Does God Hate Sinners?

"God hates the sin, but He loves the sinner?"

You have heard it said, and it seems logical when you think of how much God so loved the world, but is it true that God hates the sin and loves the sinner? That does seem contradictory and there is no Scripture to indicate that in spite of what we think. 

Does God Hate Sinners or Just Sin?

There are three common theories in Christianity:

Calvinists – The theory that God preselects whom He will save and whom He will condemn for eternity (Based on God's Sovereignty).  Arminiansim – Says that we decide, but we can lose our salvation if we fail (Based on our obedience - works). Universalism – Assumes since God loves us too much to condemn anyone, everyone goes to heaven. (Based on nothing, everyone gets a pass).

All three of these theories are false. The philosophy of God hating the sin and loving the sinner comes from the last theory, Universalism. If we rationalize this philosophy sounds logical to man. Surely God doesn't hate anyone is the theory behind this mentality, so God must only be upset with the sin itself. There is no Bible verse that even implies this though. In order to get at the truth, we need to put aside emotions and feelings. Let us examine what the Bible has to say about this issue.

Psalms 2:1-5 “Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying, Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us. He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision. Then shall he speak unto them in His wrath, and vex them in His sore displeasure.”

When God says His enemies plot against Him (vs. 2), He will laugh and have them in derision (vs. 4). He will kindle His wrath against them and He will be extremely displeased. If He loves them could He feel this way about them? Could He send them to hell? God sends the sinner to hell, not the sin. He is displeased with the sin and the sinner too (not an inanimate sin). If you love flowers you must hate weeds!

Psalms 5:4-6 “For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness: neither shall evil dwell with thee. The foolish shall not stand in thy sight: thou hatest all workers of iniquity. Thou shalt destroy them that speak leasing: the LORD will abhor the bloody and deceitful man.”

Who does God hate? All workers of iniquity. Iniquity is "the thought or desire for sin." All those that do the things that man can conceive, lust, jealousy, strife, anger, all that act on these things God hates. God's people do not have the same "desires" as the rest of the world. God changes their desires when the Holy Spirit indwells them.

Some use the excuse that everyone is a sinner, but it doesn't have anything to do with all sin being relative, little sins being as bad as big sins. God hates all sin. He doesn't keep records of a Christian's sin, but He does hold everyone accountable when they sin. Be sure your sin will find "you" out. Not necessarily that your sin will be found out by the world, but that your sin will find you out. There is a built-in consequence for every sin here on earth. It might be cancer, a desensitized attitude toward sin, a disease, a broken marriage, wayward children, whatever it is there are always consequences to sin. You may not find out what the are right away, but any sin will find you out.

In spite of what some think there are some specific sins God hates more than others, for example "abominations:"

Proverbs 6:16-19 “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.”

God doesn't hate someone's feet... He hates the owner of those feet who uses them to sin. God doesn't hate someone's eyes... He hates the owner of those eyes who uses them to sin. God doesn't hate someone's tongue, hands, heart, etc... He hates the owner of those things if he uses them to sin. For an interesting Bible study sometime research the definition of "abomination" and what God considers abominations.

Numbers 11:32-34 “And the people stood up all that day, and all that night, and all the next day, and they gathered the quails: he that gathered least gathered ten homers: and they spread them all abroad for themselves round about the camp. And while the flesh was yet between their teeth, ere it was chewed, the wrath of the LORD was kindled against the people [not the sin], and the LORD smote the people with a very great plague. And he called the name of that place Kibrothhattaavah: because there they buried the people that lusted.”

This time it was God's people that He was angry with. He killed them with a plague. It sounds like He hated the sin, but because of it He also took His wrath out on the sinner.

God is angry with the wicked every day... Psalms 7:11 “God judgeth the righteous, and God is angry with the wicked every day,” then God does not just hate the sin.

