and infinite Creator who gives you life, breath, and every good thing, the offence is fundamentally different in kind. The gravity of the sin reflects the greatness of the One wronged.
Scripture also doesn’t describe hell as God throwing decent people into torment over small mistakes. It portrays judgement as the final confirmation of a person’s chosen posture toward God. Those who refuse Him are not depicted as repentant or wanting reconciliation. Their rejection is persistent. If someone spends their life saying “I want my own way, not God”, the judgement simply ratifies that choice for eternity.
There is also the matter of justice itself. A good God cannot allow evil, rebellion, cruelty, and corruption to endure forever without consequence. If the hope of the world is a creation where righteousness, peace, and goodness truly prevail, then final judgement is not a flaw but part of God’s commitment to put everything right.
And central to Christianity is this: God does not leave anyone to face judgement without offering rescue. The same God who judges also bears judgement Himself in Jesus Christ. The cross is where justice and mercy meet. Forgiveness and eternal life are offered freely. No one is barred from grace; no one is condemned who turns to Christ.
The real question, then, is not “Is God unfair?” but rather “Why is God so patient, so willing to forgive, and so ready to redeem even those who have ignored Him?”
