Workers of Iniquity Ps5:5

Rose:

Good question! First, The Scriptures declare that God "hates" all workers of iniquity. This is also seen in Psalm 11. Things to consider (possible interpretations):
1) God "loves" the elect, but "hates" the reprobate (see Romans 9 - especially Jacob and Esau); or
2) It is possible for God to both "love" and "hate" sinners.

Of course, I'm sure there are other intpretations out there and you will eventually hear them on this thread.

Second, to use this verse (or any other verse) as justification for not loving one's neighbor is an abuse of the verse(s). God commands that we love our neighbors as ourselves, do good to those who are evil (see Matthew 5), etc. Not only is it an abuse of the Scripture, it is SIN.

Rev. G

 

Hi Rose,

I was curious about this, too, before, as so many seem to think God does not hate ("Hate is not Christian" is something we hear a lot of!), and I started looking up not only that God does hate some things, but what it was He hates. Several words are used for 'iniquity' in the Hebrew. The most common one is 'avon' or 'avown', which comes from the root 'avah' meaning 'to do crookedly or pervert'. Thus the word 'avon' often also means 'evil.'

A very similar word is also used which is translated 'iniquity.' It is 'aven.' This seems to come from a root meaning 'to pant' or, in other words, to exert oneself uselessly. The word itself means 'affliction, evil, false, idol, iniquity, etc.'

Those are the two main words.

So a 'worker of iniquity' is someone who works at promoting evil or perversity. It is not simply someone who might be involved for whatever reason per se, but a person who is actively and permanently involved and promoting it.

I think it would be very much related to what other parts of the Bible say regarding those who choose wickedness consistently. One place is in Romans 1, where Paul mentions that those who suppress the truth, preferring to ignore the knowledge they have of the truth and of God. He closes off this chapter with the following:

Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done. They have become filled with every kind of wickedness....Although they know God's righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things, but also approve of those who practice them.

Thus, the way Paul presents it in Romans 1, these men and women

-- knew enough of the truth about God through creation (v. 19) to know something of God's character and reality.

-- however they preferred to suppress this truth and "their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened." (v. 21)

-- they then exchanged the truth of God for a lie (v. 25)

-- At this point God gave them over to the very things they were preferring -- their shameful lusts (v. 26)

-- These people at some point willingly gave up the knowledge of God they did have (v. 28)

-- God gave them over to depraved minds.

-- These people then were not only involved with many and varied forms of rebellion against God and hate against man, but approved (and thus encouraged) the same behavior in others.

The other possible form of 'workers of iniquity' would be those preaching some kind of doctrine which would make people move further away from God and not closer. In Matthew 5:20, Jesus says, "For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven."

In other words, any doctrine teaching that obedience to the law and/or works are necessary for entry to heaven is not a doctrine from God and will not produce the righteousness that is found only in Christ. The implication in what Christ said is that those who teach this legalism and try to follow it are not going to make it to heaven themselves. Are these men and women then also 'workers of iniquity' whom God hates? When I read Matthew 18 I think this may be a possibility.

Hope that helps a little.

God bless.

 

Questions for Helen:

Does God love sinners only up to a point?

Do people "pass the line" and become "workers of iniquity" so that He goes from loving them to hating them?

Is the Apostle Paul including ALL people in Romans 1-3, demonstrating that "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" or is he relegating some to one sphere, others to another sphere, etc.?

 

Any work done OUTSIDE of Jesus Christ is iniquity!

Any faith outside of Jesus Christ is iniquity!

That's why God wants to save us--to put us INSIDE of Jesus--His dear Son!

Your friend,
Blackbird