Hating the Sin and Loving the Sinner
And on some have mercy, who are in doubt; 23 and some save, snatching them out of the fire; and on some have mercy with fear; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh. (Jude 1:22-23)
Mercy and salvation, hate and fear are all in the same sentence. Clearly these are very conflicting emotions. We must hate and fear sin while feeling mercy and a desire for the salvation of the sinner. This is the daunting task we face each time we are seeking to save the lost. At all cost we must avoid the “evil companionship” that corrupts “good morals.” But just as important, we must also avoid the contempt of the Pharisees toward sinners. “I thank You that I am not like other men–extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector” (1Cor. 15:33; Lk. 18:11).
The way Jesus handled sin and sinners is the way that we should. Never did he engage in or allow the wickedness of men to affect his own faithful service to God. Yet at the same time, he never allowed even the most disgusting and blatant sin to affect his love and mercy. Harlots and publicans, those in adultery and those who denied him all found a caring and merciful Savior.
Although his enemies meant it as slander, Jesus was in fact “a friend of publicans and sinners.” Not in the sense they meant it, but in a much higher sense. When they revealed their disgust that he would actually eat with publicans and sinners, he reminded them “they that are in health have no need of a physician; but they that are sick.” It is obvious a doctor would spend more time with the sick than with the healthy. Even if it were a deadly and contagious disease, it would be the highest compliment to his dedication and love for others if he spent much of his time with them. Clearly he would not be doing so to catch the disease, but to help those ravaged by it. This is exactly what Jesus did. “I am not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance” (Mt. 9:10-11; Lk. 5:29-37 Mk. 2:15-17).
Yet there was a line Jesus would not cross. As long as they would hear the truth and be influenced by him, he was their friend and their physician. But if they hated the light and wanted to remain in darkness, he would not remain with them, but move on to others who wanted his help.
This was the same limitation Jude described. Although we must have mercy on the sinner and seek their salvation, we must also hate even the outer garments of the sinful lusts that created the sin itself. We must so intensely hate sin that there is no possibility we will partake in it. There is always a grave danger in associating with sinners. They can exert a subtle influence that could destroy everything.
“Vice is a monster of so frightful mien,
As to be hated needs but to be seen;
Yet seen too oft, familiar with her face,
we first endure, then pity, then embrace”
Sin always looks hideous, vile, and frightful when we catch our first glimpse of it. It is disgusting and nauseating. But slowly, over time, we can be desensitized to its corrupt evil. God set the standard when he made it clear that anything he identified as sin must always have a frightful appearance. The first sign of trouble occurs when we know “the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death,” yet “approve of those who practice them” (Rom. 1:32). One of the insidious ways this occurs is in television viewing. There is no chance of saving or influencing the sinner, but every chance we will be desensitized and approve of the sinful behavior being practiced. Who can deny that TV has not desensitized many to the evils of revenge, gambling, drinking, sexual immorality (fornication, adultery, homosexuality), and dishonesty?
We must always stay alert for this danger. We “do not love the world or the things in the world” (1Jn. 2:15), and must “have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness” (Eph. 5:11). Our stand against sin and our desire not to be coarsened or corrupted by it keeps us vigilant. We hate sin and all that sin creates. From the lust and enticement to the sin that brings death, we remain disgusted and at war. We “know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God” (Jas. 4:4). So as Lot “oppressed by the filthy conduct of the wicked” (2Pet. 2:7-8).
But our disgust of the sin must never cross the line to disgust of the sinner. Now matter what the sin, “Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted.” (Gal. 6:1).
We must love any brother or sister who is caught up in any trespass. While we attempt to restore them in a spirit of gentleness and while it appears they are being helped, we are loving, patient and kind “a friend of sinners.” But when we realize they will not be restored, everything changes and we must “withdraw from every brother who walks disorderly” (2Th. 3:6). This is all part of “considering yourself lest you also be tempted.” Sin is like acid. It is corrosive and even casual contact can lead to harm. Some sins pose less risk to us than others, but those that tempt us are the most dangerous. When it is one of our “youthful lusts” that we go to a brother or sinner to restore, we must always be on our guard. We must not treat them more harshly and yet, we must not be so compassionate we do not demand repentance.
