Sin, and God's character

In his righteousness and holiness, God detests sin and its effects upon humanity. In his mercy and grace, he makes available a means of atonement, by the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

God's character and sin

God himself is perfect

Habakkuk 1:13; 1 John 1:5 See also Deuteronomy 32:4; Joshua 24:19; Psalm 97:2; Isaiah 6:3

Your eyes are too pure to look upon evil, and You cannot tolerate wrongdoing. So why do You tolerate the faithless? Why are You silent while the wicked swallow up those more righteous than themselves?

And this is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you: God is light, and in Him there is no darkness at all.

Jesus Christ is sinless

1 Peter 2:22 See also Isaiah 53:9; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Hebrews 1:9, Hebrews 7:26–27; 1 John 3:5

“He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in His mouth.”

God's people are to be holy

1 Peter 1:15–16 See also Leviticus 11:44, Leviticus 11:45, Leviticus 19:2, Leviticus 20:7; Matthew 5:48; 1 Thessalonians 4:7; 1 John 3:3

But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do, for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”

God's attitude to sin

God knows all sin

Jeremiah 16:17 See also Job 10:14; Psalm 139:1–4; Jeremiah 2:22; Hosea 7:2; Amos 5:12; Hebrews 4:13

For My eyes are on all their ways. They are not hidden from My face, and their guilt is not concealed from My eyes.

God grieves over sin

Genesis 6:6 See also Isaiah 63:10; Ephesians 4:30

And the LORD regretted that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart.

God hates sin

Psalm 11:5 See also Deuteronomy 25:16; 2 Samuel 11:27; Psalm 5:5; Proverbs 6:16–19; Zechariah 8:17; Luke 16:15

The LORD tests the righteous and the wicked; His soul hates the lover of violence.

Sin provokes God's anger

Romans 1:18 See also 2 Chronicles 36:16; Ezekiel 20:8; Amos 1:3; John 3:36; Ephesians 5:5–6; Colossians 3:5–6

The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness.

God is also merciful and gracious

Exodus 34:6–7 See also Nehemiah 9:17, Nehemiah 9:31; Psalm 78:38, Psalm 103:8–14; Lamentations 3:22–23; Micah 7:18–19; Romans 11:32

Then the LORD passed in front of Moses and called out: “The LORD, the LORD God, is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion and faithfulness, maintaining loving devotion to a thousand generations, forgiving iniquity, transgression, and sin. Yet He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished; He will visit the iniquity of the fathers on their children and grandchildren to the third and fourth generations.”

God's patience with sinners

2 Peter 3:9 See also Romans 2:4, Romans 9:22; 1 Timothy 1:16

The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise as some understand slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish but everyone to come to repentance.

Jesus Christ is the supreme revelation of God's love for sinners

Jesus Christ's ministry of forgiveness

1 Timothy 1:15 See also Matthew 9:2 parallels Mark 2:5, Luke 5:20–21; Luke 7:36–50, Luke 15:1–10, Luke 19:5–10; John 8:1–11

This is a trustworthy saying, worthy of full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the worst.

God's love shown in Jesus Christ's death

Romans 5:8 See also John 3:16–17; Ephesians 2:4; 1 Peter 3:18; 1 John 4:9–10

But God proves His love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

The risen Christ gives grace to sinful people

1 John 2:1 See also Romans 8:34; Hebrews 2:17–18, Hebrews 4:15–5:2

My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate before the Father — Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.