Topical Bible: Love to God: should Produce Hatred of Sin

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The concept of love for God inherently involves a corresponding aversion to sin. This principle is deeply rooted in the biblical narrative, where love for the divine is consistently portrayed as incompatible with the acceptance or tolerance of sin. The Scriptures emphasize that a genuine love for God naturally leads to a rejection of sin, as sin is fundamentally opposed to God's holy nature.

Biblical Foundation

1. The Nature of God and Sin: God is described as holy and righteous, and His nature is entirely separate from sin. In Habakkuk 1:13, it is stated, "Your eyes are too pure to look upon evil, and You cannot tolerate wrongdoing." This verse underscores the incompatibility between God's holiness and sin, suggesting that those who love God will also find sin intolerable.

2. The Call to Holiness: Believers are called to emulate God's holiness. In 1 Peter 1:15-16, it is written, "But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do, for it is written: 'Be holy, because I am holy.'" This call to holiness implies a rejection of sin, as holiness and sin cannot coexist.

3. Love and Obedience: Jesus Himself links love for God with obedience to His commandments. In John 14:15, He states, "If you love Me, you will keep My commandments." Obedience to God's commandments involves turning away from sin, as sin is defined as transgression of the law (1 John 3:4).

4. Hatred of Sin as Evidence of Love: The psalmist expresses a hatred for sin as a natural outcome of loving God's law. Psalm 119:104 declares, "I gain understanding from Your precepts; therefore I hate every false way." This verse illustrates that understanding and loving God's ways leads to a detestation of sin.

5. The Transformative Power of Love: Love for God transforms the believer's heart and mind, aligning them with God's will. Romans 12:9 exhorts, "Love must be sincere. Detest what is evil; cling to what is good." This transformation results in a sincere love that naturally abhors evil and sin.

Practical Implications

1. Repentance and Confession: A true love for God compels believers to repent and confess their sins. 1 John 1:9 assures, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." This process of repentance is a reflection of a heart that loves God and hates sin.

2. Spiritual Warfare: Believers are engaged in a spiritual battle against sin. Ephesians 6:11 instructs, "Put on the full armor of God, so that you can make your stand against the devil’s schemes." Love for God motivates believers to actively resist sin and the forces of evil.

3. Pursuit of Righteousness: Love for God inspires a pursuit of righteousness and a life that reflects His character. 1 Timothy 6:11 encourages, "But you, O man of God, flee from these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness."

4. Community and Accountability: The Christian community plays a vital role in encouraging love for God and hatred of sin. Hebrews 10:24-25 advises, "And let us consider how to spur one another on to love and good deeds. Let us not neglect meeting together, as some have made a habit, but let us encourage one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching."

In summary, love for God is intrinsically linked to a hatred of sin. This relationship is evident throughout Scripture, where love for the divine is shown to naturally lead to a rejection of sin and a pursuit of holiness. The believer's journey involves a continual process of transformation, repentance, and active resistance against sin, all motivated by a deep and abiding love for God.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Psalm 97:10
You that love the LORD, hate evil: he preserves the souls of his saints; he delivers them out of the hand of the wicked.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

I Reject this Predestination for the Following Reasons:
... and by an irresistible force to produce within them ... rendered, in Christ Jesus, to
God's love of righteousness ... Unless some person should choose to assert, what ...
/.../arminius/the works of james arminius vol 1/3 i reject this predestination.htm

Sermon for St. Peter's Day
... To the weak they should ever show the greatest love and care, and without ceasing
lift up their hearts unto God in prayer, earnestly beseeching Him to ...
/.../xxvi sermon for st peters.htm

On the Feast of St Timothy, or the Memorial of St Peter
... To the weak they should ever show the greatest love and care, and without ceasing
lift up their hearts unto God in prayer, earnestly beseeching Him to ...
//christianbookshelf.org/tauler/the inner way/sermon xii on the feast.htm

Love's Logic
... If we could but recognise this, we should become as flames of fire, ardent and ... to
be, come even so, and believe in the boundless love of God in Christ Jesus ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 17 1871/loves logic.htm

Article iii: of Love and the Fulfilling of the Law.
... these virtues ought to follow, so, too, we do not receive remission of sins because
of love to God although it is necessary that this should follow. ...
/.../melanchthon/the apology of the augsburg confession/part 6 article iii of.htm

Love Worketh no Ill to his Neighbor; Therefore Love is the ...
... may make a strong impression, but do not produce true religion. ... And so it might if
he should go in and utter ... Can we love God, in this world with all the heart ...
/.../finney/lectures to professing christians/love worketh no ill to.htm

Attributes of Love.
... But, suppose he should be further asked, why he willed good rather than evil to
God; he would say, because good is good or ... God is love or benevolence. ...
/.../finney/systematic theology/lecture xiii attributes of love.htm

True Christianity Defended
... so highly esteemed both in our own and many other nations, should coolly and ... 5.)
Ardent supplication of the divine mercy: (6.) The love of God: (7.) Ceasing ...
/.../wesley/sermons on several occasions/sermon 134 true christianity defended.htm

The Approbation of Goodness is not the Love of It.
... be stimulated to the utmost, and remorse should be produced ... any of that gentle and
blessed affection for God and goodness, that heartfelt love of them ...
/.../shedd/sermons to the natural man/the approbation of goodness is.htm

Christ's Marvellous Giving
... Care you for such love as that ... know them, and which we can only set forth after the
manner of men, God had determined that his people should be saved ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 62 1916/christs marvellous giving.htm