Does loving others mean accepting their sin?

You have heard it said, “Love the sinner; hate the sin.” Today, the problem is some believers, in an attempt not to appear judgmental, go overboard by accepting the sin of those they love. Such a thing is unbiblical and is not displaying love at all.

You see, God’s Word tells us that sin leads to death (James 1:15). So, to love someone in sin by accepting their sinful lifestyle is not showing love. Who among us really wants to see his or her loved one live a life of sin and then spend eternity in Hell?

Jude 22-23 says, “And on some have compassion, making a distinction; but others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh. (NKJV)

If we really love those who are sinning, we should show them our love by refusing to condone, ignore or excuse what they are doing. We must warn them that what they are doing will destroy them.

James 5:20 says, “...you can be sure that whoever brings the sinner back from wandering will save that person from death and bring about the forgiveness of many sins.”

Think about it! God loved us so much that when seeing us in sin, He gave Christ to show us that there is a better way to live (John 10:10), and to die on the cross to deliver us from the bondage of sin (John 3:16; Romans 5:6-10).

If God did what He could to rescue us from sin, shouldn’t we do the same for others?

Read Proverbs 27:5; Galatians 6:1; 2 Timothy 4:2