Wednesday, May 11, 2005

Why Does God Hate Sin?


The Cup of Sin

How is it that people have such a perverse understanding of the nature of God? Do we think He is some kind of dummy? This shows us how little we know about Him and His nature. The religious world has painted a picture of God as this big mean angry old man stomping around heaven with a big stick telling us not to have a good time; ready to strike you if you are doing something wrong. People have this image of God being all pissed off all the time. This is not the case at all. At least not yet, that day will come at Judgment. First let me remind you of my post about why God made man. He made mankind for love. Our self centered little lives can’t comprehend the degree in which God loves us. Eph: 3: 17: “That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, 18: May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;
19: And to know the love of Christ, which passes knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God.” Why am I talking about the love of God in relation to sin? I was kind of hoping a light bulb would go on in your head. Did it?
It is because of His Love that God hates sin. Sin hurts the object of His love, therefore He HATES it. Sin doesn’t hurt God anymore. It hurt Him on the Cross, but now it hurts us and keeps us from Him because it destroys faith, and our lives.
I wonder how many parents out there when disciplining their children don’t explain the reason for the discipline. The child asks “Why?” and the reply comes back “Because!!!” When we understand the reason for the correction, it becomes much more effective. It helps us to see the wisdom in following the will of our parents or Gods word.
Some sin only affects us, but in most cases it affects others as well; usually many others. Some is willful, some is from habit, some is from deception and some is because we don’t understand or know any better. We sin because it is our nature, Rom: 7: 21: I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. 22: For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: 23: But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. 24: O wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from the body of this death? In Romans: 6:23: it tells us “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” The Bible banger types use that scripture as a threat, but it was just meant as instruction, declaring what happens as a result of sin. It works death in your members.
Man in himself is incapable of pleasing God, so no matter how hard we try, we can not. That issue was paid at the cross. God is able to embrace us because we have been washed by the blood of Jesus. So the issue of sin as an obstacle to come before God is no longer the case. The reason to flee from sin now is not because it hurts God but because it hurts us the object of His Love. Most sin comes from pride at the root, and pride is the result of separation form God. Ultimately we are all insecure, so we try to escape from that insecurity through many different paths. We were told by the Devil in the Garden that we are “Gods” but for some strange reason the rest of creation hasn’t noticed that you are really all that wonderful; so you set about to prove it. People do this by many different means. They try to impress you with their talent or their wealth and show off how ever they think they can impress. Sometimes we even resort to embellishing how wonderful we are with lies. Why do we do this? What we really want is to be loved. When we try to impress, and exult ourselves, all we do is create resentment and/or stir in others the same deception; a competition to be better than you or a struggle to keep up. That won’t get you love, but it will get you resented. I have wonderful news. If you want to be loved, give Love. You will reap what you sow. Francis of Assisi prayed; Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; and where there is sadness, joy. O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen
You don’t have to be rich and famous to give love. Others will lap it up like a sponge.
You can spend your life striving to be rich or famous, but without love, you are nothing 1Cor:13.
I believe God would have us know why sin is wrong and bad for us. For example: Sex is inferred to be so sinful, but why? We tell our young people to abstain from sex but hardly ever give them any real reasons why. I have preached that; many times the good can be the enemy of the best. God gave us sex as a type of the ecstasy we can experience with God. We are the bride of Christ. It is an expression of love and oneness. The marriage is a picture of the Bride and Bridegroom, the relation between God and man. Just as we are to have no other God and be loyal to God we are to be loyal to one another in marriage. This helps us to understand the fullness of what God has given; but sex can be destructive in many ways. It can become as a lust that will consume you, never able to get enough, which then becomes all about self gratification. If you feed a fire it becomes bigger, it does not satisfy the fire, the more you feed it the bigger it gets. It can break the heart of another, not to mention that a child my result. Then of course there are STDs to be concerned with. I bring this up because sexual sins seem to be the one of main focus of the Religious Right. It is something they can convict most of, yet it is the one that the Lord seemed to have the most mercy for. I could go on and on about the various traps that can be associated with sex, love and self gratification. My main point is to have a look at yourself and see if your life is on a self destructive path, or if it is exploiting another, because therein lays the evils of sex, what it can do to you and others.
John boiled sin down into three categories. 1Jn:2:16: “For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, (sex and gluttony) and the lust of the eyes (covetousness), and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.” It is important to truly believe in Gods forgiveness. Otherwise when we try to pray we feel guilt. Then you begin to believe a lie and fall away. God wants to save us and bring us into the fullness of what he has for us. If our heart is to please God we come boldly before the throne of grace Heb: 4:16 and our attention will go from our wretchedness to His wondrous splendor. He is like a refiner’s fire and it is in his presence that we will be conformed into his image.
So far in this post I have been discussing the kind of sin that the humble heart realizes he is guilty of as he tries to draw near to God. In a scene it is a good thing to feel your unworthiness and that you question your own heart; but it is of utmost importance that we trust in Gods forgiveness. I believe we understand more of Gods forgiveness as we forgive others. In fact God forgives us in the same proportion as we forgive others. Remember what Jesus says in the Lords Prayer? “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those that trespass against us.” Thus Forgiving builds our faith to truly receive and trust in the forgiveness of God. 1Pt:5:6: “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:”
I would have to say that the worst kind of Sin is that which most are blind to; The Pride of Life. It is pride that is the most destructive to the world. It is the haughtiness of the Religious Right that turns them into Pharisees; looking to take the speck out of everyone else’s eyes, while ignoring the log in there own. Trying to convict others of sin and lay heavy burdens on them, to keep people oppressed with guilt. They strain at a gnat and swallow a camel. What was really the true sin of Sodom? Ezekiel tells us. Ezek: 16:49: “Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, PRIDE, fullness of bread, and abundance of idleness (wealth) was in her and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy. 50: And they were haughty, and committed abomination before me: therefore I took them away as I saw good.” (For you Rapture people out there, again it was the wicked that were taken). I believe this is a sin against the Holy Ghost. It is unforgivable because it is unrepentant. It is unrepentant because they are blind to it; they are blind to it because they know not the Father nor the Son, regardless of what their doctrine may be.
When Jesus was in the Garden and prayed that “this cup” be removed and He sweat blood, it was not that he was afraid of the suffering and the death on the cross. What do you suppose was so repulsive to him? It was what was in the cup, and what would happen when he took it. It was the Sin and Iniquity of all mankind. This Holy Body that had never known sin was now to become sin for us. When he took the cup of sin it separated him from the Father; A separation that had never occurred before. Now we can begin to understand why he was repulsed to have to take this cup; “but not as I will but as Thou willeth”. This is why when he was dying on the cross he cried “Father why hast thou forsaken me?” Not that God had forsaken Him, but it appeared to Jesus that He had; because He was now like us, blinded by sin. Oh what Great LOVE He has for us to have laid down His life and experience separation from the Glorious Light of the Father.

