Category Archives: biblical exposition
A fountain still flows
Hebrews 9:11-14, 14-22
[...]one of the soldiers pierced Jesus’ side with a spear, bringing a sudden flow of blood and water. John 19:34
I’m sure for those who stood at the cross watching this particular scene live, it must have been excruciating and horrifying to behold. But now that we know how deep his love for us was to shed his blood, it is a glorious thing see in the spirit.
First the natural
Blood has tremendous significance –and application— in the Word of God. Its meanings involve profound aspects for our spiritual lives. To wit, through the blood of Jesus, supernatural transformation occurs for anyone who has been born shackled to the oppressive sin nature.
To understand spiritual implications, let’s look first at some functions of blood in your own body.
In one aspect, blood, in the most intimate way, is a unique factor associated with sustaining life. If a person loses his blood, he loses his life. When an individual’s blood becomes tainted by disease, the body and life again are threatened. Unless a tranfusion of new blood comes, life will surely end. Our blood performs many functions that help to keep our bodies healthy. For example, blood dutifully transports nutrients from the digestive tract to the body’s many cells. It also moves hormones and assists in regulating the body’s temperature. If these functions were inhibited in any way, the consequences would set off a dangerous chain of reaction, which for the body, could prove fatal.
When the blood encounters problems (whether genetic or otherwise) several medical anomalies could arise: blood clots, HIV, sickle cell, leukemia to name a few. No one wants diseased blood.
Its no wonder then that the physical functions and significance of the blood finds a specific parallel to our spiritual life. Jesus’ blood was uniquely pure, innocent and had no diseases or defects. In order to redeem mankind from under the weight of sin, it took blood untouched by the disease of sin (Gal 5:19-21). The blood of Jesus bridged the wide chasm that existed between sinful man and a holy God.
In the text, John writes that blood and water gushed out of Jesus’ side as a result of his body being pierced by a soldier’s spear. As brutal as that sounds to our sensibilities, the bible declares that it had to happen to fulfill the scriptures. You must understand that without the shedding of his blood, there could be no remission (or forgiveness) for sin. Had the blood not been shed, we would be forever bound to sin’s deadly power with no hope of recovery.
Think about it. For every war that has been waged, it has cost the blood of someone’s life to gain victory and freedom. Its the same in the spiritual. The war between sinful man and holy God could only be satisfied with the price of blood. Someone who would give his life to save us all. Someone who’s love was of the highest order who would willingly take our sin upon himself and receive the punishment, so we could go free.
Thats why I’m glad right now, today on August 2nd, that there is still a fountain filled with blood and it still flows from our Savior’s veins. Sinners can still plunge beneath that flood and lose all their guilty stains. Its amazing that as dark as our sins are, his red blood can wash us white as snow!
If you want to stop right here and tell the Lord how much you love him for washing all your sins away, do it.
According to Hebrews 9, the blood of Jesus supercedes and surpasses the old system of sacrifice. Its greater than and more perfect than the blood of goats, bulls and birds. By virtue of his own sinless blood our High Priest was able to enter into the holy place and obtain eternal redemption for us. In plain words, he got the job done.
That’s why the blood will never lose its power and never cease its flow.
It has an equal opportunity flow and equal opportunity power. For the sick, for the diseased, for the homosexual and the prostitute, for the liar and the murderer, for the thief and the atheist. For me and for you it reaches to the highest mountain and flows to the lowest valley. I was one who almost 22 years ago came to Jesus sick, diseased, choking and drowning in an ocean of sin. But his blood made me whole.
Blood washed benefits
When the blood of Christ flows over you, the benefits are phenomenal.
1. It redeems you 1 Peter 1:18-19
For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect
2. It cleanses you 1 John 1:7
But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.
3. It justifies you Romans 5:8-9
but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God.
The blessings of justification
The beauty of God’s word is that He has designed it to be the very food the soul needs for sustenance (Matthew 4:4). Without it, the soul withers and is destined for eternal torment apart from God. By taking it in and letting it nourish and protect our souls, we are able to find the pathway to God. What a glorious realization this is that can only be found in His word. As we begin this “Week in the word” I want to make sure you are blessed and encouraged by this very important biblical truth:
“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16
Consider if you will what the Apostle Paul writes in Romans 5:1 “Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
What is Justification?
