What the Hell? Mortal Sin, Self-Determination, and Their Result

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Explain the nature of mortal sin. What is the result of unrepentant mortal sin? Does hell exist?

According to the Cambridge Dictionary freedom is, “the condition or right of being able or allowed to do...whatever you want to, without being controlled or limited: ".[1] Under this aegis, we are encouraged to act as we desire. This definition moves one to consider their life an opportunity to act by self, for self, and with regard to only self. If we truly believe that this is truly the case, why would we need mercy? We would not because everything we have done is supposedly justified by this assumption. Therefore, neither God nor repentance is needed or wanted and in fact boldly rejected, for those who chose this path there must be an alternative from eternal life with God.

Those who (at least) intuit the graveness of their action, knowing the consequences are harmful to others, and in spite of these, willingly act, chose against God.[2] This act of “self-determination”, by its action, reveals one’s apathy to its effects.[3] This action is a mortal sin. Mortal sin moves bitterly athwart to conscience and likewise moves contrary to both charity and God.[4] Therefore, these actions, by their nature, move those who commit them against the good of neighbor and self. It does so because God is man's ultimate end and that which is committed for or against neighbor is also for or against God.[5]

If one refuses to repent of mortal sins, they ultimately reject God. Because these sins move man so contrary to God’s love and intentions, man must renounce them. Mortal Sin “necessitates a new initiative of God's mercy and a conversion of heart which is normally accomplished within the setting of the sacrament of reconciliation”.[6] If one does not repent (thereby accepting God’s mercy) of sins of this kind, they reject God’s mercy.[7] This rejection of mercy is the only unforgivable sin.[8]

By virtue of free-will God permits this action and does not force the individual to choose heaven, but instead has provided an alternative.[9] Life without God is man’s worst suffering because God is man’s ultimate end.[10] Throughout the Gospel, Jesus warns against the commission of sin.

He also speaks of separation from Him as their result. In support of this, the Catechism states, “The affirmations of Sacred Scripture and the teachings of the Church on the subject of hell are a call to the responsibility incumbent upon man to make use of his freedom in view of his eternal destiny.”[11] It also states that one is only destined to Hell by a willful conversion from God “(mortal sin)”.[12]

In conclusion, freedom is not intrinsically evil. Therefore, the correct use of freedom cannot result in man’s destruction. God permits our free will, allowing us to choose between life with Him or life without Him. If we chose to act athwart His recommendation and live for ourselves, we choose life without God. Without repenting of these sins before death man refuses eternal life with God. In this event, God has provided Hell as a place where these unrepentant sinners may spend their eternity without God. Contrary to the definition of freedom by the Cambridge Dictionary, the Catechism states that, “Freedom is the power, rooted in reason and will, to act or not to act, to do this or that, and so to perform deliberate actions on one's own responsibility.”[13]

FN:

  1. https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/freedom
  2. Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1859.
  3. Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1861.
  4. Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1855.
  5. Cf. NABRE, Matthew 25:45; 1 John 4:20; Catechism of the Catholic Church, 34.
  6. Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1856.
  7. Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1864.
  8. Matthew 12:31; cf. Mark 3:29; Luke 12:10. Quoted by Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1864.
  9. Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1033.
  10. Cf. Matthew 25:45; 1 John 4:20; Catechsim of the Catholic Church, 34.
  11. Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1036.
  12. Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1037.
  13. Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1731.

I am a Theology major attending Holy Apostles College and Seminary. I am a Knight of Columbus and a Newman Ambassador for Pius XII Newman Center.

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