Does God Hate The Unsaved?

[sparkman]

The Bible Study Room has talked several hours on whether God hates sinners. It is controversial enough that people get very heated in this conversation.

Those who say that God hates sinners refer to these Scriptures:
Ps. 5:5 "The boastful shall not stand before Thine eyes; Thou dost hate all who do iniquity,"

Ps. 11:5 "The Lord tests the righteous and the wicked, and the one who loves violence His soul hates."

Lev 20:23 "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."

Ps 16:6-9 "There are six things which the Lord hates, yes, seven which are an abomination to Him: [SUP]17[/SUP] Haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, [SUP]18[/SUP] A heart that devises wicked plans, feet that run rapidly to evil, [SUP]19 [/SUP]A false witness who utters lies, and one who spreads strife among brothers."

Hos 9:15 "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."


However, we also have other Scriptures that supports the opposite view:

I John 4:8 The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love.

John 3:16 [SUP] [/SUP]For God so loved the world,[SUP] [/SUP]that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

My position is that it is unproductive to talk about this issue with seekers, but it keeps getting brought up in the room.

However, before a person can hear the good news, they need to hear the bad news first. The bad news is that the unsaved are children of wrath (Eph 2:3), and are under God's condemnation and wrath (John 3:18,36 ). God is angry with the unsaved (see the definition of wrath), and they need to know that. It's a motivation to seek God's grace...knowing that one is facing impending judgement. Failing to communicate otherwise to them is an incomplete Gospel message.

It's also an incomplete message if the message of Jesus Christ and his love as displayed in sacrificing himself on the Cross isn't conveyed. Our redemption was paid for by him through this sacrifice.

I've seen street preachers focused just on the condemnation and wrath part, and I've seen other people just focused on the love of God part. I think that these two concepts meet together on the Cross, and if a person ignores either part of the message it is an equal error.

The question is on the hate part, though. How does a person explain the hate scriptures above? Hate goes above wrath and condemnation.

 

[p_rehbein]

God hates sin............the acts of sinning.........

I also would like to point out what should be obvious from your examples in Scripture......

First Covenant: Scriptures speaking of God hating sin

New Covenant: Speaking of the love of God

Our focus should be on preaching and teaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ. God's salvation plan for ALL mankind. John 3:16 sums it up fairly well.

 

[psychomom]

coming from a reformed position, i s'pose it depends on whether one is of God's chosen.

God is Sovereign and acts on behalf of His helpless children.

 

[atwhatcost]

The Bible Study Room has talked several hours on whether God hates sinners. It is controversial enough that people get very heated in this conversation.

Those who say that God hates sinners refer to these Scriptures:
Ps. 5:5 "The boastful shall not stand before Thine eyes; Thou dost hate all who do iniquity,"

Ps. 11:5 "The Lord tests the righteous and the wicked, and the one who loves violence His soul hates."

Lev 20:23 "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."

Ps 16:6-9 "There are six things which the Lord hates, yes, seven which are an abomination to Him: [SUP]17[/SUP] Haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, [SUP]18[/SUP] A heart that devises wicked plans, feet that run rapidly to evil, [SUP]19 [/SUP]A false witness who utters lies, and one who spreads strife among brothers."

Hos 9:15 "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."


However, we also have other Scriptures that supports the opposite view:

I John 4:8 The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love.

John 3:16 For God so loved the world,that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

My position is that it is unproductive to talk about this issue with seekers, but it keeps getting brought up in the room.

However, before a person can hear the good news, they need to hear the bad news first. The bad news is that the unsaved are children of wrath (Eph 2:3), and are under God's condemnation and wrath (John 3:18,36 ). God is angry with the unsaved (see the definition of wrath), and they need to know that. It's a motivation to seek God's grace...knowing that one is facing impending judgement. Failing to communicate otherwise to them is an incomplete Gospel message.

It's also an incomplete message if the message of Jesus Christ and his love as displayed in sacrificing himself on the Cross isn't conveyed. Our redemption was paid for by him through this sacrifice.

I've seen street preachers focused just on the condemnation and wrath part, and I've seen other people just focused on the love of God part. I think that these two concepts meet together on the Cross, and if a person ignores either part of the message it is an equal error.

