I want to address to phrase once again that so many repeat as if it is a biblical verse. It is "Hate the sin, love the sinner." While there is some truth to this statement we need be careful because this phrase has been used by many to portray a false sense of God's attributes. It has been used by many to have a permissive attitude about sin and given a false view of God's judgement upon those who remain and die in their sins. Yes, God loves mankind enough that he sent His only Begotten Son to us to redeem us and reconcile us. However, when one dies in their sins it is not that persons sins that are sent to hell but the person who committed sins. God does not tolerate sin. He has given only one way for mankind to be saved and reconciled, which is by Jesus Christ. As much as we want to emphasize the love of God (and we should) we cannot neglect to preach His judgement and hatred of sin and those who remain and die in their sins. If you die in your sins you are not going to be on the receiving end of God's love. Rather, you will be on the end of His hate and detestation toward sin and those who die in their sins. It is true God dos not take pleasure in the death of a sinner. But He is just and He hates evil. Sin is evil. Those who sin have not the love of God in them but rather hatred and enmity toward God.
It is hard to reconcile the way that phrase has been used to what scripture says about sin and God's intolerance of it and what happens to those who die without repentance toward God. Here are a few.
"The foolish shall not stand in thy sight: thou hatest all workers of iniquity." Psalm 5:5.
"The Lord hateth all abomination; and they that fear God love it not....He hath commanded no man to do wickedly, neither hath he given any man license to sin." Ecclesiasticus 15:13-20.
"So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just, and shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth." Matt. 13:49,50.
"Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God." James 4:4.
"And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire." Rev. 20:12-15.