Did God love the sinner in Noah's day? Why did only eight people get to get in the Ark then? Did God love the sinner in Lot's day? Why did He rain fire on Sodom and Gomorrah then? Will He love them during the Tribulation? Why will He let the Antichrist reign why will God and pour wrath upon the earth then?

God loved Cornelius and heard his prayers before he was saved, but there was no rebellious spirit in him. Did God Love... Cain as He did Abel, Jezebel as He did Naboth, Haman as He did Ruth, Nebuchadnezzar as He did Daniel, Judas as He did Peter, Hitler as He did Roosevelt, and so forth? He did, but how did He love them? He shed His blood to make an atonement for them, but some of these people rejected His vicarious sacrificial offering and just as with Pharaoh He was angry with them. He hated them for rejecting the true God because they loved their sin and He damned them to hell. We are either for Him or we are against Him. Luke 11:23 “He that is not with me is against me: and he that gathereth not with me scattered.” You cannot love flowers and not hate weeds.

God showed His love to those He calls His children as well as those He hates, by giving them a chance to escape the wrath they deserve when He made an atonement for their sins.

You cannot hate sin and love those that commit sin and encourage others to do so as well (Romans 1:32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them). That is why God sets limits to His patience with man, and why there is an unpardonable sin. "My spirit shall not always strive with man...," Genesis 6:3 “God's anger was kindled against those that did not retain Him in their knowledge and sinned against Him:”

Romans 1:28-32 “And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them. God doesn't play with sin like we do. He has zero tolerance for it. It has to be forgiven or punished. What does God do about these that are worthy of death?”

Romans 2:5-6 “But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; Who will render to every man according to his deeds:”

God promises to judge them unmercifully. Those that say “God hates the sin and loves the sinner” do so because they know how guilty they are, God’s law is written on their heart. They refuse to believe that God would punish the sinner. They have created God in their own image to convince themselves they will be alright in the end. But they cannot escape the judgment of God. They may refuse to believe there is fire in hell, but the flames that await them will be no less tormenting because of it. 

Our society says spanking a child will cause Him to be violent. (God said, "Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him." Proverbs 22:15)

Our society says a child must be on their own when they turn 18. (God said a child should remain at home until married, "...a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife..." Genesis 2:24)

Our society says when parents are old, they should go to a nursing home. (God said you should take them into your home, "But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel. " 1 Timothy 5:8)

The world says God loves the sinner and hates the sin. (God says the opposite, "...God is angry with the wicked every day..." Psalm 7:11)

The truth is all of these philosophies are wrong and God is right. Our ways are not His ways (Romans 2:6). God loves everyone corporately, but He hates those who sin against Him individually because they have refused His pardon grace!

Hebrews 10:26-27 “For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.”

Conclusion:

Society today wants to create God in their own image. What we think is unfair we think God must consider unfair. The truth is we are not capable of knowing what is fair unless we have the mind of God. We are not qualified to judge what is fair much less to judge God who determines what is fair. If we got what was fair, we would be banished to hell eternally as soon as we reached the age of accountability. We should rejoice that we God doesn't treat us fair, but according to His grace if we receive His gift of salvation. We are warned in Scripture not to frustrate His grace or take it for granted. That is what the "God hates the sin and loves the sinner" crowd is doing. They have a lop-sided God because they are assuming God is like them. We should fear the wrath of God, just like with our earthly father it is best to stay on His good side.

Society thinks God loves unconditionally, but He repented that He even made man at one time.

Society thinks that God is not angry with those who are leading others astray and corrupt the church, but God's word says His wrath is so fierce toward them that it devours the adversaries [those that challenge Him].

To be at enmity with God, or to be His adversary (enemy) is pretty strong.

Set aside our feelings and we can see that obviously God does hate the sinner when he rebels against Him. God loved the sinner, the whole world. They rejected His love though, and hardened their hearts so God rejected them too, like He did Pharaoh. In Romans 9:13 God said, “Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.”

