I had never considered this question until a sharp Egyptian student approached me between lectures. I was teaching a master’s level theology class for church leaders in the Middle East. Usually, students ask similar questions, but I had never fielded this one before.
I immediately grasped the logic of the question. If the punishment for sin is eternity in hell and Jesus took our punishment, why did Jesus not get condemned to eternity in hell? Growing up in church probably shielded me from such an obvious deduction, but once faced with it, I was surprised to find that I did not have a ready answer. After all, I have taken theology classes, taught theology classes, and read innumerable theology books. How did I not know the answer?
I searched my memory and the Scriptures. Then, I searched my mobile theology library on Logos Bible Software. Few books addressed the question. But some insight into the deity of Christ and the doctrine of propitiation pointed me in the right direction.
The Difference Between Jesus and Me
Jesus is God. I am not. Jesus is perfect. I am not. His death in my place provides propitiation for my sin. I could never achieve the propitiation for my own sin. But what is propitiation and how does it help answer the question of why Jesus is not now in hell in our place?
Ending the Punishment
Propitiation is the satisfaction and removal of God’s righteous wrath and justice against a sinner through the substitutionary sacrifice of Jesus Christ. On the cross, Jesus totally satisfied God wrath (Isaiah 53:11). He made complete payment for sin and then declared, “It is finished.” Because his suffering is finished, we know that our sins are completely paid for and there is no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1).
As sinners, we cannot satisfy God’s wrath or fully pay for our sins no matter what we do or how long we do it. Furthermore, even if we tried, we would keep on sinning while seeking to fully pay for our sins. An endless loop of sin and punishment would ensue. As a result, a sinner’s punishment in hell is eternal.
The Answer
So, how did Jesus escape eternity in hell when He died in the place of sinners? Simply, Jesus completely paid the price of our sin. He satisfied God’s righteous wrath and justice. If the debt is paid and justice satisfied, the punishment is over. Therefore, Jesus does not need to spend eternity in hell.
Because of Jesus’ work on the cross, no one else needs to spend eternity in hell either. Only those who have not yet accepted the propitiation Jesus offers are in danger of eternal fire. The offer is open to all. Acceptance is by faith in Jesus alone.
“And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world” (1 John 2:2).
“In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins” (1 John 4:10).
“Whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith…” (Romans 3:25).
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