First, there’s no way to understand (and appreciate) our justification unless we understand (and accept) the reason why God had to justify us in the first place. Justification is being declared NOT GUILTY by God. You are like a man who has committed and been proven guilty of a crime, God—despite the evidence—declares you not guilty and orders that your record be wiped clean! In this case God is both judge and jury, exonerating you based on the standard of His righteousness. Your responsibility? Believe and accept it by faith.
Bible teacher John MacArthur wrote once that “God has declared Himself to be a war with every human being because of man’s sinful rebellion against Him and His Laws.”
“For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.” Romans 5:10
We were enemies (actively opposed or hostile to someone or something) of God when He sent His Son to die on the cross for our sins. We were indeed hostile to God and His righteousness. The unregenerated nature of man wanted sin and would go great lengths to get it. It fights against God not in a natural sense with guns and bombs, but in a spiritual sense by rebellion and disobedience.
“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.” Romans 1:18
Beloved we must reorient of the character of God as revealed through the scriptures so that we get the gravity of his extravagant gift to us. Here it is: God hates sin and His wrath is against man’s sinfulness not man himself. Our unrighteousness suppresses His truth. So even those who have never heard the gospel still suppress His truth in their hearts because they are not submitted to his authority. This inward moral law is not of men but has been placed there by God. Alone, man has no ability to restrain himself morally.
God reveals His wrath in two ways. 1. Natural consequences of violating His universal law 2. Directly through His personal intervention.
Divine wrath produces the cure for sin
Justification is actually a legal forensic term that comes from the Greek word for “righteous” and means “to declare righteous”. As I said before, everyone who receives it does so by faith in the work of Christ on the cross, thus they have their sins removed from their account and the righteousness of Christ is imputed unto them. They are now at peace with God and no longer His enemies under His divine wrath against sin. This is an eternal security.
If the imagery of a court room, judge, trial, conviction comes to mind, that’s exactly how you should visualize the biblical perspective of justification. God’s wrath against sin has always been there even if we don’t want to talk about it. From the time when He flooded entire earth saving only 8 people to when he destroyed Pharaoh and the Egyptian army as they pursued the Children of Israel. Remember he slew the firstborn of Egypt who didn’t have the blood of the lamb on their door post.
The wrath of God is also stored up against those who reject the sacrifice of Jesus Christ as the propitiation (appeasement) of God’s wrath against sin.
“Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.” Ephesians 5:6
Why is the wrath of God upon them? According to the scriptures.
“But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.” Ephesians 5:3-5
Because of all the sin the wrath of God comes upon and will eventually overcome those who have not believed in Christ Jesus. Colossians 3:5-6
We all rightfully deserved the wrath/anger of God but instead of being poured out on us, Jesus took our place.
“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins.” Romans 3:23-25
After God’s righteous anger had been appeased by the suffering and death of Christ, then peace with God was made possible.
Paul said: “Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Romans 5:1
Take note that it didn’t say that you are being justified or that you will be justified. He said you HAVE BEEN JUSTIFIED! The death of Christ on the cross is not some on and off power that might save you if you continue to “be a good person”. NO! The death of Christ on the cross is an eternal work that has eternal ramifications (a consequence of an action or event).
Therefore, we know that by our faith in Christ we have an eternal security. Not because you always do what God says (of course those who are truly saved will do what God says by the power of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit because without holiness no man shall see God (Hebrew 12:14), but by your faith in Christ which includes repentance of sin. If you continue to do what God says, it is an indication of true conversion.
Justification isn’t merit based, its mercy based. No one can qualify themselves, only God can do this for us!
“Those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.” Romans 8:30
Please join me for part two of this post on the blessings of justification .
Apostolic bishops affirm bible’s prohibition of homosexuality
There’s few, if any, organizations of Christian belief that have not seen substantial challenges from religious homosexual activism. The acceptance of homosexuality —unlike other sins— presents significant changes in fundamental doctrines of the church: sin, repentance, deliverance, biblical inerrancy and authority, even the nature of Jesus Christ himself. Although we previously had not heard much corporately from the various splinters of “oneness” adherents, they too are in the throes of struggle.
