God Hates Sin

People are separated from a right relationship with God because of sin.

"Surely the arm of the LORD is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear." Is 59:1,2
"If I regard wickedness in my heart, The Lord will not hear" Ps 66:18

He doesn't want to be around such people. As such, those who practice sin will not enter his Kingdom.

"For You are not a God who takes pleasure in wickedness, Nor shall evil dwell with You. The boastful shall not stand in Your sight; You hate all workers of iniquity. You shall destroy those who speak falsehood; The LORD abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man." Ps 5:4-6

"Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God." 1Cor 6:9,10
"The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God."Gal 5:19-21

God hates sin, but God also tolerates sin to a degree.

"Do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness leads you toward repentance?" Rom 2:4

But such toleration is not an indication that God condones sin, but rather is for the purpose of allowing time for the person to repent.

"But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God’s wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed."Rom 2:5

If you are living a sinful lifestyle like those mentioned above you cannot be God's friend, nor will you enter His kingdom, unless you repent of such things. Notice how serious Jesus speaks of this matter. For he advocated the fear of hell fire:

"Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell" Mt 10:28

"If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go into hell, where the fire never goes out." Mr 9:43

Concerning the New Jerusalem to come in which God dwells it is written that, "Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful" Rev 21:27 So if you plan to live with God, how do you plan to become a sinlessly perfect person?

Discussion Questions

If you had a kingdom, which of categories of people would you not allow into your kingdom? To what extent does evaluating attitudes and behaviors influence your level of friendship with people, or in choosing a spouse?

When is it appropriate to demand people change their behavior, or at least express intention of changing their behavior, before you pay attention to them?

God hates sin, but to what extent does God tolerate sin?

Are you a sinlessly perfect person? (That is, do you even commit anything that the Bible regards as sin?) Does God allow people to sin in heaven? If not then how are you planning to become sinlessly perfect so that you can live with God in heaven?

The Berean Christian Bible Study Resources