If we become casual in our view of sin we become God’s enemy. If we become disgusted and set at naught the sinner, then we also stand in the way of God who wants “all men to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth.” So we hate the sin and love the sinner.
Mercy and salvation, hate and fear are all in the same sentence. Clearly these are very conflicting emotions. We must hate and fear sin while feeling mercy and a desire for the salvation of the sinner. This is the daunting task we face each time we are seeking to save the lost. At all cost we must avoid the “evil companionship” that corrupts “good morals.” But just as important, we must also avoid the contempt of the Pharisees toward sinners. “I thank You that I am not like other men–extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector” (1Cor. 15:33; Lk. 18:11).
The way Jesus handled sin and sinners is the way that we should. Never did he engage in or allow the wickedness of men to affect his own faithful service to God. Yet at the same time, he never allowed even the most disgusting and blatant sin to affect his love and mercy. Harlots and publicans, those in adultery and those who denied him all found a caring and merciful Savior.
Although his enemies meant it as slander, Jesus was in fact “a friend of publicans and sinners.” Not in the sense they meant it, but in a much higher sense. When they revealed their disgust that he would actually eat with publicans and sinners, he reminded them “they that are in health have no need of a physician; but they that are sick.” It is obvious a doctor would spend more time with the sick than with the healthy. Even if it were a deadly and contagious disease, it would be the highest compliment to his dedication and love for others if he spent much of his time with them. Clearly he would not be doing so to catch the disease, but to help those ravaged by it. This is exactly what Jesus did. “I am not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance” (Mt. 9:10-11; Lk. 5:29-37 Mk. 2:15-17).
Yet there was a line Jesus would not cross. As long as they would hear the truth and be influenced by him, he was their friend and their physician. But if they hated the light and wanted to remain in darkness, he would not remain with them, but move on to others who wanted his help.
This was the same limitation Jude described. Although we must have mercy on the sinner and seek their salvation, we must also hate even the outer garments of the sinful lusts that created the sin itself. We must so intensely hate sin that there is no possibility we will partake in it. There is always a grave danger in associating with sinners. They can exert a subtle influence that could destroy everything.
“Vice is a monster of so frightful mien,
As to be hated needs but to be seen;
Yet seen too oft, familiar with her face,
we first endure, then pity, then embrace”
Sin always looks hideous, vile, and frightful when we catch our first glimpse of it. It is disgusting and nauseating. But slowly, over time, we can be desensitized to its corrupt evil. God set the standard when he made it clear that anything he identified as sin must always have a frightful appearance. The first sign of trouble occurs when we know “the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death,” yet “approve of those who practice them” (Rom. 1:32). One of the insidious ways this occurs is in television viewing. There is no chance of saving or influencing the sinner, but every chance we will be desensitized and approve of the sinful behavior being practiced. Who can deny that TV has not desensitized many to the evils of revenge, gambling, drinking, sexual immorality (fornication, adultery, homosexuality), and dishonesty?
We must always stay alert for this danger. We “do not love the world or the things in the world” (1Jn. 2:15), and must “have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness” (Eph. 5:11). Our stand against sin and our desire not to be coarsened or corrupted by it keeps us vigilant. We hate sin and all that sin creates. From the lust and enticement to the sin that brings death, we remain disgusted and at war. We “know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God” (Jas. 4:4). So as Lot “oppressed by the filthy conduct of the wicked” (2Pet. 2:7-8).
But our disgust of the sin must never cross the line to disgust of the sinner. Now matter what the sin, “Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted.” (Gal. 6:1).
We must love any brother or sister who is caught up in any trespass. While we attempt to restore them in a spirit of gentleness and while it appears they are being helped, we are loving, patient and kind “a friend of sinners.” But when we realize they will not be restored, everything changes and we must “withdraw from every brother who walks disorderly” (2Th. 3:6). This is all part of “considering yourself lest you also be tempted.” Sin is like acid. It is corrosive and even casual contact can lead to harm. Some sins pose less risk to us than others, but those that tempt us are the most dangerous. When it is one of our “youthful lusts” that we go to a brother or sinner to restore, we must always be on our guard. We must not treat them more harshly and yet, we must not be so compassionate we do not demand repentance.
If we become casual in our view of sin we become God’s enemy. If we become disgusted and set at naught the sinner, then we also stand in the way of God who wants “all men to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth.” So we hate the sin and love the sinner.