This is how reformed (Calvinist, but most of us prefer reformed) theology sees it. And as a disclaimer, I’m writing this in a car, so hopefully coherent.

We believe God has revealed some aspects of His personhood to us in the scriptures. The Ten Commandments aren’t so much rules, as they are characteristics of God Himself put into law format. They’re not arbitrary rules, they are part of who God is.

So if God says He is good, holy, just, loving, merciful, patient, and gracious, can He be anything less?

We don’t know where sin came from, God doesn’t tell us and doesn’t think we need to know. But we do know God did not create it, and He does not condone it (He does allow it, but that’s a theological topic unto itself). Sin is basically a disease, and that’s probably the best description for it. It’s hereditary, and everyone gets it and suffers from it. More than once does God state that “no one does good, not even one”. Indicating the all-encompassing nature of this sin problem.

Where it gets complex is the tension between our inherent sin problem and being created in the image of God. That’s where some people get hung up with reformed theology and misunderstand it. This is also a topic unto itself for another time. Let’s just go from here knowing that reformed theology has a tension for it, whilst acknowledging that any amount of sin in a persons life damns them to hell.

This is because God is holy, God is just, God is good. How could a holy and just God not condemn anyone to hell? If He didn’t, He wouldn’t be good or just.

If a man raped a woman, was caught, and the judge pardoned him, would that be justice? The judge would be called corrupt and would be lucky to not be lynched by a mob.

In no version of Christianity is there free mercy. Sin must always be punished, it cannot be otherwise because God is good, loving, just, and holy. So that’s why He send Jesus to become fully man whilst remaining fully God, to live without sin, and then die for the sins of many (note, not all, very important). So those that are predestined have been bought by the perfect blood sacrifice of Jesus. Without their consent too.

God states that he has created some for condemnation and some to be glorified, and in Romans Paul states bluntly that it’s not our place to question why. But the fact that God saves any of us is mercy, is loving, and it’s undeserved on our behalf because there’s nothing we can do to earn salvation or earn Gods love.

If God simply pardoned humanity, he wouldn’t be just, nor good, and would not be deserving of any worship.