Definition:
Assured punishment refers to the certain and inevitable consequences of sin and disobedience to God's commandments as revealed in the Bible. It underscores the principle that God, in His justice, will not overlook sin but will administer appropriate judgment.

Biblical Foundation:
The concept of assured punishment is deeply rooted in the biblical narrative, where God's holiness and justice necessitate the punishment of sin. This principle is evident from the earliest accounts in Scripture and is consistently affirmed throughout both the Old and New Testaments.

Old Testament Examples:
1. Adam and Eve (Genesis 3): The first instance of assured punishment is seen in the Garden of Eden. Adam and Eve's disobedience resulted in immediate spiritual death and eventual physical death, as well as expulsion from the garden. Genesis 3:17-19 states, "To Adam He said, 'Because you have listened to the voice of your wife and have eaten from the tree of which I commanded you not to eat, cursed is the ground because of you; through toil you will eat of it all the days of your life.'"

2. The Flood (Genesis 6-9): Humanity's widespread wickedness led to God's decision to cleanse the earth with a flood, sparing only Noah and his family. Genesis 6:5-7 records, "Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great upon the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was altogether evil all the time. And the LORD regretted that He had made man on the earth, and it grieved Him in His heart. So the LORD said, 'I will blot out man, whom I have created, from the face of the earth.'"

3. Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 19): The cities of Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed by fire and brimstone due to their grievous sins. Genesis 19:24-25 states, "Then the LORD rained down sulfur and fire on Sodom and Gomorrah—from the LORD out of the heavens. Thus He overthrew those cities and the entire plain, including all the inhabitants of the cities and everything that grew on the ground."

New Testament Affirmation:
1. The Teachings of Jesus: Jesus frequently spoke of the assured punishment for sin, emphasizing the reality of eternal separation from God for the unrepentant. In Matthew 25:46 , He declares, "And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."

2. The Apostolic Writings: The apostles continued to affirm the certainty of divine judgment. Paul, in Romans 6:23 , writes, "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." This underscores the inevitable consequence of sin, contrasted with the gift of salvation through Christ.

3. The Book of Revelation: The final book of the Bible vividly portrays the ultimate judgment of the wicked. Revelation 20:12-15 describes the great white throne judgment, where those not found in the Book of Life are cast into the lake of fire, symbolizing the final and eternal punishment for sin.

Theological Implications:
Assured punishment highlights the seriousness of sin and the necessity of repentance. It serves as a warning to all humanity of the consequences of living in rebellion against God. At the same time, it points to the need for a Savior, as only through Jesus Christ can one escape the assured punishment of sin and receive the gift of eternal life.