We love the song “Same God” by Elevation Worship. We sing this song in all the churches; we jam to it in our cars. We love the promises that God is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. He is forever gracious. He is forever faithful. But there are plenty of things we ignore.
There are also characteristics of God we don’t enjoy focusing on, or, somehow someway, we believe that since Jesus came, there are aspects of God that have changed. Have you read the Old Testament? Have you read the New Testament? Have you read the Red-Letter words spoken out of the mouth of Jesus, himself? If so, you’ll know that God hates sin. Sin makes God righteously angry. He is God. He has the allowance to have expectations of us and how things are supposed to be. He is Creator.
There are stories of God’s wrath regarding how humanity behaved. All these examples and stories can easily be found throughout the entirety of the Bible but specifically go read Ezekiel, it’s extremely convicting because it’s very relatable and familiar. Living as if God doesn’t see our intentional sinful habits and choices. How can we proudly sing a song about an unwavering God, unchanging in character and attributes to comfort us in the areas we need affirmation, but ignore the very characteristics about God that convict us?
That brings forth a feeling of discomfort simply because we know they challenge our decisions or bring forth recognition that we are simply at fault for the very things the Lord has deemed displeasing to Him. Let me lay it out as clear as I can: God hates your sin. God hated sin back then, and He still does.
By Jesus conquering the cross, He gave us a way out of the eternal consequences of sin once we’ve turned back to Him. Hear this- Jesus’ life didn’t justify sin and it most certainly didn’t excuse sin. To receive the gift that Jesus’ life, death and resurrection purchased so He could freely give to you: forgiveness, relationship with Him and eternal life; is only received through repentance. It’s not optional. It’s a requirement. Luke 13:3 makes this abundantly clear, yet somehow, we make it seem optional.
“No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.”
Acts 3:19 says,
“Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out.”
To be Biblically illiterate, meaning you’re not understanding what is written, or just not reading at all, will be the demise of the ‘believer’. How are we reading these verses that make it clear what we are to do, yet going about our daily walks, playing church and youth group. Attending physically, yet abstaining spiritually? How do you read that verse and still think that’s not what it means, that God somehow isn’t serious about stopping our sinful lifestyles? Why do we excuse ourselves from that expectation?
I’m telling you the devil is a liar, and he has the majority of people who claim to be Christ-followers, deceived. Because y’all- many are walking straight to hell with a Bible in their hands, following their own desires of the flesh, following culture, following Satan while claiming to be following Christ yet disregarding anything Christ says.
I dare you to read the Word for yourself to see how much he hates sin. And I challenge you to understand the magnitude of continuing to choose sin, continuing to do what you know God says not to. If you belong to Jesus, you can say no. You are no longer a slave to sin, if you have accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior. The Holy Spirit has given you everything you need to conquer sin because Jesus did. Your victory is found in Him. And to say you “can’t stop sinning” is to say Jesus isn’t enough. Romans 6 makes it abundantly clear. 1 John 3:6 says,
“No one who abides (stays connected) in him (Jesus) keeps sinning; no one who keeps sinning has either seen him or known him.”
Sin has no power over you. For you to blatantly choose sin, sinful patterns and lifestyles, that the Bible deems wrong; you are rejecting Christ in His entirety. Repentance is a turning away from a life of sin, or specific sinful choices, to turn back to Christ. And it’s a requirement to receive the promises of God. He loves you. He still hates sin. Don’t get the two mixed up or let one deflect the other. Both are true.
