What does it mean to “hate the sin but love the sinner”?
Answer:
Some people use this phrase to try and reconcile the fact that God hates sin yet saves us and that we should love others too, in spite of their sin. While this is a correct principle, the phrase does not correctly convey God’s wrath against sinners.
Note these verses. They demonstrate that God’s wrath is not only upon sins, but also on the sinner himself.
Psalm 5:5 “The boastful shall not stand before your eyes; you hate all evildoers/doers of sin.”
Psalm 7:11 “God judgeth the righteous, and God is angry with the wicked every day.” (KJV)
Psalm 11:5 “The LORD tests the righteous, but his soul hates the wicked and the one who loves violence.”
Proverb 6:16,19 “There are six things that the LORD hates, seven that are an abomination to him: … a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers.”
God desires that all men will turn from sin, repent and come to Him. To this end He has given us His Son to pay the penalty for our sin, removing His wrath from us. However, as a God who is just He is still going to punish those who do not repent because they have not acknowledged the lordship of Jesus and the work Jesus has done on the cross. Their sins still condemn them to eternal damnation.
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