Ergo, several years ago, prominent bishops from leading apostolic organizations met to affirm their stance on homosexuality and same sex “marriages”. The International Christian Apostolic Fellowship included Bishop James E. Tyson of the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World, Bishop GM Boone of the Apostolic Assemblies of Christ, Bishop Jeremiah Reed of the Christ Temple Apostolic Fellowship, Inc, Bishop Willie Duncan of United Apostolic Churches, Bishop JE Moore of the Pentecostal Churches of the Apostolic Faith, Bishop Joel Trout of Impact Apostolic Ministries and Bishop Nathaniel Urshan, former General Superintendent of the United Pentecostal Church International. No doubt these are familiar names among those who attend the noted churches.
The meeting discussed what the Apostolic leaders deemed major challenges and doctrinal issues confronting the church. This particular segment focused on homosexuality. Bishop Jeremiah Reed mentioned (but got off track) that he knew one person who was “totally delivered”. It would have been an greater testament to the leaders if they had all acknowledged the reality of deliverance for those bound in homosexual sin.
While we can appreciate the unanimous solidarity with scripture against homosexual conduct, one wonders if these bishops and leaders spoke out against the current occupier of the White House and his overzealous affinity for homosexuality.
Your comments on the video statements welcome. This post is not an endorsement of apostolic doctrine so please withhold comments regarding that issue.
25 years ago: Dr. Walter Martin, Andy Comiskey take on progay clerics
Apprising Ministries blog put up four phenomenal videos from 1986 which show a couple of gay christian clerics unable to defend their theology. Watching them, its clear that little has changed over the last 25 years except that they have become more sophisticated in how they explain their falsehoods and half truths. These four videos provide you with a stunning instructional look at just how shallow these people are.
Thanks also to Apprising Ministries for recognizing that the gay christian movement is a significant contemporary threat to the internal spiritual health of today’s church. And like GCM Watch, AM called attention to the so-called emergent church’s collusion with the gcm. GCM Watch is extremely disappointed at the larger apologetics sites for neglecting to provide more ongoing teaching on this. We contacted several of them but they seem to believe that gcm theology is so preposterous (as one person told me) no one would believe it. What a gross misjudgment.
The videos are from pioneer talk show host June Cain Miller, featuring Dr. Walter Martin (who died 3 years after this), gay MCC cleric Rev Brad Anderson (who later died of AIDS), Rev. Wayne Christiansen (now pastor of a progay Lutheran church) anda young Andy Comiskey who founded Desert Streams Ministry and the Living Waters Program.
The exchanges are fascinating to watch as Dr. Martin reveals the shallow fallacy of homosexual religion. Historically, he notes there existed no protestant, catholic and orthodox belief which sanctioned homosexual religion. That concept was born and advanced largely through the work of gay christian theologian John Boswell.
Martin said “Gays can be religious and there are gays that are Christians,…but they are non practicing, just like there are adulterers and fornicators who are christian but theyre not practicing. So a gay can be a Christian if they are not practicing immorality.”
Martin comment seems to suggest agreement with the new gay christian argument which allows a person to claim a gay identity but not practice homosexual sexual activity. Exodus President Alan Chamber recently addressed that.
When the gay pastor attempts to make the issue one of relative normality, Comiskey corrects him with a quick lesson on God’s intent. I love how Comiskey explains that God’s perspective is soterical, not merely prohibitional. God blocks justification of sin so that the sinner can see his need for the saving blood of Jesus Christ. However, both of the progay reverends continue to throw up strawmen arguments, evasive answers, red herrings, half truths and emotional sidebars that are embarrasing to listen to. The exchanges reminded me of the panel I participated on in Greensboro, NC.
We’ve contended for sometime that the arguments of the gcm are inherently circular and are up against a wall in terms of honesty, integrity and legitimacy. All lies create other lies to sustain themselves but eventually will come to a dead end. Literally.