23 comments:

Anonymous said...

Please keep posting; it is such a source of hope for me. There is nobody I know that feels this way and I truly believe that Jesus sent me here to show me that I am not alone; that others see it also. I am just amazed that there are so few. May God Continue to Bless You. And I thank you.

saint said...

Excellent post PeterZ, you have a true gifting for insight and prophecy (from the aspect of declaring the truth rather than the foretelling aspect) and you cut right to it. This teaching in particular is something that I have been encountering in many different ways lately and I believe God really is trying to get the point across to people that his forgiveness and love truly does transcend anything we can understand. The time for guilt is over - we should accept the state of our humanity and start striving to be constantly broken and re-made in God's image!

PursuingTruth said...

Thank You both

Anonymous said...

Peter:
It is hard for me to relate to God because it doesn't seem to me that he cares about me. I know that he is just and perfect, and that in him is no darkness at all. Therefore whatever he does or does not do is for good reason. So I acknowledge that and I know it would be wrong to accuse God of wrong. Yet, I often can't understand why God refuses to answer my prayer for help that I need, which is related to a physical disability, while most people who disregard or even despise God are often abundantly blessed in this regard anyway, and even then often seem not to care. I know God has the power to heal any disablility. Or, outside of that, he can help people with the needs created by their disabilites. "With food and raiment be content." OK, but what about our other human needs or wants? What about needs for meaning, and connection and interaction and companionship? It seems that God really wants me to be unhappy. (This has been a long term situation of many years) Although I try to thank God for his many other blessing to me, and do often actually feel thankful, still my life is difficult and unhappy, and I can't get over the feeling of disregard. God must be able to help me if he wanted to. It is hard for me to understand the promises of prayer being answered when mine isn't. I sincerely wish I could tell other people about God's love, and faithfulness to answer prayer. It hurts me in my heart every time I read or think of the scripture about a son asking for a loaf of bread so he can entertain guests, and how even evil fathers will answer the legitimate requests of their child. "Therefore, how much more will God give good things to you if you ask him". Since God is not morally deficient in any way, to say the least, yet chooses to disregard my need and my pleas, I must conclude he does not love me. I suppose God loves some and does not love others. Now I know he is no respecter of persons, so therefore he must have a good reason for it, meaning he is not in the wrong, but for some reason is completely unconcerned about my need, in fact he even seems determined to make it so.
I can understand short and medium term trials of faith where God does not immediately respond with help to our needs. But as months become years and years become a decade, I have to question the veracity of that scripture passage, or else there must be some reason why it does not apply to me. Why would God give someone human needs and then not respond to pleas for help, if he loves them? Apparantly God does not like something about me, or wants me to be unhappy for some reason. So far I cannot perceive how my anquish accomplishes any good. In stead, it has gradually diminished my former confidence in God. How I wish I could encourage others that God will help them with thier troubles if they pray in faith. But that just hasn't happened for me. I asked for a loaf of bread, and after many years there is still no response.

