Does God love or hate unbelievers?

[soul_on_fire]

I'm not sure about all being the children of God. Jesus made an interesting statement when talking to the religious leaders, the Pharisees, 'You are of your father, the devil." I think one must be born again, born of the incorruptible seed that is spoken of by Peter in one his epistles. Then he is born of God.

Still, I don't think God would hate people that don't beleive.
Isn't God's main message to love?

 

[CindyisHis]

Still, I don't think God would hate people that don't beleive.
Isn't God's main message to love?

No, He absolutely does not hate them. It says in Romans that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us. That's love. Think about it, while we were His enemy He loved us and gave Himself for us.

Romans 5:6 For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

 

[Garyzenuf]

No, He absolutely does not hate them. It says in Romans that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us. That's love. Think about it, while we were His enemy He loved us and gave Himself for us.

Romans 5:6 For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Funny you should quote those verses as they were the ones that allowed me a glimpse at a love I could not fathom (beyond understanding), and led directly to my becoming a christian.

What I'm interested in is did Jesus love me before I heard of him, and of course, how have his feelings changed toward me since I've fallen away from the faith?

 

[CindyisHis]

Funny you should quote those verses as they were the ones that allowed me a glimpse at a love I could not fathom (beyond understanding), and led directly to my becoming a christian.

What I'm interested in is did Jesus love me before I heard of him, and of course, how have his feelings changed toward me since I've fallen away from the faith?

On my way out the door, but to quickly answer - yes. Yes, yes, yes! He loved you before you even knew Him, that's exactly what the scripture is saying here. He never changes. We may, but He doesn't. His love remains.

 

[Angel4Truth]

There seem to be contradictions about this in the bible. In the old testament it says things like God hates the wicked and workers of iniquity, but yet in the new testament it says that God loved the new believer even while he was a sinner and an enemy of God. I've also heard some christians say that believers should hate unbelievers. I saw this on the website biblelife.org. It says that loving an evil person is an offense to God and that a true child of God will hate evil people. It also says that Jesus hated the Pharisees. Is this true? As someone who is seeking, this is quite confusing.

God loves us all and provides a way for us all to be reconciled to Him. However all will not do so. Its the same as a parent who loves an adult child who for example lives in their home but the adult child refuses to follow the rules of the home to such an extent that they place themselves and the other people there in danger which ultimately results in the adult child being removed from the home.

This will never stop the parent from loving the child but for the sake of the others and well being of the home - seperation must occur but love doesnt cease even though the behavior of the child is disaproved.

Repentance and a change of mind though can restore relationship much the same way that changing our minds about the desire to do things Gods way vs our own way can restore us to God and ensure our welcome place in the kingdom of heaven along with many brothers and sisters there.

Or we can remain apart refusing to heed the headship of God like the adult child refusing to heed the headship in the home of a parent. No one would argue the parent should allow the adult child to remain when they place themselves and others in danger and disrupt the peace and harmony of the home for everyones sake.

Lastly even then love still exists but well being for self and others must occur and God is a just God.

 

[sh284]

Does anyone know why the man who does this website would say that christians are to hate unbelievers? Since scripture says that everyone is born an enemy of God, wouldn't that mean that the people that are now his spiritual brothers were to hate him before he was born again? I can't post links, but the address is biblelife.org/attributes. Could someone with discernment visit the site to see what this guy's deal is. I don't know what to make of it, but I think that it is making me less interested in becoming a christian.

 

[Angel4Truth]

Does anyone know why the man who does this website would say that christians are to hate unbelievers? Since scripture says that everyone is born an enemy of God, wouldn't that mean that the people that are now his spiritual brothers were to hate him before he was born again? I can't post links, but the address is biblelife.org/attributes. Could someone with discernment visit the site to see what this guy's deal is. I don't know what to make of it, but I think that it is making me less interested in becoming a christian.

