Response to comment from an agnostic]: "...[I]t would seem to me he has defeated the whole concept of justice by presenting us evil atheists with a get out of hell free card."

The angels would agree with you.

[Edited notes:  The Glory of the Story 1 Pe 1:10-12 by Darrell Ferguson] Human beings have a problem with the concept of hell but the angels do not. The angels see hell and it makes perfect sense to them. They have so much more understanding of God's greatness than we do. They see his greatness everyday. They understand how worthy he is--how awesome, how great, and how worthy of obedience he is. So, when they look down and they see a creature--a created being rebel against that great, awesome, mighty, holy God, at that point hell makes perfect sense. They understand the magnitude of the punishment that we deserve dishonoring such a God. Eternal punishment is no big shock to them but forgiveness and salvation? Knocks the wind out of them!  They see that creature and him rebelling against God and him forgiving?

See:

The Glory of the Story 1 Pe 1:10-12 by Darrell Ferguson (right click, open)

Response to comment [from an atheist]: "It seems rather capricious of a deity who would grant someone amnesty for a lifetime of sin (murder in the case of SoS) yet doom to "hell" an upright, giving, and honest person for the despicable "sin" of disbelief."

If you were good, you'd have a case (Ro 3:12).

"The greatest sin is sinning against love." ~ J. Vernon McGee

[16 Aug 2012 16:31:39] "Not according to most "[C]hristians"...."

Most people aren't Christians (Ex 23:2, Mt 7:14).

Son-of Sam is now a born again Christian