More Scripture:

Leviticus 20:22-23 “Ye shall therefore keep all my statutes, and all my judgments, and do them: that the land, whither I bring you to dwell therein, spue you not out. And ye shall not walk in the manners of the nation, which I cast out before you: for they committed all these things, and therefore I abhorred them.”

Psalms 5:4-6 “For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness: neither shall evil dwell with thee. The foolish shall not stand in thy sight: thou hatest all workers of iniquity. Thou shalt destroy them that speak leasing: the LORD will abhor the bloody and deceitful man.”

Psalms 11:4-7 “The LORD is in his holy temple, the LORD'S throne is in heaven: his eyes behold, his eyelids try, the children of men. The LORD trieth the righteous: but the wicked and him that loveth violence his soul hateth. Upon the wicked he shall rain snares, fire and brimstone, and an horrible tempest: this shall be the portion of their cup. For the righteous LORD loveth righteousness; his countenance doth behold the upright.”

Psalms 15:1-5 “A Psalm of David. LORD, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill? He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart. He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour. In whose eyes a vile person is contemned; but he honoureth them that fear the LORD. He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not. He that putteth not out his money to usury, nor taketh reward against the innocent. He that doeth these things shall never be moved.”

Psalms 26:1-11 “A Psalm of David. Judge me, O LORD; for I have walked in mine integrity: I have trusted also in the LORD; therefore I shall not slide. Examine me, O LORD, and prove me; try my reins and my heart. For thy lovingkindness is before mine eyes: and I have walked in thy truth. I have not sat with vain persons, neither will I go in with dissemblers. I have hated the congregation of evil doers; and will not sit with the wicked. I will wash mine hands in innocency: so will I compass thine altar, O LORD: That I may publish with the voice of thanksgiving, and tell of all thy wondrous works. LORD, I have loved the habitation of thy house, and the place where thine honour dwelleth. Gather not my soul with sinners, nor my life with bloody men: In whose hands is mischief, and their right hand is full of bribes. But as for me, I will walk in mine integrity: redeem me, and be merciful unto me.”

Jeremiah “5:21-25 Hear now this, O foolish people, and without understanding; which have eyes, and see not; which have ears, and hear not: Fear ye not me? saith the LORD: will ye not tremble at my presence, which have placed the sand for the bound of the sea by a perpetual decree, that it cannot pass it: and though the waves thereof toss themselves, yet can they not prevail; though they roar, yet can they not pass over it? But this people hath a revolting and a rebellious heart; they are revolted and gone. Neither say they in their heart, Let us now fear the LORD our God, that giveth rain, both the former and the latter, in his season: he reserveth unto us the appointed weeks of the harvest. Your iniquities have turned away these things, and your sins have withholden good things from you.”

God loved the world corporately, but He hates those who want to mess it up and lead others in the way of the world. Rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft (real witches get their powers from Satan, rebellion is satanic).

Our prayer life, our walk with God is hindered by sin just like rebellion would be with our earthly father. We are still our father's children, but our relationship is stressed by confrontation. When lost people sin (called the wicked or sinners in Scripture) God is angry with them too.

Get in God's word, read the A.V. 1611 King James Bible, pray and meditate on His statutes. Keep your relationship with God sweet and He will pour out blessings on your life, but He can't bless hypocrisy.

Good News

God does hate the sinner, but He also loved (past tense) them so much that he made the ultimate sacrifice for them and provided an opportunity for a full pardon. He redeemed them commuting the sentence for those willing to accept His pardon.

John 3:15-18 “That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”

God provided a way of escape from the judgement that awaits those who sin (which includes ever living soul). For more information contact us, our contact information is on our home page.

? 2015 Evangelist Art Shady --- Updated 3/31/2020

Anyone can reprint this as long as they give credit to the author and include this link. https://www.dhirubhai.net/pulse/does-god-hate-sinners-arthur-shady

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