Peter, if you choose to answer, please feel free to be frank or straight forward. Don't worry about hurting my feelings. I would prefer an honest answer.

PursuingTruth said...

My dear Anonymous. It is very difficult for me to answer you since I have no idea what it is that is wrong. I can only say that God cares a great deal about you. I don't claim to have an answer as to why you have not had the answer to your prayer that you desire, but It may be that God has a purpose for you in this trouble. God has never promised to deliver us from tribulation, but he has promised to deliver us through it. I wouldn't assume to know the suffering you may be experiencing, but I know that it has already made your spirit humble and full. You may be blessed in more ways than you know. Let me encourage you in the faith that the spirit of God and his love may flow through you. Trust in the scripture that says in 1Cor:10:13: "There hath no testing taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tested above that ye are able; but will with the testing also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it." I would also say that I believe we are living in a day where we will see the power of God more manifest in the earth than ever before. In the early Church they walked in a measure of Gods power, if just Peter's shadow fell on someone they were healed. The Scripture tells us that the glory of the latter house ( the end time church, true believers) will be greater than that of the former. So may I encourage you to cling to that faith and hope in the healing power of God, In the mean time try to take your attention away from your infirmity, are redirect your self towards the needs of others. You will find it will give your life purpose and strength, and happiness. For it is in giving that you receive. I know you might be thinking,"easy for me to say" but it is Truth, and we all have a cross to bear. God does love you, and he did direct you here, and hopefully you have received some food for your spirit.Lk:22:32: "But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, STRENGTHEN thy brethren." Eph:3:16: "That He would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be STRENGTHENED with might by his Spirit in the inner man;" 1Pt:5:8: "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:9: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.10: But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, AFTER THAT YE HAVE SUFFERED A WHILE, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you."

Anonymous said...

PeterZ,
My name is Susanne and I know in my heart, by the grace and knowledge of God, that you and Stephen have to be correct. As chilling as it may seem, I do not get scared because it reassures me that God is still in control; and even GW Bush said, "God is the author of this war." Indeed, He is. My question, (I'll try to be brief). Remember when Stephen was grasping at a long shot about the economy coming back in a strong way and then everyone would follow and marvel after Bush; that this may be "the fatal head wound" that the Bible talks about? Anyway, do you think there could be any possibility of the stock market being the mark of the beast somehow? With Bush insisting about privatizing Social Security, and EVERYONE would have to invest in the stock market (my understanding of the sketchy details is you don't even have a choice to hide your contribution under your bed, you HAVE to invest it in one of the prosposed accounts. Just a thought that is nagging my brain. Maybe the verichip is not the mark of the beast, maybe, maybe, its the stock market. I hope you read this soon. I so enjoy your site, I hope they can never shut you down, and I'm looking forward to Stephen coming back. I'm also very glad that you allow anonymous comments, as I am not a blogger, but I wish to be involved. Looking forward to your response. May God Continue to Bless You. Thank you.

PursuingTruth said...

Thank you I am glad you are blessed by what you are reading on these Blogs.
You asked about the Fatal wound to the head. I would just have to say that I have no real strong revelation about exactly what that is. I have several speculations. One of which is the Head may have been George Bush Sr he is the little head because he is a front man for the Saudi Royal family. They intended to keep him in power and he lost to Bill Clinton. Kinda like a mortal wound to the head of this Neo Con Antichrist movement. ( Vast Right Wing conspiracy, as Hillary Clinton put it.) Then that dragon did all he could to destroy Bill Clinton. Then he comes back to life in the person of his son, GW. The world marveled that this man who cam from no where with no qualifications became the president.While Clinton was President a spirit spoke to me through a person, and told me that George Bush was behind some bad events that where happening. I said no that can't be, Bush is not in power so he could not be behind these things. ( GW was not yet even Governor) The spirit then said; You watch , He'll come back and the stock market will crash and we will go to war. I laughed. Now I know that it was a spirit that told me those things. So It is possible that GW is the same spirit, in the same way that Jesus said that John the Baptist was Elijah. He was of the spirit of Elijah. I have other possible ideas as well. but let me just say that I believe that as we seek , we will know the answer to those things that are needful. and that truth will be revealed. As far as the Mark of the beast in the hand and forehead I made it clear in my post on the "Mark of the Beast" that it speaks of who you serve with your mind/soul (Forehead) and physically (hand)
No I do not believe there will be a literal 666 mark or any implant. Satan is more subtle. This whole system is Antichrist. Satan is the God of this age.

