Podcast: Kitchen Table Theology

Podcast Series: God’s Amazing Attributes

Episode Number: 028

Episode Name: God is Love, Part Two

Episode Length: 23:36

Episode Download Link: Click here to download episode. 

Host: Jeff Cranston

Co Host: Jen Denton

Episode Summary

If God loves all people, then why do we read in the Bible that God hated people? This is a theologically difficult topic, but one that we want to address here on Kitchen Table Theology. There are Scripture verses that tell us that God “hated”; how do we understand this?

Topics We Discussed in this Episode

●     [5:45]     God’s nature is love. He always does what is best for others. He also hates what is contrary to His nature; His hates what is contrary to love.       

●     [7:20]     Sometimes, our understanding of an English word, and the variety of meanings and nuances we may be thinking of for that word, is not necessarily what the biblical writer means by the word.   

●     [9:44]     The word “hate” biblically (in the Old Testament) means not giving special privilege or special protection to a specific group of people. 

●     [12:12]     It is not a contradiction for God to be able to love and hate.    

●     [17:16]     None of us can love with a perfect love, nor can we hate with a perfect hatred. But God can both love and hate perfectly, because He is God. God can hate without sinful intent. 

Recommended Resources

●      Jeff recommends “The Difficult Doctrine of the Love of God” by D.A. Carson for more on this topic.

Bible Verses We Mentioned in the Show

●     Hosea 9:15

●     Malachi 1:2-3

●     1 John 4:8

●     Deuteronomy 12:31; 16:22

●     Leviticus 20:1-23

●     Proverbs 6:16-19

●     2 Peter 3:9

●     Psalm 5:5; 5:10

●     Psalm 11:5

●     Romans 5:8

●     Colossians 1:21; 1:13

●     2 Corinthians 5:17

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Visit my website jeffcranston.com and subscribe to my newsletter. Join me on Sunday mornings at LowCountry Community Church. 

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Remember, the real power of theology is not only knowing it, but applying it. Thanks for listening!