Love the Sinner

Let’s think a minute about the statement oft used that is, “Love the sinner, hate the sin.” It would seem tht is not a very Biblical approach to dealing with people. If we are to put on Christ, and live as He would have us, then we should model His approach to sin and to sinners. It seems apparent in the last 4 chapters of Revelation that Jesus does not love the sinner. In fact, two great battles are completed by the Lord wiping out all the unbelievers with the Word of His mouth. Is this loving them, or do we confuse patience with love?

You then say, but Jesus said to “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Was He talking about loving your sinning neighbor in the same way you love your sinning self? How can I love my sinning self, when the only way I can glorify God is to bear the spiritual fruit of righteousness. My sin does not glorify Him. I keep myself in a status of short accounts, and pray that my neighbor will do the same. If my neighbor falls on hard times, am I to reject him. Obviously not. But is this a call to love him if he continues to wear the cloak of sin even though it is causing him pain and suffering?

Just a thought.