Christendom repeatedly says thing like, “God Loves us all so much that He will save us all”, or “God hates the sin, but loves the sinner”; or “God is love, and will not send anyone to hell.” Christendom teaches that God is so full of love, that He simply cannot send anyone to eternal hell fire; 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.
The lake of fire (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 (1John 4:8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.), but God 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, He cannot lie: Titus 1:2 In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;...
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, and do His commandments, salvation will come. But, to those who turn away, God’s wrath abides upon them: John 3:36 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.
Q: Does God hate anyone? A: Yes!
· Psalms 5:5 The foolish shall not stand in thy sight: thou hatest all workers of iniquity.
· Psalms 11:5 The LORD trieth the righteous: but the wicked and him that loveth violence His soul hateth.
· Leviticus 20:23 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.
· Proverbs 6:16-19 These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: 17A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, 18An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, 19A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.
· Hosea 9:15 All their wickedness is in Gilgal: for there I hated them: for the wickedness of their doings I will drive them out of mine house, I will love them no more: all their princes are revolters.
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 which is the mind of people. Therefore, God must punish the sinner, Isaiah 26:21 For, behold, the LORD cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity: the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain.
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. Remember that Numbers 23:19 says: God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?
God’s Law is Perfect
When God said, in Genesis 1:3, “Let there be light”, it happened. When He commanded the oceans to 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: Proverbs 30:5; perfect: Psalm 19:7; it is powerful: Hebrews 4:12.
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: 1 John 3:4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law; and offend His character. To sin means to challenge His character and authority. It means you go against His word. Now, keep in mind: Hebrews 6:18 That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: He has said it, and it will be accomplished.
But, praise be to God, Romans 5:6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.
There is no way we can be clean before God. That is why God became one of us, John 1: 1 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God, 14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth; Hebrews 2:17 Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people , to take our place and become sin on our behalf; 2 Corinthians 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
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 that you do
2. Reject Jesus and the sacrifice that He made and let the penalty of the Law fall upon you.
Either God pays (eternal life in the Kingdom) or you do (eternal life in the Lake of Fire), forever.
Which will it be? Hebrews 10:26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins... 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 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. Trust Jesus alone or the wrath of God will abide upon you forever.
The sobering fact is that God is so holy and righteous that He hates the sinner, Psalm 5:5; Leviticus 20: 23; Proverbs 6:16-19; Hosea 9:15.
Some say that we should say that God only hates the sin but lover the sinner, however, the above scriptures speak contrary to that.
· Proverbs 8:17 I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.
· John 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.
It is better to accept the love of God found in Jesus than to reject it and suffer His wrath.
I believe, therefore, I speak
Always remember that there is peace in Jesus. May the Lord God give skill and understand to all who truly seek the truth. In Jesus name, Amen!
Peace
