Re: God hates sin but loves the sinner is found where?
Toddleaf wrote:Well Hitch, the phrase "God hates the sin but loves the sinner" isn't found in the bible. It is actually a conclusion statement made on the teachings found in scripture. It is clear that throughout the bible God shows his extreme dis-like of sin. You yourself have picked up on that. And it is also clear that God loves the people of the world, who are all sinners (John 3:16, Romans 5:8, 1 John 4:10). Thus we can conclude that God hates sin, but loves the people.
Since God is a holy God, he can't stand sin. But He loves people. And he is put in a tough situation, like in the case of Sodom and Gomorrah, the Canaanites, Amalikites, and the Philistines, because he doesn't want to destroy them, but His holiness compels Him to. If the people were to turn to Him and away from their wicked ways, God would not have to destroy them. But because they weren't going to stop sinning, God had no choice. And with the enemies of His nation, God did love them, but because they did not know Him and had no desire to know Him, they could not stand in His presence. They did things that were despicable in His eyes, and they were not going to turn from it.
God shows His love to sinners through their ability to come freely to Him. Everyone had the chance to come and follow Him and enter into a relationship with Him. They would have been saved from destruction if they would turn to God. Just as we know face certain desrtuction for our sins, God has offered a way out through the salvation found in Jesus Christ.
Seems I read the Scriptures speaking of God's delight in the destruction of sinners. Perhaps you need to read a little closer. You may discover that you dont care for God at all. Are you really unaware of the reason Christ gave for speaking in parables?
I dont recognise this god who has no choice you speak of, . Cearly this is more errant conjecture on your part. But it is wrong for us to build a god in the image we see fit. It is for us to submit to the revelation of the Scriptures. And it is God's soveriengty that orders history, just as it is God who makes the hearts of the righteous and the wicked.
The limp wristed god who has no choice is absent in the Scriptures as he is in reality. Shoulkd you continue to presume to speak for God at least give enough honor to explore what He has graciously revealed.
Take care
Hitch