There was once a man in a small town who committed terrible crimes. His transgressions were so heinous that the judge sentenced him to life in prison. But the city’s mayor—the judge’s son—took pity on the man. He pleaded with the judge to release the condemned and offered to take his place in exchange. This offer pleased the judge. But when he presented it to the prisoner, the prisoner refused it. Consequently, the judge delivered him over to the jailers to serve his sentence.
Did the man go to prison because of his crimes or because he refused the mayor’s offer?
In the same way, we might ask: Do people go to hell because of their sin, or because of their unbelief in the one who offered to take their place?
The first time I heard this dilemma raised, the pastor answered unequivocally with unbelief. The pastor explained that because Christ died for the sins of the entire world, no one goes to hell for sin, only for rejecting Christ. I have heard similar teachings in various Christian circles, but is it biblical?
Scripture consistently links sin to damnation. Romans 3:23 says, “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Romans 6:23 says, “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” And James 1:15, “…and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.” This death is the second death—the lake of fire, eternity in hell (Rev 20:14–15, 2 Thess 1:8-9).
Furthermore, Scripture shows that humanity is already under condemnation even before rejecting Christ. John 3:18 says, “But whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.” And John 3:36 says, “Whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.”
Thus, it’s evident that sin brings condemnation. It is what compels the righteous judge to bring down his gavel and pronounce eternal judgment. Most Christians would agree that Christ’s atoning work is the only way to escape this sentence. However, not everyone agrees that this atonement applies to everyone. As a reformed Baptist, I hold to the doctrine of particular atonement—that Christ died only for the elect.
Yet, even if one believes in universal atonement, it still does not follow that unbelief alone leads to condemnation. For unbelief is itself a sin. Acts 17:30-31 says, “The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.”
If rejecting Christ is sin, and if Christ paid for all sin without exception, then his sacrifice would also cover unbelief, and no one would go to hell. This leads to universalism, which Scripture rejects.
On the other hand, if Christ’s atonement was for the entire world, yet people still go to hell for the sin of unbelief, then his sacrifice did not cover all sins. In that case, no one can be saved for Scripture says, “None is righteous, no, not one… no one seeks for God” (Romans 3:10–11), and “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way” (Isaiah 53:6).
This doesn’t mean unbelief has no bearing on condemnation. Jesus said, “For unless you believe that I am he you will die in your sins” (John 8:24). But it’s not the only factor.
So, do people go to hell because of sin or because of unbelief? Scripture’s answer is both. Sinners are condemned to hell because of their sin, but they remain under condemnation because they reject the only one who can save them—Jesus Christ.
Grace and peace to you!