The question is on the hate part, though. How does a person explain the hate scriptures above? Hate goes above wrath and condemnation.

Hate -- as in kills them and sends them to hell. It seems clear enough to me. (I don't think that is above wrath and condemnation. That IS wrath and condemnation.)

BUT, the bigger question is, how do you know the person will never be saved?

God hates/condemns/piles wrath on all he will not save. He just never gives us the list of who that will be, because what's the difference to us? We're called to love everybody.

 

[PeterJens]

Over the years my view on this has changed.

Jesus described the judgement of God, like thrashing corn. The husks fall away and the fruit remains

I see this as those who love from the heart, have Jesus and reality planted in them and they live according to this are the good seeds.

The husks are husks, they are not seed, they do not work, there is nothing that can be done, what was the earthen vessel was empty, and when looked at was just thrown away.

So I do not see God saying He hates the earthen vessel, there is no use for them, they do not work.

 

[notuptome]

Over the years my view on this has changed.

Jesus described the judgement of God, like thrashing corn. The husks fall away and the fruit remains

I see this as those who love from the heart, have Jesus and reality planted in them and they live according to this are the good seeds.

The husks are husks, they are not seed, they do not work, there is nothing that can be done, what was the earthen vessel was empty, and when looked at was just thrown away.

So I do not see God saying He hates the earthen vessel, there is no use for them, they do not work.

Gods wrath is revealed from heaven upon sin. If a man dies with his sin Gods wrath upon sin will abide upon him.

The earthly vessel must also be changed like Christ's body was changed.

For the cause of Christ
Roger

 

[JesusLives]

If God hated sinners then He would have zapped us out of existence long ago....The wages of sin is death not the wages of the sinner.....the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Sin is what God hates not the sinner.

 

[MarcR]

The Bible Study Room has talked several hours on whether God hates sinners. It is controversial enough that people get very heated in this conversation.

Those who say that God hates sinners refer to these Scriptures:
Ps. 5:5 "The boastful shall not stand before Thine eyes; Thou dost hate all who do iniquity,"

Thou dost hate all who do iniquity refers to those who persistently, habitually, and continually do iniquity. It is those whose life is characterized and defined by iniquity.

Ps. 11:5 "The Lord tests the righteous and the wicked, and the one who loves violence His soul hates."

Lev 20:23 "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."

Ps 16:6-9 "There are six things which the Lord hates, yes, seven which are an abomination to Him: [SUP]17[/SUP] Haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, [SUP]18[/SUP] A heart that devises wicked plans, feet that run rapidly to evil, [SUP]19 [/SUP]A false witness who utters lies, and one who spreads strife among brothers."

Hos 9:15 "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."

Likewise all these examples speak of lifestyle.

However, we also have other Scriptures that supports the opposite view:

I John 4:8 The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love.

John 3:16 For God so loved the world,that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

Even while despising a lifestyle of sin; God loved mankind enough to provide a path to forgiveness and reconciliation.

My position is that it is unproductive to talk about this issue with seekers, but it keeps getting brought up in the room.

However, before a person can hear the good news, they need to hear the bad news first. The bad news is that the unsaved are children of wrath (Eph 2:3), and are under God's condemnation and wrath (John 3:18,36 ). God is angry with the unsaved (see the definition of wrath), and they need to know that. It's a motivation to seek God's grace...knowing that one is facing impending judgement. Failing to communicate otherwise to them is an incomplete Gospel message.

It's also an incomplete message if the message of Jesus Christ and his love as displayed in sacrificing himself on the Cross isn't conveyed. Our redemption was paid for by him through this sacrifice.

I've seen street preachers focused just on the condemnation and wrath part, and I've seen other people just focused on the love of God part. I think that these two concepts meet together on the Cross, and if a person ignores either part of the message it is an equal error.

The question is on the hate part, though. How does a person explain the hate scriptures above? Hate goes above wrath and condemnation.

 

[Gr8grace]

God does not hate. Hate is a sin. When the word says God"hates" something It is called an anthropopathism.

It is ascribing a human characteristic to God so our limited capacity can understand.

When the word says God hates sin.....It is pointing to His integrity,His Character and nature. There is no sin in God, no darkness.

