Filter by Categories
God Hates? (Part Two)
Sermonette by Ronny H. GrahamAlmighty God loves righteousness—something which Gods saints should emulate. Conversely, God abhors, disdains, and hates evil, particularly the Nicolaitans'.
A God of Many Dimensions
CGG Weekly by Richard T. RitenbaughGod, as revealed in the Bible, embodies a range of character traits that include both love and hatred. He loves and hates, makes peace and war, shows mercy and demands justice. He showers some with kindness and pours out His fury on others, blessing the obedient while cursing sinners. In Malachi 1:2-3, God declares without apology, "Jacob I have loved; but Esau I have hated, and laid waste his mountains and his heritage for the jackals of the wilderness." This frank statement portrays a God far different from the often-simplified image of kindness, revealing a side that can be terrifying and seemingly capricious. Yet, as explained in Romans 9:18, He has mercy on whom He wills and hardens whom He wills, demonstrating His sovereignty over creation to fulfill His purpose. To Israel, He is a kind and loving Master, but to Edom, He is wrath and destruction. Limiting God to only His softer attributes leads to misunderstanding His true nature, as He warns in Psalm 50:21 against thinking He is altogether like us, promising rebuke for such assumptions. This broader perception of God's capacity for both love and hatred is vital to grasping primary biblical truths.
God Hates?
Sermonette by Ronny H. GrahamGod hates hypocritical religious convocations when people pay lip service but no heart service to Him. Mankind does not know how to stop hate, but God will.
Boundaries, Incursions, Migrations, and God (Part Two)
Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)Even though the way God exercises His sovereignty is inscrutable to us , calling the foolish to confound the wise, all He does fits perfectly into His plan.
The Sovereignty of God: Part Three
'Personal' from John W. RitenbaughGod's hatred, as revealed through His sovereign choices, is evident in His decisions that express His will without regard to human merit or works. He decided to love Jacob and hate Esau before either had done anything, demonstrating that His choice was purely an exercise of His sovereign right as Creator God to act according to His purpose. This divine prerogative shows that God's hatred is not based on human actions but on His own will, as He blesses some and withholds from others as He sees fit. For instance, He casts out Ishmael while granting grace to Isaac, and curses Esau while blessing Jacob with inheritance. His sovereign decisions, whether to love or to hate, are beyond human challenge, for who can question His power, wisdom, or rights? To murmur against Him is rebellion, and to doubt His ways is to impugn His authority. God's hatred, therefore, is an aspect of His supreme control over creation, where He rules, manages, and directs all things according to His purpose, leaving no room for human judgment of His actions.
The Sovereignty of God (Part Three)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughGod's hatred, as revealed in His sovereign will, is a profound aspect of His nature. He does not love everyone equally, and there are strong indications that there are some whom He does not love at all. Consider Satan, who has created misery, trashed lives, and destroyed a portion of God's creation. It is difficult to find any lovable characteristic in him. God's own declaration that the wages of sin is death, even for a single sin, challenges any notion of human superiority over Satan, differing only by degree. In Psalm 139, David, under God's inspiration, expresses sentiments of hatred that God permits under certain circumstances for a flawed human being. If this is acceptable for man, it is certainly right for the perfect Creator God to hate as well. Psalm 5:5 explicitly states that God hates the workers of iniquity. In Romans 9:13, God declares, "Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated," choosing one over the other before they were born, independent of their works. This sovereign choice demonstrates God's right to shed His love on one and curse another, blessing Jacob's descendants with fair lands and His word, while Esau's lineage as Edom lacks such favor, purely by God's will and not due to any inherent merit. This exercise of divine hatred and love underscores God's sovereignty, as He chooses according to the good pleasure of His will, not based on human qualities or achievements. His decisions, whether to love or to hate, are entirely within His prerogative, shaping the destinies of individuals and nations alike.
John 3:16: Does God Really Love the World?
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughGod does not love everybody equally. Nowhere does He tell us to prefer the ungodly world. Though He tells us to love our enemies, but not to be affectionate.
God's Wrath and Hell
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughOblivion, not eternal torment in hell fire, is the merciful end for the wicked. God is both good and severe, but His mercy endures forever.

Hating Evil, Fearing God
'Ready Answer' by David C. GrabbePaul warns against mixing good and evil, as the fruit is wickedness. The proper fear of the Lord plays a significant role in ridding evil from our lives.
Guard Against Being an Abomination to God
Sermon by Kim MyersAn abomination is anything God hates, including idolatry, diverse weights, uncleanness, sorcery, a proud look, a lying tongue, and the shedding of innocent blood.
Can God Look on Sin?
Sermonette by Ryan McClureMany believe that God is unable to look on sin, yet many scriptures show that God's eyes run to and fro through the earth, observing the evil and the good.
Assassination of Character
Sermonette by Ronny H. GrahamAssassinations have occurred frequently. There is an extremely dangerous kind of assassination—namely, character assassination through murmuring and gossip.
What Is an Abomination?
Bible Study by Martin G. CollinsThe English word 'abomination' is quickly becoming archaic in modern usage because so few things are considered abominable anymore.
A Priceless Gift
'Personal' from John W. RitenbaughGod's children look no different on the outside, but God has given them something inside, something spiritual, that makes them special to Him.
The Doctrine of Israel (Part Ten): Where Is Israel Today?
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughNo matter how scattered Israel is, God will not lose the smallest grain. Using Jerusalem as a reference point, Israel dispersed north and west into Europe.
A Priceless Gift
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughGod's people are the precious jewels (or the private, personal possessions) of God, obligated to conform exclusively to His will and purpose.
New Covenant Priesthood (Part Eight)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughPride leads to destruction, tricking us into thinking we deserve better than we have. Paradoxically, pride is a mark of inferiority, causing overcompensation.
The World (Part 1)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughOur worldview must be shaped by a fear of God, a love for His people, and a hatred for the world's practices that destroy our relationship with God.
Silence in Heaven (Part Two)
CGG Weekly by David C. GrabbeWhat is the connection between the prayers that ascend to God and the angel hurling the censer down to earth, initiating the seven trumpets in Revelation 8?