We often hear people say, "I don’t believe God would send anyone to hell, at least not forever";
or, "I believe that if people do wrong, they are punished in this life for it, and God forgives
everybody after they die"; or, "Everybody will have a second chance after they die." Now we
know from Scripture that none of these statements is true, but the history of Absalom shows us
why God cannot simply forgive everyone.

Absalom was a handsome young man and he had a beautiful sister, Tamar. Their half brother
Amnon mistreated Tamar and Absalom hated him for it. When David heard of Amnon’s sin, he
became very angry but did nothing about it; so Absalom had Amnon murdered. Absalom went
into exile for three years. David wanted to bring back Absalom even though Absalom had sinned
(2 Sam. 13:39).

Finally, David allowed Absalom to return to Jerusalem, but refused to see him. Absalom found
this situation intolerable, and after two years in Jerusalem he forced Joab to speak to David. David
then called Absalom into his presence and kissed him. Absalom was thus restored to his position
as a son of the king.

Chapters 15 through 20 of 2 Samuel record some of the saddest events in the Old Testament.
Absalom stirred up a rebellion against David, David was forced to flee Jerusalem, and Absalom
established himself there. Absalom was eventually killed, but there was more bloodshed before
the rebellion was completely put down.

David forgave Absalom even though Absalom did not repent or express any sorrow for his sin.
Absalom’s desire to see the king was not motivated by love for David but because he wanted to
be in a position to gather support for his own cause. Absalom had usurped David’s authority when
he murdered Amnon and later he wanted all of David’s power and authority for himself.

Unregenerate sinners are rebels against God (Rom. 8:7,8). Their primary motivation is to please
themselves, not God. If they are religious sinners, they may talk about serving and worshiping
God; but they are determined to do these things their own way, not God’s. How can God just
forgive unrepentant sinners? Absalom felt no love or gratitude toward David in response to
David’s forgiveness. The unsaved would likewise feel no love or gratitude toward God if He
forgave them in their unrepentant state. Their rebellion would break out in heaven itself if God
were to allow them there, just as Absalom rebelled against his father after his return to Jerusalem.

No, sinners must repent and be regenerated (born again)before God can forgive them. And they
must repent in this present life; there will be no repentance in hell, because the Holy Spirit, who
brings about repentance in the heart, will not be working there. "God . . . now commandeth all
men everywhere to repent" (Acts 17:30). We need more than to be forgiven (spared the penalty
of our sin); we need to be freed from the power of sin, to be loosed from our sins and to be given
a new nature which desires to love and obey God. Only then can we be fit for God’s presence and
to dwell with Him forever.