God Hates All Workers of Iniquity

DEVOTIONAL FOR MIDWEEK PRAYER MEETING

vv4-5, “God hates the sin but loves the sinner,” is a silly sentimentality which defies the word of God...

Yet, God is love (1 Jn 4:8) and Jesus is the same yesterday, and today, and forever (Heb 13:8). His nature is eternal and unchanging so He doesn’t turn on or turn off His character to satisfy our bad theology.

Therefore, we must see the scriptures with the gospel in clear sight...

v6, Although we deserve destruction for sins we’ve committed against a Holy God, the soul of Jesus Christ received God’s holy wrath for sins He did not commit…. Christ’s sacrifice was received as worthy before God the Father because...

v7, ...the worship of Jesus Christ, as perfect Man, was pure and plenteous (7b); by His walking among sinful men, His very presence exhibited the “multitude” of God’s mercies (7a).

v8, ...Jesus, though very God, did not use His nature as God to lead a holy life, but did so as perfect Man, led of the Holy Spirit, praying in submission for the Father’s full leading in life.

v9, ...unlike us, Christ’s words were always faithful (9a); His inward part was pure and undefiled (9b; cf. Jer 17:9); His throat was life and light (9c); His tongue was very truth (9d).

v10, Destruction is what we deserve. Consider the horror of what Jesus Christ suffered on Calvary’s tree, as God’s gracious gift to those who would believe and repent; now consider God’s hatred against those who have rejected God’s Christ, who hate God, and drink down sin & iniquity like water.

vv11-12, the promise of God unto those who trust in His Christ are worth rejoicing over, always and always.