DOES GOD REALLY LOVE SINNERS?

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“God loves the sinner but hates the sin” is a popular cliché among Christians. Still, for some groups, this phrase is notorious because they claim it’s not biblically correct. Honestly, this statement doesn’t capture the whole truth about the love of God—but that’s not enough reason to say that it is immediately wrong. So yes, there’s nothing wrong (or evil) in saying that “God loves the sinner but hates the sin.” It’s obvious enough that God hates sin; the real question we need to answer is whether He also hates the sinner.

It’s also not wrong to say that God hates sinners, because the Bible itself reveals this truth (Lev. 20:23; Ps. 5:4–5; 7:11; 11:5; Hos. 9:15, etc.). But to claim that this is the entire truth is incorrect. For while the Bible declares that God hates sinners, it also reveals His love for them. We all know that “God so loved the world” (Jn 3:16), which includes sinners. Jesus also said that God “makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust” (Matt. 5:45). If God’s only attitude toward sinners were hate, then how could we ever explain the fact that Christ died for us? “But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom. 5:8). The truth is, God does not want sinners to die without repentance (Ezek. 33:11), for He is “not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance” (2 Pet. 3:9). If that’s not the love of God, then what is? See? We can’t just pick the verses we like and ignore the rest.

Interestingly, those who say that “God loves the sinner but hates the sin” is wrong also admit that God still shows love to everyone. They call it “benevolent love” or “universal love.” I call it enough proof to affirm that God still loves sinners.

Because this quotation is short, we shouldn’t expect it to capture the entire meaning of the Gospel or the whole doctrine of salvation! While there’s nothing wrong with the statement, here are truths we must always remember on this subject: Though God loves sinners, this doesn’t mean He can tolerate sin. He loves them despite their sin, but judgment still awaits those who reject His offer of forgiveness (Rom. 1:18; 2:5; Jn. 3:36, etc.). Though God loves sinners, this doesn’t mean believers and sinners are loved in the same way. Believers have a special relationship with God (Jn. 1:12), which means He treats them differently compared to those who remain in sin. That’s why no one can rightly say, “Why should I become a believer if God already loves sinners?”

The Gospel is incomplete without the truth that God loves sinners: “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost” (Lk. 19:10). And as believers (who were once forgiven sinners), this is something we should never forget. Only then can we truly appreciate what Paul said: “Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst” (1 Tim. 1:15). Stay Curious. 

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