Think of it like this
Let’s say you were caught drinking and driving.
You stand before the judge with all of the evidence laid out against you and you know you’re guilty.
Would a just judge let you off the hook based on your remorse for committing this crime?
If you told the judge you were sorry, would he say, “Apology accepted; you’re free to go.”?
Of course not.
How much more Just is God, the Judge of all the earth?
Genesis 18:25 says, Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?
If an earthly judge must execute justice based on a crime committed, how much more will God, the Judge of all the earth, execute His Righetous Justice for sins committed against Him?
So you see, God certainly is forgiving, yet at the same time, His forgiveness is not unconditional.
Revelation 20:12-15 And I saw the dead, the small and the great, stand before God. And books were opened, and another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead in it. And death and hell delivered up the dead in them. And each one of them was judged according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the Lake of Fire. This is the second death. And if anyone was not found having been written in the Book of Life, he was cast into the Lake of Fire.
Now, imagine that you’re standing in that Courtroom, found guilty of drinking and driving.
The judge passes the sentence and says that you’ve got a 10,000 dollar fine to pay or 2 years in prison.
Now let’s say that you don’t have the money to pay the fine off so the judge instructs the Sherrif to escort you to the holding dock to await transportation to prison.
Just as you’re being escorted out of the prison a total stranger sitting in the Courtroom watching the proceddings stands up and tells the judge he wants to pay your fine!
How would you react to such a person?
You’d definately ask, “Why?” trhough tears of absolute joy and astonishment!
I mean, what kind of a man would stand up and pay your fine?
In the Courtroom of God, at this very moment, you stand guility, condemned and sentenced to eternal damnation.
The Books are opened and your sins are laid out as evience against you.
Revelation 20:12 And I saw the dead, the small and the great, stand before God. And books were opened, and another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
The Books are opened and your sins are laid out as evidence against you.
God, who knows and tries the hearts of men, has recorded each lie, each lust filled thought, each hurtful and hateful word spoken.
It’s one thing to stand guilty before an earthly judge; it’s going to be quite another thing to stand before Almighty God to be judged of Him.
He shows no partiality and His Judgement is certain.