What About Those Who Hate Christ?

Before doing this study, please read the one-minute introduction Those Who Hate Him: Misleading Evangelism. It talks about the danger of telling unbelievers that God loves everyone, even those who hate Him. 

While there are some elements of truth in that statement, it is dangerously misleading. Yes, God is Love (1 John 4:8), and He loves the whole world so He offers His son for our sins. But He hates wickedness. And those who refuse to turn from their wicked unbelief will be sent to Hell. 

I encourage you to examine each of the Scriptures below and consider how they should inspire us to share Christ honestly with unbelievers.

Remember that God's Word convicts people of sin and draws them to salvation. We don't need to sugarcoat the gospel to bring people to the Lord. Evangelism means sharing the bad news before explaining the good news.

Psalm 11:5: The Lord examines the righteous, but the wicked, those who love violence, he hates with a passion.

Proverbs 6:16-19: There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a person who stirs up conflict in the community.

Romans 1:18-20: The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.

Revelation 21:8: But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death. 

Revelation 20:15: Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire. 

1 Corinthians 6:9-11: Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. 

John 3:36: Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them. 

Romans 2:5,8:  But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God’s wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed... But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger. 

Ephesians 5:6: Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. 

For further insights from R.C. Sproul and John MacArthur check out this 5 minute video HERE.

copyright 2015, Gail Burton Purath, BiteSizeBibleStudy.com, edited and updated 2025 

Bullets and Bibles Bible Study

Please read the 1-minute devotion Bullets and Bibles as an introduction to this Bible study.

It's remarkable to hear that a Bible literally saved a soldier's life, but even more remarkable is the way the Bible can save our souls and sustain and enrich our lives.

1. List the uses and purposes of God's Word found in the following passages:

2 Timothy 3:16-17: 
"All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work."

Psalm 19:7-8: The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul. The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple. The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes.

2. What sets the Word of God apart from every other book.

2 Timothy 3:16:
"All Scripture is God-breathed..." 

Hebrews 4:12:
"For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart."

Matthew 4:4:
Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.”

Let's rejoice daily in the saving power of God's Word!!


To supplement this study, check out these 1-minute devotions:
Dwelling
Sticks & Stones  

© copyright, Gail Burton Purath, 2013, BiteSizeBibleStudy@blogspot.com, edited and updated 2020

The Atheist's Insult: "Sheeple"

Before doing this study, please read the one-minute introduction He Thought He'd Insulted Me by Calling Christians "Sheeple".

It discusses a situation when an atheist left a rude quote on the Bible Love Notes Facebook page  and Gail's response surprised him because she said she was not ashamed of being a "sheeple" if her shepherd is Jesus.

1. These passages should help us see atheist insults in their proper light and rejoice instead of taking offense:

Matthew 5:11: “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

1 Peter 4:14: If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.  

2. Does Jesus ask us to blindly follow Him?

Luke 14:25-33: Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them he said: 26 “If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple. 27 And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.

28 “Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it? 29 For if you lay the foundation and are not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule you, 30 saying, ‘This person began to build and wasn’t able to finish.’

31 “Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Won’t he first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand? 32 If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace. 33 In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples.

3. Who blinds his followers?

2 Corinthians 4:4: The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

John 10:7-13: Therefore Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them. 9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. 11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. 13 The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.

4. How do these passages offer further clarity to our relationship with Christ?

Matthew 11:28-30:  “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

John 10:1-18: “Very truly I tell you Pharisees, anyone who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. 2 The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5 But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.” 6 Jesus used this figure of speech, but the Pharisees did not understand what he was telling them.

7 Therefore Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them. 9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. 13 The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.

14 “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. 17 The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.”

copyright 2015, Gail Burton Purath, BiteSizeBibleStudy.com, edited and updated 2025