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Jesus Wept
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Does God hate sinners?
Psalm 5:5 says:
"The arrogant cannot stand in your presence;
you hate all who do wrong."
A man quoted that verse to me in an attempt to prove that God really does hate some people. So, does God love his enemies or does he hate them? The following will help clear this up.
Proverbs 29:27 says:
"The righteous detest the dishonest;
the wicked detest the upright."
(Some versions translate the word detest as hate.)
The dishonest are dishonest because they have much to hide. For example, a thief lies to hide the fact that he or she has stolen. I have friend who claims to be a Christian. He is a habitual liar and alcoholic. I can honestly say I detest him.
A good person detests the dishonest because they detest lying. I detest lying but I sincerely desire that my friend repents. I detest my friend and yet I love him. Even though I think my friend needs a few good beatings, I really don't want to see him suffer. What I really want is for him to stop drinking and lying. Good people do not desire the destruction of other people; they desire that the wicked should repent. The wicked person however, desires that the good person who is interfering with their plans (e.g. stealing) should die or at least get lost.
God hates sin because sin destroys relationships. God hates sin because he loves us.
"But if a wicked man turns away from all the sins he has committed and keeps all my decrees and does what is just and right, he will surely live; he will not die. None of the offenses he has committed will be remembered against him. Because of the righteous things he has done, he will live. Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked? declares the Sovereign LORD. Rather, am I not pleased when they turn from their ways and live?" (Ezekial 18:21-23)
I think my friend needs a good beating but a good beating would probably not do him much good. God on the other hand, can provide the good beating while taking the pleasures of sin from him. God is not weak. He can bring a person to their senses whereas sometimes we cannot. (See Dying to live.)
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