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Does God hate anyone?

by | Dec 15, 2008 | Minor Groups & Issues, Universalism

The Scripture teaches that God hates those who do iniquity, those who do evil, and love evil. This is not a contradiction between God loving the world since, in John 3:16, the word world means all people groups. After all, Jesus was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel (Matthew 15:24). Generically, God loves all people groups. But specifically, there are individuals he hates because they love violence and evil.

The universalists repeatedly say things like, “God loves us all so much that He will save us all”; or “He hates the sin, but loves the sinner”; or “God is love, and will not send anyone to hell.”

Universalists teach that God is so full of love that He simply cannot send anyone to eternal hellfire. It is against His infinite love. They want God to forgive all, even those who openly reject Him and die cursing God.

I must admit, it is nice to think of God’s love being so infinitely great that all will ultimately be saved. Hell is a terrible place, and I don’t want anyone to go there. But it does not matter what I think. It matters what the Bible says.

God is love (1 John 4:8), but God also punishes the sinner and hates all who do iniquity. God is not one-sided. He is not simply an infinitely loving God. He is also infinitely just. He must deal with sin. He must punish the sinner.

In the truth of God’s word, we find that the Lord has provided one way by which we may be saved. That single way is through Jesus’ sacrifice. For all who trust in Him, salvation will come. But to those who turn away, God’s wrath abides upon them: “He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him,” (John 3:36).

Does God hate anyone?

Does God hate anyone? The answer is yes.

  • “The boastful shall not stand before Your eyes; You hate all who do iniquity,” (Psalm 5:5).
  • “The Lord tests the righteous and the wicked, and the one who loves violence His soul hates,” (Psalm 11:5).
  • “Moreover, you shall not follow the customs of the nation which I shall drive out before you, for they did all these things, and therefore I have abhorred them,” (Lev. 20:23).
  • There are six things which the Lord hates, yes, seven which are an abomination to Him: 17 Haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, 18 A heart that devises wicked plans, feet that run rapidly to evil,19 A false witness who utters lies, and one who spreads strife among brothers,” (Prov. 6:16-19).
  • “All their evil is at Gilgal; indeed, I came to hate them there! Because of the wickedness of their deeds I will drive them out of My house! I will love them no more; All their princes are rebels,”(Hosea 9:15).

Are these verses hard to read? Do they make you feel uncomfortable? They should. God hates sin. But, He does not punish sin. He punishes the sinner. Sin cannot be tied up and thrown into a fire. It cannot be put in a box or glued to a stick. It is rebellion. It is rebellion in the heart. It is breaking God’s Law. Sin occurs inside the heart and mind of people. Therefore, God must punish the sinner. Why? Because He is both Holy and Just and the person who sins offends God. God’s Holy and Just character will not allow Him to ignore this offense. Why? . . .

God’s Law is Perfect

When God said, “Let there be light,” it happened. When He commanded that the oceans be, they came into existence. God’s word is powerful. What He says is never futile, empty, or without power.

The Law is a reflection of God’s character. It is pure and perfect. It is powerful. The Ten Commandments reflect God’s holiness and justice. These commandments are not without punishments. A law without consequences is only an empty slogan.

To sin is to break God’s Law and offend His character. To sin means to challenge His character and authority. It means you go against His word. But God is not a liar. His word is true. He has said He will punish the lawbreaker.

But, praise be to God, that while we were yet sinners, Jesus died for us (Rom. 5:6). There is no way we can appease God. That is why God became one of us (John 1:1, 14; Heb. 2:17), to take our place and become sin on our behalf (2 Cor. 5:21). Therefore, people have two options:

  1. Trust Jesus, God in flesh, as your savior, and put your faith in the sacrifice that He made on the cross and in nothing you do.
  2. Reject the cross and let the penalty of the Law fall upon you.

Either God pays, or you do–forever. Which will it be?

“For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,” (Heb. 10:26). If there is no sacrifice available for you, then God’s wrath abides upon you because He hates sin and your sin is not removed (John 3:36). Trust Jesus alone or the wrath of God will abide upon you forever.

Conclusion

The sobering fact is that God is so holy and righteous that He hates the sinner (Psalm 5:5; Lev. 20:23; Prov. 6:16-19; Hos. 9:15). Some say that we should say that God only hates the sin but loves the sinner. But, the above scriptures speak contrary to that. But it is also true that He is love (1 John 4:8). It is better to accept the love of God found in Jesus than to reject it and suffer His wrath.

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