In this episode of the International Gospel Hour, we dive deep into understanding the duality of God’s nature as both a being of love and a being that abhors certain things. Host Jeff Archie guides us through a thought-provoking study, bringing to light the notion that while God is inherently love, there exists a spectrum of disdain towards sin, idolatry, and deception that obstructs the path to communion with Him. We explore pertinent biblical passages and dissect why actions and beliefs such as idolatry strain our relationship with the divine.
This may surprise many. God is love, but there are things that God hates, things we need to avoid and we can because of His love. Let’s pursue this study today from the International Gospel Hour. Stay with us.
SPEAKER 02 :
Hi, this is Jay Webb for International Gospel Hour. For 90 years, churches of Christ have proclaimed God’s Word through International Gospel Hour. You are about to listen to another Bible-based lesson with Jeff Archie of International Gospel Hour, starting now.
SPEAKER 03 :
Well, thank you to our J-Web. Greetings to all of you, and thank you for being with us today. We are blessed by your presence in tuning in to our broadcast here from International Gospel Hour. You know, we’ve been on the air since 1934. Isn’t that amazing? And we’re blessed to be part of your listening and your study of God’s Word. You know, Hebrews 11, 6 says, “…but without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” So may we seek God today through our study, and may we pursue our faith, and have the faith of which God would be pleased. Faith in His word and His way, and less in our will and our way. You know, 1 John 4 verse 8 teaches, He that loves not knows not God, for God is love. That’s such a beautiful passage, and it teaches of how God is love. Now, you may wonder why I would title this lesson, You Mean God Hates? Well, because God can hate and does hate, and that in no way affects Him being the God of love. And when we study the things that God hates, well, quite obviously He does so because if not, These things that he hates would represent good, and that would be deceptive. No question, God loves the sinner. That’s affirmed from such beautiful text as John 3 and verse 16. For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son. So there’s no question he loves the sinner. How about Romans 5 beginning with verse 6? For when we were still without strength in due time, Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die, yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, and 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. For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death or through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation. Paul is writing there to the Christians in Rome. And I want to point out specifically verse 8. But God demonstrates His own love toward us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. No question, he loves the sinner. But also, friends, he hates the sin that inflicts pain, deception, and anguish in the world. For it is sin that comes between God and his love, and it comes between us and God, those of us, all of us, who need his mercy, grace, and compassion. Isaiah 59, verses 1 and 2. Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened that it cannot save, nor his ear heavy that it cannot hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear. I know through the years and recent years to say, God loves the sinner and hates the sin, has been resented, spoken against, but brethren, but to everyone, to brothers and sisters in Christ, to friends, to all. That fact still remains. God hates sin. He loves the sinner for whom he sent Christ to die for. Now, when we talk about God hating, I mean, Proverbs 6, 16 through 19 tells us of six things the Lord hates, and seven are an abomination to him. a proud look, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that are swift in running to evil, a false witness who speaks lies, and one who sows discord among brethren. So yes, friends, God hates. Let’s think on this a little further, of some other things that God hates. And I’ll let you know, due to the depth of this study and all, we’re going to make this a part one of two. So be sure that you’re back next time for part two of this study. You mean God hates. Now, before we continue… I want to pause and go to our J-Web. I always appreciate Jay’s good words. And we use Jay in our broadcast to let you know of some good things going on from International Gospel Hour. And with that being said, here is Jay.
SPEAKER 02 :
You can find International Gospel Hour on X, formerly known as Twitter. Just search Our Gospel. That’s Our, H-O-U-R, underscore Gospel. You mean God hates? Yes, friends. You mean God hates idolatry? Well, friends, that’s a gimme, if you will.
SPEAKER 03 :
Going back to the Old Testament in Deuteronomy 16 and verse 22, God hates idolatry. When we look in the New Testament, the word idolatry is in four passages. First of all, in Acts 17 and verse 16, where Paul is in Athens on Mars Hill, the Bible says, Now while Paul waited for them, that is his traveling party, while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred in him when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry. And if you recall, Paul is speaking about the unknown God as they referred to God the Father, the Creator. and how he saw all kind of idols set up. I mean, you have your God located there. So it doesn’t matter what God you believe in, if you will, just as long as you believe in a God. Now, doesn’t that sound familiar in many ways? Well, it doesn’t matter what church you go to as long as you go to church. Well, it really doesn’t matter what you believe. We’re all going to the same place. Folks, those are deceptive statements that the Bible does not support. And it doesn’t support it because here’s the whole city given to idolatry. And Paul says, you have set up here the unknown God. Him I declare unto you. And Paul preached. And Paul proclaimed. And they said, we will hear you again of this matter. It wasn’t what they wanted to hear. They wanted him to stop. And you know, he even told them in Acts 17, 30 and 31. how the times of this ignorance God winked at, but now commands men everywhere to repent. You see, he saw a city given to idolatry. Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry. That’s 1 Corinthians 10 and verse 14. Amongst the works of the flesh listed in Galatians 5, 19 through 21, and a work, a sin that will cost us our souls, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies. So, idolatry is listed there. In Colossians 3 and verse 5, Paul says, To mortify therefore, or put to death therefore, And he mentions one of the things to put to death is covetousness, which is idolatry. It’s plain old-fashioned greediness. It becomes our idol. It is the root of all material believing, as in the more you get, the more you want. And when that material thing no longer satisfies, then we go for another material thing. And what happens, it becomes our God that we chase, our idol, to give us the satisfaction. When isn’t it amazing that all things come from the Father of lights, in whom there is no variableness, neither shadow of turning, as James says in James 1. Friends, it is a lifestyle that God hates for man to pursue. It’s a lifestyle that God hates. Man pursues it, his own style of blessing, more than the spiritual blessings that God will grant to those who are in Christ Jesus, Ephesians 1 and verse 3. So yes, friends, God hates idolatry. He hates things that are being put before him. teachings put before His Word, and worship that is placed before Him. We’re going to continue this study in our next broadcast as we look at God-hating, vain empty worship, and false doctrine. But first, when we think about what God provides for you and I, He does give us purpose in life. We have a very special online video study just for you. Here is our J-Web.
SPEAKER 02 :
What is your purpose in life, friend? Where did we come from? Your answer to these fundamental questions is greatly affected by whether you believe in God, believe the Bible is true, and believe Jesus to be divine. Through our friend and evangelist, Rob Whitaker, we offer a great online video study titled, Believe the Bible. please allow us to send you the link and check it out. Just call toll-free at 855-444-6988 and leave your name, email, and just say, Believe the Bible. Again, call toll-free at 855-444-6988, and please leave your name, email, and just say, Believe the Bible. You may also go to our website at internationalgospelhour.com, click on the Contacts tab, and leave us the same information, name, email, and type Believe the Bible in the message blank. We will send the link right away.
SPEAKER 03 :
Yes, friends, God is a God of love. And as God is a God of love, we want to move away from the things that God hates and find purpose in our lives. I hope this study today has helped you as you place God first in your life and live for Him. We will continue part two of You Mean God Hates next time. Until then, thank you for joining me today on the International Gospel Hour. I’m Jeff Archie, and friends, keep listening.
SPEAKER 02 :
Thank you for listening to our broadcast today. To God goes all the glory, and we hope that our study today will draw you closer to His Word to walk in His way. To listen to it again, or our other broadcasts, please visit our website at internationalgospelhour.com.