Anonymous said...

Good Morning PeterZ,
Susanne again. Thanks for your prompt response. I think you are right on "the mark"! It will be more subtle than an implant. Interesting about how Clinton and Bush Sr. are such good "buddies" now; they say they always have been. Funny, I thought they were political foes. I am not a star wars fan, but I heard how people are comparing the evil empire in the movie to America.

I agree that truth shall be revealed as needed; I'm just feeling impatient because I so desire for Jesus to come back. Some days I feel like we are so evil, with so many parents killing their children, and EVERYTHING else, I wonder how much longer He can stand us. I know how patient He is, and that there are many more things that have to come to pass, but I pray that He would speed things up.

I first thought GW was the antichrist when I heard him say that he was "God ordained to take us to Armageddon". Nobody else that I talk to, when I'm feeling comfortable to speak of it, seems to take much note. That is so discouraging, but it makes me extra thankful for these sites. If I'm crazy, then so are you!! Do you think hearts and minds have been hardened already and they will never be able to see it? I work in a church (and regularly attend services at my church)and I am amazed at the support for GW. It's like he can do no wrong when he has done nothing right. My pastor even had Bush signs all over his yard at election time. I cannot get past this; and I think about changing churches because of this. Would you?
Feeling like an island in Illinois-
Susanne

PursuingTruth said...

Susanne, We long to have the Lord return, but it is going to be a rough time before that. What kind of Church do you belong to? I would remind you that the true church is the body of true believers. Can I ask that you do your posting on the most recent blog post? more people will see it that way and it is more likely I will find it.

Anonymous said...

PeterZ,
It's Susanne again. I belong to a Lutheran church. I was raised Lutheran and it seems to be as close to my heart as anything I can find. I have ventured around to a few others (Methodist, Catholic, etc.) and seemed most content at a Lutheran church, until the election signs....

How do you find a church of true believers? Really want to know.
Thanks, Susanne

Anonymous said...

Also, did you see that Cheney might run for prez in '08?

PeterZ, do you think that people's minds and hearts have been hardened already?

Susanne

PursuingTruth said...

The Body of true believers are scatered among a lot of churches at this point.

Anonymous said...

PeterZ,

Couldn't we all gather together somewhere?

I know there have to be more people feeling like I do.

Susanne

PursuingTruth said...

I think perhaps some have hardened their hearts, and some have not, It is not my place to determine that, but to instruct those in the way of truth. I would say that you should be seeking out like minded people and instruct the hungry hearts. I think a get together at this point may be difficult, but it would be wonderful.

Bushcheney08 said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Anonymous said...

PeterZ,
I see the way you are attacked on the other site and I just want to say that I hope it never discourages you from speaking the truth. I know it is not for you and I to discern if hearts have been hardened, but I think this explains why so many people cannot see it; they just cannot. Jesus said he would withdraw his spirit at the time of the end.

Stay strong in God's name,
Susanne

Living Positive said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Living Positive said...

Hey, Susanne.....

I hope I can put one of your fears to rest:

From what I have seen of Peterz, there is no one on this earth that could keep him from saying the truth.

Keep up the great work Peterz.

Anonymous said...

peterz-I have been reading your site for a while, and I believe you can be counted on to speak TRUTH. I feel like Susanne (in one of your comments) that I am alone in the belief about GWB. Know one that I have mentioned it to believes it. All the people in my church love this evil man and call him godly. I had to leave because i felt like a collaborator in their delusion if I stayed. I prayed about this before I left. So now I am totaly alone except the people on your site that are going through the same thing. Why me, why can't they see it and I can? I'm just a christian committed to the Lord, nothing special. What makes us different?
I would like to hear from you.
Brenda

PursuingTruth said...

To Brenda..
There are more of us than you may realize. Just keep telling people the truth and God will use you, try to seek out other like minded people; and if you can get them to read this site and Hanchett's sites and the other links on here. Spread the word. God Bless. These are exciting and perilous times.
May I ask that you post to the most recent posts, so I am sure to find them.
Peter

Anonymous said...

Tell me about your view concerning Sodomy? Are Sodomites going to heaven Mr. Z?

Anonymous said...

He had me right in the palm of his hand. And let his follower at church shove me away as hard as they could when i became ill. My mental illness is not the result of self infliction, it happened because God creates all things good and bad. I tried so very hard to humble myself and follow him. Love is perhaps the most abused word in our vocabulary and his definition of love is not even in the same universe as mine. That is why I have chosen mystism and sorcery. I can retain whats left of my sanity and it gives me peace of mind. His failure not mine

rocksattiffanys said...

Amen. :) It's a long post, but I really enjoyed reading the beginning. I'll be sure to finish the rest and of course I look forward to reading more of ur entries!