Proverbs 6:16; 1 John 4:7-8. This sermon was preached by Pastor Marty Bonner on August 8, 2021.
We are starting a series on the things that God hates using the seven things listed in Proverbs 6. In order to do justice to the gravity of the subject, we will take a week on each item, with this week introducing the concept of God hating something.
Some use this idea of God hating to charge the Bible with inconsistency, and error. In short, they use it to defame the character of God. However, if we think more deeply on these things, we will find that this is not so.
Let’s look at our first passage.
Proverbs 6:16 clearly states that there are things that God hates. The knee-jerk reaction of some is to ask, “How can God hate?” Now the word that is translated “hate” here is the same word we have talked about in prior sermons. This Hebrew word has a much larger range of meaning than our English word “hate.” You have to look at the context in order to determine whether it speaks of something that is merely loved less than another thing.
We saw this in Genesis 29:31. Many translations will say that God saw Leah was unloved, but it is actually the Hebrew word that in some cases can mean a disdainful hatred towards someone. It is clear from that passage that Jacob does not “hate” Leah in the English sense. Rather, when it comes to choosing between Leah and Rachel, he would reject her and choose Rachel. Rachel was loved by Jacob, but Leah was not.
In Proverbs 6:16, the verse has another word that is clearly meant to be synonymous, or parallel with the earlier word “hate,” and it is the word “abomination.” In Hebrew, this word has an extremely thin range of meaning. It pretty much means something that is loathed and detested. Although it can be used of humans, it is mostly used of God. Some of these abominations that God hates are perversions of the Mosaic sacrificial system, but most of them are immoral activities that God has gone on record as stating that he detests them.
So, we can be assured that contextually the word “hate” here is on the other end of the spectrum from Genesis 29:31. It means to hate, as we English speakers would think. These are things that God has a strong aversion to, and detests.
Now, let’s look at the passage in 1 John. This passage categorically defines love as an essential part of God. “God is love.” In other words, God can’t quit being love any more than we can quit being human. Yet, we should note that, even though the Bible speaks of God hating things, it never states that God is hate.
It is here that we should understand that, for us, hating something is generally rooted in something that is wrong in my heart. With God this is different. Just as we find it impossible to be angry and righteous at the same time, so we find it impossible to hate and be loving at the same time. In the Bible, we see that because God loves His creation so much, especially humans whom He made in His image, that He hates anything that threatens to destroy it, us. He can do this perfect, not in spite of His love, but directly flowing out of His love. If God is perfect love, then he must hate that which threatens to destroy the object of His love. Like I said, it is impossible for humans to do this perfectly, which is why Scripture tells us, “The wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.” James 1:20.
This brings us to two important understandings. One, sin, as defined by God, is that which destroys us, others, and the world around us. Second, God’s wrath, His active hatred for sinful things that destroy what He loves, is for the purpose of setting things right, producing righteousness.
There is a common statement that has surfaced over the years. “God hates the sin, but loves the sinner.” Is this true though? My answer would be, yes, and no. If this statement is used to remind people that God always desires the salvation of the sinner, even in the midst of their judgment, then it is true. God is not willing that anyone should go into eternity lost. However, He will not force anyone to put their faith and love in Him.
How is this statement wrong? If we use this statement to justify not repenting of our sin, not repenting of destroying ourselves and others around us, if we use it to coddle and excuse rebellion, then we are treading on thin ice. The sinner who refuses to hear God’s call for them to turn from sin, and to embrace His righteousness, will find out that God’s love for them will not cancel out their choice.
In John 3:17-19, we are told that the condemnation of God, His hatred for sin, is even now looming over the sinner. That person is a destroyer of God’s good things, both within himself, and others around him. Yet, God’s love constrains Him to make a way for that sinner to be saved from his fate.
With the cross, God wants us to see at least two things. First, it shows how greatly He hates sin, and how serious He is about destroying it completely. Second, it shows how greatly He loves us and is willing to move heaven and earth in order to save us from this fate. He takes our sin upon Himself in order to make room for repentance, but the room is finite. Yes, He loves you and has made a way for you to see the error of your way and believe on Him, but He can’t wait forever for your decision because He loves everyone else too.
Do not be deceived. The person who goes into eternity refusing to repent of their sinful destruction of God’s things will not find the love of God. Why? They will not find it because they have rejected it at every turn, over and over again on earth. To repent is to embrace the love of God. That person will find God’s love on the other side of mortal death.
Thus, we see the picture at the end of Revelation 21. The creation is melted down, and recreated as a new heaven and new earth. An eternal city, built by God, comes down out of the heavens. It is symbolic of the righteous, but it is also real. We hear these words about it.
Its gates shall not be shut at all by day (there shall be no night there). And, they shall bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it. But, there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.
At the cross, Jesus dealt with my sin, your sin, and took the judgment of our wickedness, our sinful destructions, upon himself. However, I must choose to turn from my sin, quit loving wickedness, and start loving Jesus, the One who died for me. The day will come when there will be no more room to choose for me, and for you, for your neighbor, your friend, even your enemy. The day will come when there will be no more choice for this world because God’s plan is to bring us to a place where there will be no more wickedness forever, amen!
It is not His plan to bring us to a place where there is only wickedness. However, for those who reject His plan, and embrace wickedness, He allows them to enter into the fruit of their choice, a place of only wickedness, and none of the goodness of God. This is a repulsive thought, but it is even more so to the God who loves us and does not want this for us. Why will you choose death? Choose life and live!