“God hates sinners.” Have you ever heard that spoken? What about “God loves sinners, but hates sin.” I don't know about you, but I do not believe God hates sinners. So why do people think God hates sinners? Follow along with me and let's see what we can find out…
What is a Sinner?
“But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the LORD exceedingly.” Genesis 13:13
The first use of the word sinners is Genesis 13:13. It comes from the saga of Abram and his brother Lot. At this time, Lot is living in Sodom, a city in the plains of Jordan. Lot didn't realize what he did when he chose the plains of Jordan to live. The inhabitants of the plains gave themselves totally over to sexual sin of every sort. They practiced sin!
“And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, That he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner.” Luke 19:7
Zacchaeus was a wealthy publican. Publicans were tax collectors. No one liked tax collectors. No one is in love with the IRS today! But during Jesus' day, tax collectors collected taxes on behalf of the Roman government. For that reason, they used whatever means necessary to collect, or you went to prison. The Priests were always looking for reasons to accuse Jesus. So when Jesus saw Zacchaeus in the tree, he called him down and had a meal in his home. Because of Zacchaeus' reputation, he was considered a sinner. After all, collecting taxes made him rich! But did Jesus fault him for this? No. In fact, He wanted to show the religious leaders who He came to save.
“And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” Luke 19:9-10
Does Having a Bank Account Make Me a Banker?
No, but committing sin makes us all sinners! Many people have an account at their local bank. They write and cash checks, make deposits and withdrawals, and keep a ledger in their checkbook or software program. Does this make you a banker? A banker works for the bank. They make sure enough funds coming in to keep the bank solvent. So they process loans, lines of credit, CD's, etc. These instruments produce fees and interest as income for the bank's profits. So a banker labors for the bank's interests. They help keep the banking system alive and functional. In much the same way, a sinner lives a life that produces sin. They live for and enjoy the works of evil and unrighteousness.
“And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.” John 3:19
“Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous.” 1 John 3:12
Sinners commit sin like a banker runs a bank or a driver drives a car. What is my point? We know them by their deeds! So anyone that practiced sin at anytime qualifies as a sinner. No matter how good or righteous we are or think we are, we all fall short of God's standard because of sin.
“The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good. The LORD looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God. They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one.” Psalms 14:1-3
“What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin; As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:” Romans 3:9-10
“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” Romans 3:23
“Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:” Romans 5:12
So Does God Hate Us?
How could God hate us when there is always one to remind Him of His love for us? After Adam, Abel obeyed God. Then when people gave in to corruption, Noah held up the standard. After him, Abram (Abraham). Finally, God's own Son, Jesus became the standard-bearer for man. He came to earth as a man and for man, lived a pure and holy life. He then gave His life for us so we could be restored to God. Now He, Jesus, ever lives before God as our High Priest and Mediator. He is our eternal reminder of God's love for us.
“How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?” Hebrews 9:14
“For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;” 1 Timothy 2:5
“Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.” Jude 1:21
So no, God does not hate us. God does not hate sinners! From the foundation of the world, God prepared the sacrifice of His Son for our sins. He loves us so much that He looked down through time and always found someone who reminded Him of why He created us.
“According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:” Ephesians 1:4
God never hated sinners. Yet, there is something He does hate. And His hatred is well justified…
If God is Love, How Could He Possibly Hate?
Because of love. There is one thing God hates. I know. You think there is a list of things God hates: “These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:
- A proud look,
- a lying tongue, and
- hands that shed innocent blood,
- An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations,
- feet that be swift in running to mischief,
- A false witness that speaketh lies,
- and he that soweth discord among brethren.” Proverbs 6:16-19
Guess what? All these things are of sin, the one thing God hates!
What is Sin and Why Does God Hate it?
Sin is summed up in one definition. Sin is rebellion against God. You thought I would say it is disobedience or some of the other labels sin is given. Let me prove my statement.
“He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.” 1 John 3:8
See here? The devil sinned from the beginning. He committed the very first sin. That sin was rebellion.
“Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee.” Ezekiel 28:15
“And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,” Revelation 12:7
Satan rebelled against God because he wanted to be worshiped. Remember I explained in this post, Satan, having lived with God, knows he cannot be God. He wants what God receives from all of creation, worship! Sin is rebellion. Satan rebelled against God's rule and authority. He then caused Eve to rebel against her God and her husband through disobedience. Thus, mankind rebels against God the same way, disobedience to God's Word. His Word is His law and commandment and vice versa.
“But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.” Isaiah 59:2
Sin caused separation. When we disobey God, that is an act of rebellion. He told us what to do in His Word. To do less than or other than what He said is akin to saying, “No God, I will not do what you say!” And a sinner lives a life of constant rebellion. It says to God, “I don't love you!” That's why Jesus said, “If ye love me, keep my commandments.“ John 14:15
“Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.” John 14:23
The Price of Love
The price for our love was paid by God (through creation and provision) and Christ (through redemption and salvation). The price for God's love is obedience.
“Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?” Romans 6:16
“We love him, because he first loved us.” 1 John 4:19
You see, everything begins and ends with love. God is Love. He loved the thought of us so He created us. He loved us so, He sacrificed His Son for us. He waits for us with love in His heart while we make ourselves ready for Christ's return. He will love us throughout all eternity. All we need do is love Him in return. How?
“If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.” John 15:10
“For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:38-39
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