1) I find it difficult to believe that the webmaster here said anything like that. Anyone can claim to be anyone on the web - someone in fact recently started using the same username i use here to post at other places but it isnt me also. So i wouldnt put any stock in that unless you knew for a fact it was him.

2) Why would a person cause you less interested to know the truth of God? We are all imperfect - all need a savior so thats like saying " i am going to look at someone else as flawed who needs Gods grace and determine God isnt legit based on them"

Another person cant save you - Jesus Christ can - His life is the only example any of us should be looking at to see the example we are to follow.

 

[cerette]

God both hates and loves the wicked. he is not limited like we people are, our logic would say that one cannot BOTH love and hate, but thing is, God can!

 

[CindyisHis]

God both hates and loves the wicked. he is not limited like we people are, our logic would say that one cannot BOTH love and hate, but thing is, God can!

Interesting thought. That may be, my dear, that may be.

 

[Notedstrangeperson]

I think God does love non-believers, since he looks after everyone regardless of their thoughts. There's a line about the joy over "one sinner repenting", or something . . .

But I do think that it must be very aggravating for him because, despite the fact he loves them, they still don't believe in him. It's probably the same feeling a teacher gets when dealing with a very smart student who prefers to muck about in class.

 

[Reformationist]

I find it wholly disheartening to read so many people contend that God's plan for anyone or anything is ever, at any point, frustrated. The Bible repeatedly assures us that the counsel of will stand and none can stay His hand. Likewise, we are explicitly told that nothing, not even the falling of a sparrow, happens apart from the will of God. While I acknowledge that the Bible speaks of God in an anthropomorphic sense, i.e., that He is grieved by the wickedness of His creation, His plan is never frustrated by man's actions, either for or against His sovereign plan.

The problem with this topic, insofar as there exists a problem, is that we find ourselves at a mental and moral crossroads, having to come to grips with the idea that God, the blessed source of our salvation, does not harbor these same intentions towards those who go to hell. To that I can, and will, only say, trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.

What most of us will likely agree on is that some, however many, will surely go to hell. The question before us isn't an inquiry into who is responsible. God is never at fault for man's choice to reject Him, though even man's rejection does not fall outside the bounderies of God's sovereign government. God does not move the hand and heart of man to reject Him. On the contrary, rejecting God is man's natural disposition towards God, wrought from his inherently fallen nature.

Where our focus should be is on the grace of God, recognizing that the difference in our life, the difference that leads to our eternal felicity, is God's providential hand in bringing us into His family. Not against our will but, rather, in spite of our will. He works in our hearts in such a way that we come most willingly. True thanks for our salvation can only come when we recognize that we, like all who continue to reject God unto their damnation, would likewise stand in opposition to Him were it not for His gracious and invincible power in reforming our hearts, changing us from fallen, rebellious sinners to children in the hands of a holy God, having been given hearts that now desire to embrace Him in faith by virtue of His inscrutable plan without any perception or provocation on our part. We are the recipients of His regenerative work, not participants in our conversion.

God bless

 

[SimonDeSimone]

I like this explanation, which says in a nutshell NO He Doesn't

Does God hate non-believers?
A human beings’ conception of God is nothing more than a magnified version of their own personality.

This is true even for the Illuminati.

One’s conception of God is always the highest thing one can imagine, so one who has not realized that hate and love are but two opposites of the same pole believe that God has specific things that He loves and specific things that He hates.

The Illuminati have realized that love and hate are two opposites of the same pole, so they realize that to impart either emotion onto God is foolish because even an advanced human being can be beyond such a dualism.

There are deficiencies that one who does not acknowledge the power of faith will experience. This is not a form of punishment from higher entities, but a direct result of the law of cause and effect due to the neglect of understanding how to fully utilize the power of one’s mind.
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[Jesus' Follower]

He loves us all equally despite our sins; after all we are all created in His image.

 

[faroukfarouk]

He loves us all equally despite our sins; after all we are all created in His image.

The message of John 3.16 is the supreme demonstration of God's love so that those who believe need not face His wrath for sin.