...who believe that God has a lawful hatred of unrepentant sinners, supported by verses such as Psalm 5:5 which states "You hate all who do wrong." How does one go about reconciling these beliefs?
[The question that was answered previously can be found here. You may want to read it before you continue]
Hello friend! Thank you for your response. It is good to know that people are following up and reading the answers, I appreciate your feedback.
I'd like to point out that the two questions you have asked are different. The first one you asked is "Does God love sinners?" and I stand by my answer with the "unquestionable yes." God is righteous. He cannot be in the presence of sin. But He loves us - those who have sinned against Him. His love is why he sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to die for our sins and to make us holy.
I interpreted "sinners" in your first question as one who loves God, yet continues to fall short of God's glory. They would be people who are striving to live a life that honors God. However, the sinners that you are referring to in your second question are "unrepentant sinners," in which case, I agree that God is not pleased with their actions.
The unrepentant is sinner is one that does not live in reverence or fear of the Lord. There is a disregard for the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. They live selfishly, justifying their sins and actions. The live in sin and continue to willingly do so. They perpetuate the sin in their lives and make no intention of repenting for them. In a sense, they are non-Christians and the Bible says that God will be judging them accordingly.
There is a difference between the "sinner" that continues to try and repents of their sins as opposed to the one that makes excuses for them. If you came to the Good Friday Service, I talked about the 2 criminals who were crucified alongside Jesus on the cross (Luke 23:43). Both are sinners, both faced the same death sentence. But one was unrepentant, while the other one turned to Jesus as his Saviour. Which one do you think gets the promise of Paradise?
[Answered by Pastor KJT]