But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. Rev 21:8
7 things this generation needs to know about homosexuality
Excerpt from a message I preached November 21, 2010 at Cornerstone Baptist Church in Arlington, Texas. Rev. Dwight McKissic, pastor. Text from Judges 2:6-13
Marching through generations
Due to changing social conditions after World War II, homosexuals began to push for more visibility and as a consequence the government began to systematically fire and bar them from certain jobs. Homosexuals reacted by organizing themselves politically and socially to fight discrimination against them. For the next 20 odd years homosexuals made gains on several fronts and eventually began affecting sectors of American society which spurred even more clashes with those who believed it to be wrong. Language identifiers began to change also. Homosexuals began referring to themselves as “gay” and later changed from referring to their “sexual preference” as “sexual orientation”. The word “gay” was intended to deflect attention away from homosexual acts and instead reframe the national discussion around identity. The phrase sexual orientation was intended to lend credibility to the notion that homosexuals are born as such without a personal choice in the matter.
In the early 1950s, there was a near consensus in North America that gays, lesbians, and bisexuals were mentally disordered individuals engaging in obscene, perverted sexual behavior. Same-gender sexual behavior was considered a criminal act in all jurisdictions.
Almost all homosexuals existed only as a secret part of society and few heterosexuals were aware of having met one.
It took a full generation from the time that a woman named Dr. Evelyn Hooker’s first study of homosexuality until the mental health professionals at the American Psychiatric Association were pressured into removing homosexuality from its mental illness list. It took another generation before a significant percentage of adults, and a larger percentage of youth, started to accept homosexuality as a normal “minority sexual orientation”.
Anita Bryant
In 1970 The first Gay Liberation Day March was held in New York City. Seven years later a woman named Anita Bryant stood up against homosexuality in Miami (Dade County) FL and as a consequence suffered the stunning loss of her very lucrative career and the break up of her family.
What happened to Anita Bryant in 1977 (when I was a freshman in high school) sent a chilling message to many Christian leaders. The message was this: homosexuals were powerful and ruthless. Opposing them could mean the loss of everything you had worked hard to build up. That initiated the silencing of the church and another significant change in our generation. No longer would homosexuals be a silent minority, they were moving into a sphere of influence unrivaled in our nation’s history.
One of the strongest revendications emerging out of the homosexual movement was the “right” to teach homosexuality in public schools. The goal was to be able to freely proselytize among children and teenagers; thus seeding into the minds of the coming generation that homosexuality was simply another benign expression of sexuality on par with heterosexuality. High school students who thought they might be gay were encouraged to attend meetings and explore homosexuality, cross gender expression, bisexuality and more.
The rise of homosexual religion
In 1968 something else took root. The homosexual church movement, a religious entity which advocated for the redefinition of homosexuality as a sin, arose and began its trek into the heart of the Christian church. I must tell you that they have enacted a brilliant strategy and it is working.
The progression of the gay christian movement has been both stunning and devastating. In just a short generation, the Christian church has experienced a deep fundamental transformation, which in some instances it is hardly recognizable as a representative of Christ the Lord. Not all the changes are directly attributed to religious homosexual activism. But as Steve Gallagher, the founder of Pure Life Ministries said, its a fruit of the church’s methodical march away from God and his word.
“Another reason I believe we are quickly headed in the direction of seeing evangelical churches ordain homosexuals is because of our corporate loss of shame over sin in the Church. The number of ministers willing to assail sin in the pews and call their people to genuine repentance and holy living has greatly dwindled over the past 20 years. Even those in our congregations involved in the most abominable behavior are quickly assured that God’s grace covers all their sin. To a large extent the enemy has effectively silenced that crucial safeguard amongst God’s people.”
Every major Christian denomination has had serious internal battles over homosexuality and the authority of scripture. Once biblically stalwart groups like Baptists, Episcopalians, Lutherans, Presbyterians have fallen and begun ordaining homosexual clergy and consecrating homosexual bishops. The foundation of the African American church is being eaten alive by a religious “don’t ask don’t tell” policy which has severely weakened its ability to preach truth and integrity. Homosexuals influence much of the gospel music industry and false teachings such as the “gospel of inclusion” has wreaked havoc on the church and its mission to preach a pure Gospel of deliverance.
