How many of you have learned to hate sin? Many churches are taught to embrace sin. Calling yourself a sinner saved by grace is embracing sin, but don’t know that sin is evil. Sin separates you from God. Adam and Eve learned the hard way. “But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner––not even to eat with such a person. For what have I to do with judging those also who are outside? Do you not judge those who are inside? But those who are outside God judges. Therefore “put away from yourselves the evil person.” God hates evil. “The LORD fears to hate evil; Pride and arrogance and the evil way And the perverse mouth I hate.” “Seek good and not evil, That you may live; So the LORD God of hosts will be with you, As you have spoken. Hate evil, love good; Establish justice in the gate. It may be that the LORD God of hosts Will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph.”
There are many unbelieving believers in the church. There is one thing that they just can’t seem to come to grips with. They can’t see themselves separate from sin. Paul teaches us not to learn from those who are sinners. This includes those who call themselves sinners saved by grace. “Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will dwell in them And walk among them. I will be their God, And they shall be My people.” Sin is lawlessness. “Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness.” Those who are sinners are still walking in darkness. “If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.” “But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them. For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus’ sake.” There were two who did fear the Lord and still sinned. They were Ananias and Sapphira. They thought to hold back some money from a piece of property that they sold. Because this is a sin, they both died and great fear came upon the church. How many fear the Lord? “Now it was about three hours later when his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. And Peter answered her, “Tell me whether you sold the land for so much?” She said, “Yes, for so much.” Then Peter said to her, “How is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.” Then immediately she fell down at his feet and breathed her last. And the young men came in and found her dead, and carrying her out, buried her by her husband. So great fear came upon all the church and upon all who heard these things.” If only the church today understood that Jesus delighted in the fear of the Lord. “There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse, And a Branch shall grow out of his roots. The Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon Him, The Spirit of wisdom and understanding, The Spirit of counsel and might, The Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD. His delight is in the fear of the LORD, And He shall not judge by the sight of His eyes, Nor decide by the hearing of His ears.”
I pray that the eyes of your understanding be enlightened to hate evil. Be blessed, my friends.