Hating sin is an important part of the Christian life. The Bible tells us that we should hate evil (Psalm 97:10) and that God hates sin (Proverbs 6:16-19). As Christians, we are called to be like God and to hate what He hates. But hating our own sin can be difficult. Here are some biblical ways to learn to hate your own sin:
Recognize the seriousness of sin
Sin is extremely serious in God’s eyes. All sin is ultimately rebellion against God (1 Samuel 15:23). It incurs God’s wrath and judgment (Romans 1:18) and leads to spiritual death (Romans 6:23). Every sin, no matter how “small” we may think it is, required the death of Jesus on the cross to pay for it. When we minimize or make excuses for our sin, we fail to see it as God sees it. We need to consistently reflect on the gravity of our sin in order to hate it as we should.
Understand the effects of sin
Sin doesn’t just affect us. It spreads to those around us (Genesis 3:6-7), it gives the enemy a foothold in our lives (Ephesians 4:27), and it hinders our relationship with God (Isaiah 59:2). Even “private” sins negatively impact our Christian witness and can lead others astray (Romans 14:13). Examining all the far-reaching consequences of our sin can help us grasp how destructive it truly is. This promotes hatred of the sin that wreaks such havoc.
Cultivate a love for God and His holiness
Sin is fundamentally incompatible with God’s holy nature (1 John 1:5). The more we grow in our love for God, the more we will cherish His attributes like righteousness, purity, and perfection. As our love for Him increases, our hatred of everything that opposes His nature – including our own sin – will also grow. Knowing God’s beauty motivates us to loathe everything that offends Him.
Spend time meditating on Scripture
God’s Word repeatedly condemns sin and uplifts righteousness. Immersing ourselves in its truths reshapes our mindset to be more in line with God’s perspective on sin (Romans 12:2). As verses about the evils of sin and the blessings of obedience penetrate our hearts, we gain a spirit of repulsion toward sin. Hiding those verses in our hearts is key (Psalm 119:11).
Pray for a hatred of sin
Hatred of sin is a grace from God, not something we can manufacture ourselves. But we know God is pleased to answer requests that align with His will (1 John 5:14-15). Praying daily for a holy hatred of sin invites the Holy Spirit to cultivate this attitude in our inner being. It engages us in spiritual warfare against the depravity of our flesh.
Examine your heart and confess specific sins
Vague confessions of “sinfulness” allow us to minimize and excuse specific sins we commit. But carefully examining our hearts (Psalm 139:23-24) and confessing precise sins make their ugliness starkly apparent. As we become more aware of the particular evil thoughts, words, and deeds active in our lives, we gain concrete insights into how detestable our sin is. This propels us to hate it.
Forsake sinful habits and develop new holy habits
Sinful habits breed tolerance and even enjoyment of certain sins. By contrast, replacing sinful habits with holy ones like Scripture reading, prayer, fasting, and service trains our inclinations away from sin. With consistent commitment to godly habits, we increasingly dislike the sins that used to entangle us. Active obedience crowds out sinful desires.
Flee from temptation
Actively avoiding tempting situations is a key way to conquer sin (Genesis 39:7-12; 2 Timothy 2:22). The more we flirt with temptation, the more alluring and “harmless” sin appears. Resisting temptation by fleeing from it protects our hatred of sin. But continually putting ourselves in tempting situations fuels sinful desires and extinguishes our hatred of sin. Avoiding compromise is essential.
Accept suffering caused by forsaking sin
Worldly pleasures often drive our attraction to sin. Willingly embracing any suffering that comes from forsaking sin shows we treasure God’s approval over worldly enjoyment. This suffering could involve persecution, damaged relationships, or simple inconvenience. Embracing it reminds us how despicable and dangerous these sins are, further fueling our hatred of them.
Focus on Christ’s sacrificial love
Regularly reflecting on Christ’s suffering for our sins nurtures a hatred of what caused such agony to the perfect Son of God (Hebrews 12:3-4). The excruciating cross demonstrates the depths of Christ’s hatred towards the sin that made Him endure such brutality to rescue us from its grip. His sacrificial love kindles reciprocal hatred of sin in our hearts.
Practice self-denial
Our natural inclination is to gratify rather than deny the flesh. But voluntarily denying ourselves legitimate things trains us in restraint over fleshly desires (Luke 9:23).Saying “no” to pleasurable things that aren’t sinful in themselves teaches us to resist desires that could lead to sin. This self-discipline grooms us to recoil from sin instead of gravitating toward it.
In summary, developing a real hatred of our own sin requires nurturing an elevated view of God, His Word, and His holiness while also fostering an acute awareness of the ugliness and destructiveness of sin. This is a process aided by consistent prayer, Scripture meditation, self-examination, and embracing hard things for the sake of righteousness. God delights to form Christlike hatred of sin in those who earnestly seek it.
