God Is Good, and That’s Scary News for Sinful Man

Whether it is the deaths of individuals, children, people groups, or the entire world, God is justified in demanding the death of sinners. As the Giver of life, He has the right to take it away at any time: “The soul who sins shall die” (Ezek. 18:4). The difference between the godly and ungodly is that the godly (those who have been regenerated by the Holy Spirit) will always justify God; the ungodly will try to justify man.

So let’s demonstrate the truth of the above statement. I am convinced from Scripture and from experience that mankind is intrinsically evil. For evidence, just watch the TV news tonight. He is born with a sinful nature and goes astray from the moment he takes his first step (no parent has to restrain a child from being virtuous, but rather the opposite). Children instinctively know how to be selfish, to lie, to be rebellious, etc. We have to teach them to share, to speak the truth, and to be obedient.

God, however, is perfect. He is without sin. He is absolute purity of holiness. He cannot have an evil thought or make an evil decision. The Bible tells us that all of His judgments are true and righteous altogether (Psa. 19:9).

“God, however, will not condemn you. Your sins will do that, in the same way that it is not the judge who sends the wicked criminal to prison; his crimes send him there.”

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You will now likely attempt to justify man, by saying that he is basically good and that God is the One who is evil. You therefore choose not to worship and serve a God whom you consider to be a tyrant. That is your choice, but know for certain that you will one day meet your “tyrant” Maker, stand before His absolute holiness, and be judged for the sins you have committed. If you refuse the incredible mercy that He offers in Christ, you will be justly damned in hell for eternity.

God, however, will not condemn you. Your sins will do that, in the same way that it is not the judge who sends the wicked criminal to prison; his crimes send him there.

Men love to hear about the lovingkindness of God, but rarely acknowledge His abhorrence (hatred) of evildoers. Although it is only natural to want to hear the pleasant and avoid the offensive, Scripture does not give us that option. Being made to realize our guilt is very uncomfortable, but is necessary for repentance and the ultimate comfort of salvation.

The truth is that while God is love, He is also just and holy. Love and holiness, by their nature, are the opposites of evil. It makes sense then that by His nature, God hates evil. Since evil is what men do, and you cannot separate evil from the doer, we must conclude that God hates all those who do evil. As the following Scriptures bear out, God, in the strongest terms, “is angry with the wicked every day” (Psa. 7:11). God hates the following:

• All workers of iniquity: Psa. 5:5
• The wicked and the violent: Psa. 11:5
• A proud look: Prov. 6:17
• A lying tongue: Prov. 6:17
• Hands that shed innocent blood (abortion?): Prov. 6:17
• Hearts that devise wicked plans: Prov. 6:18
• Feet that run to evil: Prov. 6:18
• A false witness who lies: Prov. 6:19
• Those who sow discord among brethren: Prov. 6:19
• Pride and arrogance: Prov. 8:13
• The evil way: Prov. 8:13
• A perverse mouth: Prov. 8:13
• Those who commit idolatry by worshiping and serving other gods: Jer. 44:3,4
• His own people the Israelites (spoken of as His own sons and daughters) because of their evil deeds: Hos. 9:15
• Those who think evil in their heart: Zech. 8:17
• Those who make false promises: Zech. 8:17
• Divorce: Mal. 2:16
• The deeds and doctrines of the Nicolaitans: Rev. 2:6,15

God abhors those who do these things:

• Sacrifice their children to idols: Lev. 20:2 (also Deut. 12:31)
• Stand by and turn a blind eye to evildoers: Lev. 20:4,5
• Turn to mediums and familiar spirits: Lev. 20:6
• Curse their father or mother: Lev. 20:9
• Commit sexual sins (adultery, incest, homosexuality, bestiality): Lev. 20:10–21

God instructs us to hate the evil and cling to the good:

• The fear of the Lord is to hate evil (Prov. 8:13).
• Hate the evil, and love the good (Amos 5:15).
• Abhor what is evil, cling to what is good (Rom. 12:9).
• God anointed Jesus because He loved righteousness and hated lawlessness (Heb. 1:9).

Order The Evidence Study Bible today.