It has been said that God hates sin, but He loves the sinner. Is this true?

  ~  ~  ~  ~

  

(Charles Naylor)

What is God's attitude toward unregenerate man?

It has been said that God hates sin, but He loves the sinner. Is this true?

Let us hear the voice of inspiration:

"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." (Psalm 5:5, 6).

Does that express an attitude of affection on God's part?

Again, we read, "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." (Psalm 11:5-6).

"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." (Leviticus 20:23). 

"And I will destroy your high places, and cut down your images, and cast your carcases upon the carcases of your idols, and my soul shall abhor you." (Leviticus 26:30). 

"And when the LORD saw it, he abhorred them, because of the provoking of his sons, and of his daughters." (Deuteronomy 32:19). 

We read further, "God judgeth the righteous, and God is angry with the wicked every day." (Psalm 7:11).

"Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD: though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished." Proverbs 16:5

God is not so meek and indulgent that nothing will arouse His indignation. He hates all that is sinful. He could not love righteousness, without hating iniquity. He could not love the righteous, without hating the wicked. To love both, would be to abolish all moral distinctions. Of the impenitent sinner it is said, "He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him." (John 3:36). It is only sin that renders him hateful, but man is responsible for his state of sinfulness and chooses evil; therefore to deal with the sin, God must deal with the man.

Not only does God hate man's sin, every sinful word, thought, and deed--but He also hates every evil desire.

The natural man loves evil. That love of evil, which is a part of his nature--God abhors. All desire that runs out after impurity or for that which is unholy--merits and excites God's indignation and abhorrence. Every evil ambition that arises in his soul, repels God. Every evil disposition, every evil feeling, hatred, envy, malice, revenge, selfishness, pride, jealousy, deceit, hypocrisy, and all the long catalog of evil things, of which man's heart is the source--are obnoxious to God. All tendency to oppose the will of God, all rebellion at His providences--can only excite hatred in God.

God can love only what is what is pure and holy. All else He hates, and must hate with all the strength of His righteous character!

   ~  ~  ~  ~