An ill fought war
Now, people of God, this generation is buckling under the weight of just two generations of an ill fought war. Homosexuals in most instances have the upper hand in media, education, entertainment, government, social organizations and law. They are moving to overtake the military and the church is under assault from within and without.
Just like the generation that arose after the death of Joshua, the next generation will have lost perhaps 95 percent if not more of its foundational beliefs about homosexuality. The idea or the concept of homosexuality as a sin has been largely erased and replaced with a dizzying mix of cultural lies, scientific repositioning and religious relativism.
Will this generation know God?
While Joshua’s generation lived, the memory of God’s mighty works in their midst remained fresh. And God was worshipped and obeyed. Joshua’s generation was the generation who, by God’s grace, had defeated the Amalekites, had crossed the Jordan River on dry ground, had seen Jericho’s walls fall down, and for whom even the sun itself had stood still. How tragic that when Joshua’s generation died off, two things died with them. One was the memory of the God who had done so many spectacular miracles and the other was their obedience and remembrance of the law of God.
It wasnt that Joshua’s generation intentionally dropped the ball. But they lacked a purpose to pass on to the next generation what made them unique among all the peoples of the earth.
People of God this passage in Judges reflects what we are facing today if we do not pass on the knowledge of God, his word and his commandments to the next generation. The message is clear: when you forget the mighty acts of God, when you stop worshiping Him, its inevitable that you will fall into the practice of merging our beliefs with whatever is prevalent in the culture around us. In the end, we worship our own idols and even ourselves because we have forgotten God and his law.
Touch your neighbor and tell them don’t forget God, and don’t forget his law. Tell your child don’t forget God and don’t forget his law. Look at your homeboy and your bff and tell them don’t forget God and don’t forget his law. Now tell yourself don’t forget God and don’t forget his law.
Seven things
There are seven things God wants this generation to know about homosexuality:
1. God does not change Malachi 3:6 For I am the LORD, I change not
2. God’s word will not change Ps 119:89
3. Homosexuality is the opposite of holiness is what God requires 1 Thess 4:7
4. Homosexuality produces death (James 1:14,15)
5. The acceptance of homosexuality is a sign of God’s judgment upon us
6. Contextually, homosexuality is no more or less of a sin than any other. 1 Cor 6:9
7. The solution for homosexuality is the same as it is for all other sin. Mark 1:15
Hebrews 9:22 says, “Without shedding of blood there is no remission.” I John 1:7 tells us that “The blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanses us from all sin.” God, in choosing the cleansing agent for our sins, chose the very best that He had, the blood of His own Son. It is by the precious blood of our Lord, that we are cleansed from all of our sins. Revelation 1:5 says, “To Him who loved us, and washed us from our sins in His own blood.” Yes, it is only by the blood of our Lord Jesus washes away the sin and stain of homosexuality.
Thank God for the blood. It reaches to the highest mountain and it flows to the lowest valley.
There is a fountain filled with blood which flows from Emanuels veins; sinners can still plunge beneath its flood and lose all their guilty stains.
I can’t answer for you today but for me the blood that gives me strength from day to day will never, ever, never, never lose its power.
Let’s talk about hate
Look around you and if you haven’t noticed, everybody is talking about love. People adore it, idolize it, romanticize it, sing about it and write best selling books about it. But what about hate? Why is hate treated like the bubonic plague, like some alien concept no human being should ever be associated with? Why is love treated as the great uniter, while hate is seen as the great divider? Perhaps the only time you publicly hear about hate is when the homosexual movement and its hypocritical allies are in serial screed mode screaming “thou shalt not hate” at the rest of the world.
In contrast, the contemporary church and in particular the image whores who psychobabble on Christian television every week would NEVER talk about hate because it would ruin their carefully manicured images of love and acceptance.
But what does the Bible teach about hate? Are we allowed or even expected to hate certain things and certain people? Does God hate people? Is all hate a sin? You’d be surprised to find out that hate has gotten a bad rap by bible haters.
