TheBible

Series Outline• The Big Reveal

• What’s the big deal?

• PROVING the Myth

• DISPROVING the Myth

• Busted?

“God loves the sinner, but hates the sin.”

What is the Big Deal?• “God loves the sinner, but hates the sin...”

• If you’re right:– You’re going to have to come up with a reliable definition of “sinner.”

• If you’re wrong:– You’re condoning self-esteem where it can be destructive or condemning.

But first...• This phrase does not appear in the Bible.

• First coined by St. Augustine in a letter dated 211 AD.

• Picked up and popularized by...– Wait for it...– Wait...

• Gandhi

God proved He loves everyone by sending His Son as a sacrifice for all...

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that

whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

John 3:16

But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still

sinners, Christ died for us.Much more then, having now been

justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.

Romans 5:8-9

This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners,

of whom I am chief.

1 Timothy 1:15

The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before

the group and said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do

you say?” They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a

basis for accusing him.

But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger.

When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.” Again he stooped down and wrote on the

ground.

At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones

first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned

you?”

“No one, sir,” she said.

“Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your

life of sin.”

John 8:3-11

Textbook Example• This passage is as close to direct validation of today’s statement as you’ll see.

• What was the woman’s status, even at the end of this narrative?

• What was Jesus’ actions and attitudes toward her?

“Sinner” is an identity that is incompatible with a holy and just God.

Your hand will lay hold on all your enemies; your right hand will seize

your foes. At the time of your appearing you will make them like a fiery furnace. In his wrath the LORD will swallow them up, and his fire

will consume them.

Psalm 21:8-9

See, the day of the LORD is coming —a cruel day, with wrath and fierce

anger— to make the land desolate and destroy the sinners within it.

Isaiah 13:9

Define Hate• The Bible defines God’s “enemies.”

• God will levy wrath and consuming fire upon them.

• “A cruel day, with wrath and fierce anger.”

• “Destroy the sinners with it.”

The arrogant cannot stand in your presence; you hate all who do wrong.

Psalm 5:5

You must not live according to the customs of the nations I am going to

drive out before you. Because they did all these things, I abhorred them.

Leviticus 20:23

There are six things the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands

that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are

quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a man

who stirs up dissension among brothers.

Proverbs 6:16-19

“Because of all their wickedness in Gilgal, I hated them there.

Because of their sinful deeds, I will drive them out of my house.

I will no longer love them; all their leaders are rebellious.

Hosea 9:15

Personification• In order to disprove today’s phrase, we should have failed to find any verses where God’s hate rested on the person, rather than the deed.

• Why would God attribute hate toward the person rather than their actions?

Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ himself? Shall I then take the members of Christ and unite them with a prostitute? Never! Do you not know that he who unites

himself with a prostitute is one with her in body? For it is said, “The two will become one flesh.” But he who unites himself with the Lord is one

with him in spirit.

1 Corinthians 6:15-17

“None of your business!”

Why it doesnt matter• The tragedy of today’s phrase is that it’s an enabler for maintaining sinful lifestyle.

• On the “righteous” side of interpretation, we’re sticking our noses into God’s business.

• HE alone is judge, and...

What then shall we say? Is God unjust? Not at all! For he says to Moses,

“I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on

whom I have compassion.”

Romans 9:14-15

Application• God can and will do what He wants.– He knows what He’s doing!

• Don’t insert your name where God goes in this phrase.

• YOU are to show love to your enemies, and the concern of the Gospel to even the most trying and annoying failures you know.

And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

2 Corinthians 3:18

The ONLY reason...• Don’t forget the ONLY reason God loves us instead of hates us.

• Despite our failings, we stand before God in the image of His beloved Son.

• As such, His love for us is exceedingly great!

The ONLY reason...• The blood of Jesus, throughout time, is the only barrier that averts the righteous and just gaze of God’s wrath.

• God already knows who will and who will not “wear the wedding clothes.”

• His love or hate is therefore just.

The ONLY reason...• You do not know each man’s outcome.

• Share the Gospel as if eternity depended on it.

• Show love, because that is our outstanding tactic, and the advertisement of Christ’s power within us.