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More Proverbs

Proverbs 15:9

Some say, "God hates the sin, but loves the sinner." But such words are not from the Bible! Men invented this jingle to tickle the ears of unregenerate sinners and carnal Christians, who want a God that will accept them no matter what. When this proverb is understood, it confirms the message of the rest of Scripture, that God abhors and loathes wicked persons, their prayers, and their lifestyle. Worship God in the beauty of holiness!

This proverb is not politically correct, but God and Solomon did not care what men might think! Consider current thought. Sodomy is no longer an abomination to the LORD; it is gay! Adultery is no longer an abomination to the LORD; it is an affair! Rebellious children are no longer an abomination to the LORD; they are hyperactive! But wise men will accept all of God's declarations and hate every contrary opinion (Ps 119:128)!

The proverb has two contrasted clauses that provide the full meaning. God hates the way of the wicked, and God loves the man pursuing righteousness. By matching "the way of the wicked" with "him that followeth after righteousness," we learn that God hates both the sinner and his lifestyle and loves both the righteous man and his lifestyle. Note the change from sin to sinner in Solomon's list of seven things God hates (6:16-19).

Consider the context. The previous proverb is similar and helps reveal the hatred God has for sinful lifestyles. "The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD: but the prayer of the upright is his delight" (15:8). God even hates the sacrifice of the wicked - his worship and religious activities. But He loves the prayers of the upright. When a man chooses to sin against the Most High, God despises and loathes his worship (21:27; 28:9).

The difference is great! Either God abominates your life, or He loves it. Either you follow the way of wickedness, or you follow the way of righteousness. How can we comprehend the difference between God's hatred and His love? It is very great! You cannot avoid God either despising you or favoring you. Most do not care anymore, because they have been seduced into carnal living by false teaching of God's unconditional love for them.

Of course, "God hates the sin, but loves the sinner," is comforting. But prove the saying before you believe it (14:15; I Thess 5:21). Are those in hell singing, "Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so"? Did Noah post a smiley face outside the ark that read, "Smile! God loves you!" What will Jesus Christ mean, when He says to the wicked on the Day of Judgment, "I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity" (Matt 7:23). Do you suppose He loves Satan as well, who is much more glorious than any man?

What else does the Bible say about those who work iniquity? David wrote, "For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness: neither shall evil dwell with thee. The foolish shall not stand in thy sight: thou hatest all workers of iniquity. Thou shalt destroy them that speak leasing: the LORD will abhor the bloody and deceitful man." (Ps 5:4-6). Surprised? If you are a typical Christian today, the only psalm you know is Psalm 23.

But David had more to say about God's hatred of the wicked. He also wrote, "The LORD is in his holy temple, the LORD'S throne is in heaven: his eyes behold, his eyelids try, the children of men. The LORD trieth the righteous: but the wicked and him that loveth violence his soul hateth. Upon the wicked he shall rain snares, fire and brimstone, and an horrible tempest: this shall be the portion of their cup. For the righteous LORD loveth righteousness; his countenance doth behold the upright" (Ps 11:4-6).

The God of heaven is holy before He is anything else. He cannot look approvingly on any evil (Hab 1:13). He cannot acquit the wicked (Nah 1:3). He cannot clear the guilty (Ex 34:7). He loves righteousness, and He hates iniquity (Ps 45:7; Heb 1:9). He drowned the world with a flood. He burned up the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. He annihilated the seven nations of Canaan. He is angry at the wicked every day (Ps 7:11).

This part of God's nature is ignored today, because men want a sugar daddy in the sky that will smile and hand them cotton candy when they sin. But consider David, who was the man after God's own heart. He hated the enemies of God with a perfect hatred (Ps 139:21-22; 26:5; 31:6; II Sam 5:8). When his son Jehoshaphat tried to befriend a wicked man, God became angry at him for this perversion of righteousness (II Chron 19:2).

How can God love anyone, since all are sinners (Ps 14:1-3; Rom 3:23)? He chose some in Christ Jesus before the world began that they should be holy and blameless before Him in love (Eph 1:3-4)! Because of that choice in Christ, He views them as perfectly holy in His sight! He predestinated them to become His sons by gracious adoption, because He had chosen by His own will to make them acceptable in Christ the Beloved (Eph 1:5-6)!

God's love is a choice, and He chooses to love some (Rom 9:14-18). It is for this very important reason that the Bible speaks of Jesus Christ loving the church (Eph 5:25), of nothing interrupting the love of God for His people (Rom 8:29-39), Jesus confirming that He would not lose a single one that God had given Him to save (John 6:38-39; 10:26-29; 17:2), and that He only lovingly chastens His children, not the bastards (Heb 12:6-8).

Of course, this doctrine is despised and hated. Men come into this world as fools, and the vast majority remain fools. Only those born again by the Spirit of God and trembling before God and His Word can see and believe the truth (John 3:3; 8:47). It is only they who can understand the things of God (I Cor 2:14; II Cor 4:3-4; II Thess 2:9-14).

Reader! The evidence that you are one of God's elect and beloved in heaven is your pursuit of righteousness! Turn from the wicked ways of this world and follow the strait and narrow way He has defined for you in His Word (Matt 7:13-14).

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