Have you noticed that while those who continuously call for “NO H8″ and put silver tape around their mouths then take model shots don’t have a problem showing their hate and disdain for truth and those who advocate for the truth about homosexuality? Remember the popular bumper sticker —”Hate is not a family value”— that the political inclusionistas sported when the nation was debating a constitutional amendment against same sex marriage? It generally was put on a gay rainbow flag background so there was no mistaking who the so-called “hate” was being directed at. And the unspoken inference was that homosexual “love” was a family value Proponents contended that people “hated” homosexuals because they feared what they didnt understand. If that logic is good for one side, shouldn’t it be applicable for the other? The reason homosexuals hate and fear the truth is because they don”t understand it.
Because people use the word hate in ways that seem only to benefit their presuppositions, it has spawned all types of language weapons such as: “hate crimes”, “hate speech” and the dreaded “homophobia”.
Desplendering hate
Truth is we live in a world system that misunderstands and misapplies hate primarily because they misunderstand God and his word. Jesus said, “The world will hate you because they hated me” (Mt 10:22, Mark 13:13, Luke 21:17, John 15:18). And isn’t it interesting that he used the word hate, not dislike. And isn’t it interesting that he said the world would never love us because we identify with and tell HIS truth? The world eschews hate only when its to their benefit to do so.
Hate has various uses and definitions which must be applied appropriately if we are to have an honest conversation about it.
Its impossible to list all the shades, variations and nuances of hate. Like legion, they are many. Some hate is morally neutral while some hate is morally sinful. For example, I can say that I hate cole slaw (and I really do) and no one would blink an eye. But if I said I hate Barak Obama (and I don’t), some people would be ready to call the secret service. Some hate causes people to stay away from dangerous things while some hate causes people to commit dangerous acts.
Thus, not all hate is wrong. The variations of hate can fall into one of the following three main categories:
Its always wrong to hate people (whether their actions are right or wrong) but its never wrong to hate the actions of people which God has said are sinful. That’s a perfect place to segue to loving people and hating sin.
True or false?: Love the sinner, hate the sin
You have heard it many times before that we should love the sinner, hate the sin. Perhaps you have said it yourself. Personally, I put that statement in the same category as “God made Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve”. Both are trite cliches and I hate them, however both are true in context.
We may all have our opinions about what constitutes hate and what should or should not be allowed, but what does God say and are we willing to accept what he says?
“Through thy precepts [God's Word] I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way” (Psalm 119:104)
David’s words form the foundation and orientation for how and what we should hate. We do not have unfettered liberty to hate as it is closely confined to only “what God hates”. And here we discover that God hates every false way. How do we determine what is a false way? The only way to determine what is a false way is to compare it to God’s true way as stated in his word. We know homosexuality is a false way because God did not create the male and female and tell them to find someone of the same gender and have sex with them. That simply does not exist. Thus, all sexual activities that are outside of what God commanded and blessed are false ways and false roads. We know where a false road leads to. And we have liberty to hate them as he does.
Yet, we must be careful that our hate is not prejudicial or motivated by personal vendettas apart from God. The scriptures are clear on that.
Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. 1 John 3:15
Such hatred is malicious and does not reflect the divine nature rather it reflects the nature of satan. John frames his words with the story of Cain and Abel who represent humanity.
Hating the deeds of the sinner is well within the realm of our biblical responsibilities. It is not a sin. If it was then Jesus himself sinned. In Revelation 2:6, he praised the church at Ephesus for “hating the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I hate also”.
The deeds of the Nicolaitans have been seen as any teaching that would enslave others to false teaching. False teachers and their false teachings enslave others and the Lord Jesus Christ hates that! As David said in Psalm 119, we should hate every false way.
Its important to note that Christ didnt say he hated the Nicolaitans, but their deeds (actions). Our posture towards sin (even in us) should be antagonistic. To attempt to coexist with what God hates is dangerous for the spirit. Already we have seen the devastating effects of what happens when the church embraces and tolerates what God hates. God hates and it is not a contradiction of his love essence.
Do some people actually hate homosexuals? Of course they do. They are full of sin and hating people is a product of that sin. Do some homosexuals hate people? Of course they do and in addition to their sexual immorality, they too are full of sin and hate is a product of sin.
But as followers of Jesus Christ, we should hate what he hates and only love what he loves. He hates all sin and loves all people. Everything we do should be motivated by love of God, his Word and God’s plan for humanity.
Share your thoughts about hate and the bible in the comment section.