When the word says God Hates a man.....It is pointing to the righteousness and Justice of God. Esau and Jacob the classic example. Esau did not adjust to the justice and righteousness of God and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. Jacob did.

It is language of accommodation for our finite minds.

 

[Gr8grace]

Gods wrath is revealed from heaven upon sin. If a man dies with his sin Gods wrath upon sin will abide upon him.

The earthly vessel must also be changed like Christ's body was changed.

For the cause of Christ
Roger

I do agree that Gods wrath upon sin has been revealed.......In His son Jesus Christ.

Jesus Christ paid the price for all sin. Sin is finished. God deals with unbelief in mankind.

 

[atwhatcost]

God does not hate. Hate is a sin. When the word says God"hates" something It is called an anthropopathism.

It is ascribing a human characteristic to God so our limited capacity can understand.

When the word says God hates sin.....It is pointing to His integrity,His Character and nature. There is no sin in God, no darkness.

When the word says God Hates a man.....It is pointing to the righteousness and Justice of God. Esau and Jacob the classic example. Esau did not adjust to the justice and righteousness of God and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. Jacob did.

It is language of accommodation for our finite minds.

God is a sinner?

Rom. 9:13 As it is written, “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.”14 What shall we say then? Is there injustice on God's part? By no means! 15 For he says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” 16 So then it depends not on human will or exertion,[b] but on God, who has mercy. 17 For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.” 18 So then he has mercy on whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills.

 

[MarcR]

God does not hate. Hate is a sin. When the word says God"hates" something It is called an anthropopathism.

It is ascribing a human characteristic to God so our limited capacity can understand.

When the word says God hates sin.....It is pointing to His integrity,His Character and nature. There is no sin in God, no darkness.

When the word says God Hates a man.....It is pointing to the righteousness and Justice of God. Esau and Jacob the classic example. Esau did not adjust to the justice and righteousness of God and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. Jacob did.

It is language of accommodation for our finite minds.

The word used is the Hebrew 'saw nee tiy'; which means I despised, I detested, or I abhored. That is pretty strong language for an accomodation. Perhaps you might want to rethink this.

 

[Shannon50]

No. God doesn't hate us. He sent his son to save us.

 

[breno785au]

I work closely with unsaved all day, like majority of us do. I hate some of the things they say and do. But I still love them. Why does it have to be either or? We can't it be both?

So, at one point God hated me? Then I 'chose' to accept Jesus, now He loves me? Or He always loved me?
He reveals Himself to us because He loves us.

If He hated us, we all wouldn't be here. Don't forget where God brought you from, because He loved you.

 

[MarcR]

The English language is not well suited to paradox; simultaneously true conflicting statements.


The nature of sin is such that God finds sin, and those who practice sin grossly offensive!

The nature of God is such that He does not want the consequence of sin to destroy us.

God, in love, mercy, and grace; took upon Himself the consequence of our sin(s) and provided for our restoration and reconciliation.

We must choose to either accept His provision for our sin(s), on His terms; or take the consequence of sin back upon ourselves when we reject His provision.

 

[breno785au]

The English language is not well suited to paradox; simultaneously true conflicting statements.

True that.
For e.g. He sits on a Throne, yet He is everywhere. So which one is it?

Both

*carnal mind blown*

 

[Wornwarrior]

Romans 5:8 "But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."

That sums it up for me. We were all sinners, would God send His Son to die for those He hated?

GBU xx

 

[Tintin]

God does not hate. Hate is a sin. When the word says God"hates" something It is called an anthropopathism.

It is ascribing a human characteristic to God so our limited capacity can understand.

When the word says God hates sin.....It is pointing to His integrity,His Character and nature. There is no sin in God, no darkness.

When the word says God Hates a man.....It is pointing to the righteousness and Justice of God. Esau and Jacob the classic example. Esau did not adjust to the justice and righteousness of God and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. Jacob did.

It is language of accommodation for our finite minds.

Hating unrighteousness is godly. Not sure where you got this particular teaching of yours. Not the Bible, that's for sure.

 

[Brother_Don]

Romans 5:8, But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

 

[JaumeJ]

Look at your question! Then tell if anyone is saved. Does this process shed God's light on the truth of what is the answer? If not, ask me again.....