To Understand Grace We Must Understand God Hates Sin!

Understand God Hates Sin

As a mom, wife, friend, and sister I sometimes look over a sin that I have in my own life and even one I have observed in someone else’s life. I am not saying I am a”sin watcher,” but there are times, any of us observe the sins of others. We experience the sin of others. They experience ours as well. We may call that grace. In some cases that would be true. But is it just, or right to look away and pretend that sin does not exist?

In Romans 1:18-21 we are going to see that God does not look away from sin and pretend that it does not exist. God has, through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, inspired Paul to write and tell us that His wrath is revealed from heaven against all sin.

To understand better what Paul is teaching in this section of Romans we are going to ask and answer a couple of questions.

1. What is the wrath of God?
2. Who is under the wrath of God?

These texts of scripture are not fluffy. They certainly do not pet the flesh. Most of us are looking for a Bible Study or a post that will lift us up and encourage us. You are not alone. I look for uplifting, encouraging words as well. But in order to understand what grace is and our need of it we must understand what God says about sin and how that affects us. I look at these texts of scripture as encouraging and uplifting in the sense that God has not left us in the dark!

For I am not ashamed of the gospel for it is the power of God for salvation.

What is the wrath of God?

Let’s begin by looking at the definition of wrath.

Wrath/Anger: Greek Word-ORGE- means to teem, to swell. The word conveys a picture of a swelling which eventually bursts. Wrath/ORGE does not refer to uncontrolled anger which men are prone to but to God’s settled indignation and controlled passionate hostile feeling towards sin.

• God’s wrath is His holy hatred to all that is unholy.
• God’s wrath is a righteous anger.
• God’s wrath is His judgment against sin.

As one who believes in God we must come to an understanding that God does hate sin, and because of Who He is must punish it.

God has not been silent! He has revealed to us that He:

• Hates Sin: Psalm 5:4-“For You are not a God who takes pleasure in wickedness; no evil dwells with You.”
• Will judge sin: Romans 2:16-“On that day when, according to my gospel, God will judge the secrets of men through Jesus Christ.”
• Will Punish Sin: Isaiah 26:21-“For behold, the LORD is about to come out from His place To punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity; And the earth will reveal her bloodshed and will no longer cover her slain.”

Who is Under the Wrath of God?

Those who are ungodly, unrighteous, and suppress the truth in unrighteousness are under the wrath of God. You may be asking, who is unrighteous? Who is ungodly? Who suppresses the truth?

All people are under the wrath and judgment of God!

Let’s look at the adjectives that Scripture uses to describe man.

Unrighteousness: Not right, wicked, evil.The attitudes and actions which fall short of the perfect standard of right as required by the perfectly righteous God.

Ungodliness: Lack of piety toward God. Ungodliness speaks of ones heart attitude. Does not glorify God or enjoy Him.

The unrighteous, the ungodly suppress the truth in unrighteousness. To suppress something is to hold it down, in this case holding down the truth. To suppress the truth is to oppose the truth. In this context it is active and deliberate. How do we know that it is active and deliberate? Look at what Romans 1:19-21 teaches:

“Because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.”

“For even though they knew God they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations and their foolish heart was darkened.” 

God has made Himself known in man and to man through the creation of the world. Even though men know God they do not honor God or give thanks to Him. The truth is being suppressed.

Those of us who have tasted and know the grace of God understand the need of these verses.

I ask you the believer, to pray for those you know who do not know or understand God’s Amazing Grace!