God Really Hates Sin

I, the LORD, was very angry with your ancestors. Therefore, say to the people, ‘This is what the LORD of Heaven’s Armies says: Return to me, and I will return to you, says the LORD of Heaven’s Armies.’ Don’t be like your ancestors who would not listen or pay attention when the earlier prophets said to them, ‘This is what the LORD of Heaven’s Armies says: Turn from your evil ways, and stop all your evil practices.’ [Zechariah 1.2-4]

We may learn something of God's character here. We may learn that God hates sin.

Sin makes God angry. God's anger against sin is severe. The Bible says that the wages of sin is death. The book of Genesis records that God said:

But the LORD God warned him, “You may freely eat the fruit of every tree in the garden— except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. If you eat its fruit, you are sure to die.” [Genesis 2.16-17]

Man may think God's attitude toward sin is harsh, but man does not control God. So, what God thinks about sin is what God thinks about sin. The whole universe will accommodate God and His wishes. Sin, great or small, ultimately requires death. This is God's opinion and it is the only opinion that counts.

The Bible also states that whatever is not of faith is sin. Now, that's something to think long and hard about!

There is only one course of free-will action a sinner may take: repentance. I say there is only one course of action a sinner may take because if he does not repent, he will, not of his own will, be sentenced to death - he has no choice in that - it is the "default" setting.

I think the reason Christians do not fully understand the goodness of God is because they do not fully understand how much He hates sin. If we would just pay attention to all the Bible says about God's attitude toward sin, then we would more fully appreciate the fact that we are even alive.

Father, there is so much more about this topic that I know I am ignorant of. Help me to learn Your character more and more as continue to read and learn Your Word!