October 1998

HATING Sin

By Mark J. Ward

It's important, even essential, that we understand that in the spiritual fight, the devil and sin are our enemies. To be successful, we need God's help. God has made many provisions to assist us in our spiritual warfare. Consider the following passages please:

I Timothy 6:14 "But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. 12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses. 13 I give thee charge in the sight of God, who quickeneth all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession; 14 That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ:"

Ephesians 6:10-13 "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

Ephesians 3:17-21 "That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; 19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. 20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, 21 Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen."

We know that there is a great deal of teaching in the Bible concerning love. But what about the subject of HATE? We will save a word study of the word "hate" for another article, Lord willing. But, we must consider the topic of hating sin. Do we hate all sin? Or, do we just hate certain sins? I know that in my life, I need to continue to develop in many areas. One area we probably ALL could improve in is in learning to hate ALL sins. ESPECIALLY, we should be giving attention to sins that are most tempting to us on an individual basis. We need to examine ourselves and be honest with ourselves about wherein we are weak. Our adversary, the devil will attack us at our weaknesses more than he will our strengths.

God hates sin. Please read and study: Malachi 2:16; Deut. 12:31; Deut. 16:22; Psalms 45:6,7. The Psalmist said in 119:104, "Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way." What should our attitude be toward sin? Shouldn't we be "like God" in this matter? Shouldn't we hate EVERY false way? Let's identify this as a definite area of growth for ourselves spiritually.

Consider, then, the truthfulness of the following syllogism:

1. We are to be like God.

2. God hates sin.

3. Therefore, we are to hate sin.

Learning to hate all sin is part of our spiritual development or growth. We should try to always think of sin as the spiritual cancer that it really is (unless forgiven) that damns peoples souls! There are certainly things that are wrong that are not very appealing to me that might be to you and vice versa. In other words, its kinda easy to hate the sins we don't "like" in the sense that we already have a great disdain for them! See the point here? Let's work at hating the sins that are appealing/tempting to us!

I John 2:15ff teaches us that the devil will tempt us with what is in the world: the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, and the pride of life. We sin when we either: choose to do that which we know is wrong, fail to do what we know is right, or, proceed in ignorance and tresspass God's law for us today (I John 3:4; James 4:17; 2 John 9). The thing that separates us from God is SIN (Romans 6:23; 3:23). Let's do all we can to study God's Word enough to know what sin is (in all matters), to hate sin, and to avoid sin.

But don't forget...IF WE DO SIN...we need to seek forgiveness! Note what I John 2:1,2 says, "My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments."

Resolve, with me, to continue to hate sin and to learn to hate it even more in our lives and in the lives of others around us in the future. Let's see sin for what it really is; not what the devil would deceive us to think of it.-- mjw

Email the Editor at markjward@yahoo.com