1) The conscience is awakened, but minds are not changed, therefore when guilt passes, backsliders cease to be religious. Like the dog returning to their vomit: Eager for heaven because they fear the torments of hell; when the sense of hell cools, so does the desire for heaven.

2) Some people are slaves to fears that overpower them, and the fear of men brings a snare: Thinking to the self, they say, “It is good to be wise, but not run the risk of losing all, or bringing on unnecessary trouble,” so they fall in with the world again.

3) For others there is a stigma that surrounds religion so it is a stumbling block: These people think they are high and mighty, better than churchmen, religion is considered low and common, so they return to their former, worldly ways.

4) Yet another group of individuals does not like to think of guilt and fear, or the possibility of future misery: Once rid of their awakening about the fear and wrath of God, they gladly harden their hearts and choose ways to harden them more and more.

~~Paraphrased from Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress

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“Before I was humbled, I was like a stone lying

 

in deep mud, but He that is mighty came and,

 

in His mercy, raised me aloft.”

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“Preaching should break a hard heart and heal a broken one.”

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When conversations turn to the topic of non-Christians, this phrase often rolls off the tongues of Christians: hate the sin, love the sinner. Where did this phrase originate? It is certainly not a quote from the bible.

 

Psalm 5:5 , “The boastful shall not stand before Your eyes;

You hate all who do iniquity.”

 

 

 

Psalm 139:22, “I hate them with a perfect hate.”

 

 

 

Luke 6:45, are the words of our Lord, “The good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth what is good; and the evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth what is evil; for his mouth speaks from that which fills his heart.”

 

 

 

We sin because we are sinners. It is our fallen nature. Sins cannot exist without the sinner. God hates killing, lying, stealing, sinning, and the list goes on, but all these things point to the sinner. Lying cannot exist without the one who is lying.

 

 

 

God does not have a pleasure or affection for the rebellious. The sinner hates God, is ungrateful, disobeys God, and would kill God if he could. Sinners are slaves to sin, John 8:34; also servants of the devil, Ephesians 2:2.

 

 

 

But, God is good! Even to the sinner with His benevolent common grace! He sustains the lives of both Christians and non-Christians. He is benevolent in His love for the sinful, giving us time alive on earth, to experience his benevolence; also giving us time to repent.

 

 

 

Romans 2:4, “Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness

and forbearance and patience, not knowing that the

kindness of God leads you to repentance?”

 

 

If a person dies unrepentant, God removes this benevolent love, and pours out the full wrath of his perfect hate.

 

 

 

What should a Christian’s reaction be to the unsaved? We are told to love and pray for our enemies.

 

 

 

Matthew 5:44-45, “But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.”

 

 

 

Hat tip: Mahatma Ghandi for the quote.

 

 

 

 

If you are not a Christian reading this, today is the day for salvation! Repent from your disobedience, and believe that Jesus Christ, fully man and fully God, lived a perfect life, died on the cross for your sins, rose again on the third day, and is now seated at the right hand of the Father. Ask God to help you believe, cry out in repentance to Him.

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written by Julie

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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