Most churches today teach that God is love , but what about Psalm 5:4-5

1:4 For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness: neither shall evil dwell with thee.
1:5 The foolish shall not stand in thy sight: thou hatest ALL WORKERS OF INIQUITY.


The question is does God hate sinners?

I believe the key word is workers in Psalm 5:5. God hates iniquity, but it goes further to say the workers of it.

Dont' misunderstand what I am saying, yes God is love " For God so loved the world" But I stll believe he hates also. What is your guys take?

[Biblestudent]

There are passages in Scripture similar to this:
1 Samuel 15:11 It repenteth me that I have set up Saul to be king: for he is turned back from following me, and hath not performed my commandments. And it grieved Samuel; and he cried unto the LORD all night.
1 Samuel 15:29 And also the Strength of Israel will not lie nor repent: for he is not a man, that he should repent.

God "repents", but God is not a man that he should "repent".

In answer to the question, I believe what the Bible says is so.
God hates the workers of iniquity that he would damn them to Hell
God loves the world that he gave his Son and save those who would believe.

Repentance means "a change of mind" - and the Biblical usage shows a change of mind resulting in a change of conduct.

Here is a verse dealing with God and repentance:

The Lord Would Not Repent

It is a neat study, dealing with statements about things God will not change His mind about, regardless of the conduct of mankind. There are other things that do change because man changes - Jeremiah 18 deals with that. When God prophecies destruction, and a city or an individual repents, He changes His conduct towards them (because their conduct has changed). When He prophecies blessings, but they turn to wickedness, then He repents and takes away their blessing (because they changed their conduct towards Him).

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."John 3:16

PLOUGHBOY

Context is important. The Bible teaches God loves this world - which is filled with sinners - but He hates the workers of iniquity. My understanding of this is that He hates those who refuse to repent of their sins and reject the Saviour. We all work iniquity - but He hates those who utterly reject Him and persist in their evil course.

Ploughboy,
Your right God does love the world, but is the whole world going to heaven? No. There has to be a payment for sin and God hates sin, but I do believe that he also hates those that do the work of iniquity. Like Jerry said there are those that continue to reject what Jesus Christ did for them, so I believe God hates them but His grace and mercy isn't far from them. It amazes me how simple it is for one to choose heaven or hell. And hell is ones choice when they reject the One who died for them.

Jerry what about that saying I hear so often in the South? "God hates the sin, but loves the sinner"?

From what you are stating above then, He hates the sinner just as much as the sin?

I have often wondered about that statement.

I believe He hates the unrepentant sinner - not just all sinners (we are all sinners). He knows who will die in a state of rejection of Him and His salvation, and are just determined to pursue their course of sin, as well as lead others into sin and rebellion against God - those are the ones I believe He hates. He has done everything He could to provide them salvation and cleansing from their evil way.

He knows who will die in a state of rejection of Him and His salvation

those are the ones I believe He hates

So when is it, that God changes from loving the sinner to hating him? The minute he enters hell or a few days before?


Ploughboy

Perhaps you could do a Bible search for all the verses related to this theme, and see what conclusion you can reach.

Proverbs 6:16-19 These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.

It doesn't just say He hates the sin, but the sinner.

Luke 13:24-28 Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are: Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets. But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out.

Matthew 7:22-23 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

This is referring to those STILL lost when Jesus judges them.

Proverbs 10:29 The way of the LORD is strength to the upright: but destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity.

Proverbs 21:15 It is joy to the just to do judgment: but destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity.

Isaiah 59:6 Their webs shall not become garments, neither shall they cover themselves with their works: their works are works of iniquity, and the act of violence is in their hands.

Not covered with the righteousness of Christ, but by their own sin.

Micah 2:1 Woe to them that devise iniquity, and work evil upon their beds! when the morning is light, they practise it, because it is in the power of their hand.

Love in the Bible is defined as obeying God's commandments and actively doing good towards someone else. Eg. 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 and:

1 John 5:2-3 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.

Perhaps God's hatred is an active withholding of blessing of the wicked. In Hell they certainly will not see any good. It is not that God will do evil to them - but He will withhold good to them. Whereas when we hate someone, it means we are sinning against them - treating them contrary to God's commands - ie. like lying to them when we are supposed to be telling them the truth - see:

Proverbs 26:28 A lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it; and a flattering mouth worketh ruin.