Intro: The Growing Hatred for Sin
One of the clearest signs that someone is walking in the Spirit is a growing hatred for sin. This hatred isn’t rooted in self-righteousness or legalism—it’s birthed by the Holy Spirit. As our hearts are transformed by God’s truth, we begin to see sin the way He does: not as something tempting or entertaining, but as something deadly. In this article, we explore what types of sin the Spirit-led believer begins to hate and why this hatred is holy. Explore more Spirit-led teachings here.
Visit BibleHub to look up the scriptures used in this article.
1. You Hate Sin Because You Love God
The more you know God, the more you abhor anything that opposes Him. Psalm 97:10 says, “Ye that love the Lord, hate evil…” The Holy Spirit does not simply reform your behavior—He reshapes your desires.
When we walk closely with God, we don’t need external laws to restrain us; the Spirit writes His law upon our hearts (Hebrews 10:16).
📖 Psalm 97:10 – “Ye that love the Lord, hate evil: he preserveth the souls of his saints; he delivereth them out of the hand of the wicked.”
2. You Begin to Hate Your Own Sin First
Spirit-led believers don’t start with the sins of others—they begin with their own. Like David in Psalm 51, there is deep conviction, not just for outward acts, but inward attitudes.
This includes:
- Pride
- Lustful thoughts
- Envy
- Gossip
- Bitterness
Romans 7:24 – “O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?”
Conviction replaces comparison. You hate sin not because you want to look holy, but because it separates you from God.
3. You Hate Sin Because It Harms Others
Spirit-led people become sensitive to how sin corrupts and destroys lives. Proverbs 14:34 says, “Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.”
This hatred may extend to:
- Abortion
- Sexual exploitation
- Lying politicians
- Broken families caused by infidelity or abuse
We don’t hate people—we hate the sin that enslaves and destroys them.
📖 Ephesians 4:26 – “Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath.”
4. You Hate Sin Because It Grieves the Spirit
Ephesians 4:30 says, “And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.”
This hatred leads to mourning. Jesus said, “Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted” (Matthew 5:4). True mourning isn’t over consequences—it’s over disobedience to a loving God.
You begin to feel:
- A weight when watching ungodly entertainment
- A check in your spirit when tempted by deceit
- Discomfort in conversations full of slander or crudeness
5. You Hate Sin More Deeply Over Time
Spiritual maturity increases your sensitivity. Things you once justified, laughed at, or ignored become unbearable. Hebrews 5:14 says mature believers have their “senses exercised to discern both good and evil.”
This is why:
- You avoid shows you used to binge
- You walk out of movies that dishonor God
- You examine your motives, not just your actions
📖 Hebrews 5:14 – “But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.”
Final Encouragement: Hatred for Sin Is Love for God
The world says hate is bad. But the Bible shows us that holy hatred—hatred of sin—is actually a fruit of love for God. You cannot love light and enjoy darkness at the same time.
Proverbs 8:13 says, “The fear of the Lord is to hate evil.”
Let your hatred for sin drive you closer to the Savior. Walk in the Spirit, and let Him reveal every area where you need to be cleansed.
🙌 Keep pursuing a Spirit-led life with more biblical articles like this.