### 11. Q. But isn’t God also merciful?

**A**. God is certainly merciful,<sup>1</sup> but he is also just.<sup>2</sup> His justice demands that sin, committed against his supreme majesty, be punished with the supreme penalty—eternal punishment of body and soul.<sup>3</sup>

<sup>1</sup> [Ex. 34:6-7](/index.php/get-passage/Exodus+34:6-7); [Ps. 103:8-9](/index.php/get-passage/Psalms+103:8-9)
<sup>2</sup> [Ex. 34:7](/index.php/get-passage/Exodus+34:7); [Deut. 7:9-11](/index.php/get-passage/Deuteronomy+7:9-11); [Ps. 5:4-6](/index.php/get-passage/Psalms+5:4-6); [Heb. 10:30-31](/index.php/get-passage/Hebrews+10:30-31)
<sup>3</sup> [Matt. 25:35-46](/index.php/get-passage/Matthews+25:35-46)