There is Grace in God’s Hatred of People

Did you know, there are Scriptures which state that God hates the wicked? Not just their wicked thoughts and actions (which is true), but the wicked themselves (see Psalm 5:5, 11:5; Leviticus 20:23; Proverbs 6:16-19; Hosea 9:15) and God’s wrath is, even now, being poured out upon sinners (who are without Christ) (Rom 1; Eph 2:3).

God hates sin. He hates it! But sin cannot be punished outside of the person responsible for it. Can you put sin in Hell?

Sin is rebellion. It is rebellion in the heart. Sin occurs inside the heart and mind of people. Therefore, God must punish the sinner. 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.

God has not ignored our offense.

How? Two words: The Cross.

While we were yet sinners, Jesus died for us (Romans 5:6). There is no way we can appease God. That is why God became one of us (John 1:1,14; Hebrews 2:17), to take our place and become sin on our behalf (2 Corinthians 5:21).

It is the cross where God’s Love (1 John 4:8), Hatred for sin and the sinner, Wrath against sin and the sinner (Psalm 5:5, 11:5; Leviticus 20:23; Proverbs 6:16-19; Hosea 9:15) meet.

“For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:21).

This is good news! This is why Christians believe in Jesus. Jesus, the Righteous One, absorbed the full cup of God’s wrath so that we, the sinners, may receive grace.

And it is the cross that makes this possible.