"Love God, Hate Sin"

When I first became a believer over 25 years ago, there was a popular Christian rock song called "Love God/Hate Sin". It was a simple gospel message contained in a verse that was easy to remember.

Love God/Hate Sin.

I am reminded that according to even the laws of base human nature, we will tend to avoid the things we hate (broccoli, hard work, CSPAN, "sin"), in favor of the things we love (Cheeseburgers, baseball games, sitcoms, Jesus).

Sin versus Jesus. Which one do you love? Which one do you hate? Keeping in mind that I am speaking of the born-again believer in Jesus Christ, not the unrepentant rank sinner.

1 John 3:9 (AMP) - "No one born (begotten) of God [deliberately, knowingly, and habitually] practices sin, for God's nature abides in him [His principle of life, the divine sperm, remains permanently within him]; and he cannot practice sinning because he is born (begotten) of God."

See? "No one" born of God practices or deliberately sins. Why? Because the believer hates sin and loves God. We will do what we love, not what we hate. Not only is this normal for natural man to do (as far as doing what they love), but far more normal for the supernaturally Holy Spirit endowed believer.

Before knowing God we loved to sin. Everything we did was contrary to God's nature. Sinners do what sinners do, and that is to sin. Righteous people do what they do, which are acts of rigteousness.

Don't forget, we do righteous things because we have been made righteous by the blood of Christ. We don't become righteous by doing righteous acts.

An unregerated sinner has no capacity to be righteous therefore they cannot do anything but offend God.

This is why John wrote what he did in the above verse. Seems pretty cut and dry to me. Think so?

You'd be surprised how many so-called believers will argue for their right to keep sinning in complete opposition to that verse.

Some folks want to keep one foot in their old life and enjoy the dark side, while professing to be righteous and enjoying the benefit of Jesus.

You can't be a Christian and continue your sinning ways any more than a thief can be called an honest man.

If you run with skunks you will continue to smell like a skunk.

If your desire is Jesus, that is where your heart and soul will be (Matt. 6:21).

So where is your heart and soul today? Is it in and upon Jesus? Is He your everything today?

Or have you left the door to the dark side open a bit? Do you step through it on occasion?

I hope you come to the realization that the double life is incompatible with Jesus, and it is living a life of lies.

If you are a true believer today than you will do what you love to do, and that is honor Jesus with your life. You will hate sin so fervently that you will avoid it at all costs. You will never defend it, but instead you will wage war against it and warn others about it.

John says we have a new nature, and we will act accordingly.

1 John 3:10 (AMP) - "By this it is made clear who take their nature from God and are His children and who take their nature from the devil and are his children."

My Father, who is in heaven, holy and revered are You in my life. Your Kingdom has come into my life and is present now on earth. Your will is being accomplished in my life as a matter of me choosing You over sinful darkness. Everything I have or ever will is because of You. I have been delivered from the kingdom of darkness and have been translated into the Kingdom of Your Son Jesus Christ.

Be it. Live it. Be who you are, not what you were.

Keepin' it Real,

Pastor Kevin <><