>> "Christians must hate the sin but love the sinner, without exception." <<
My claim is that this is narrow and not a universal commandment, that even God hates the sin and the (unrepentant) sinner.
The thread seems to be straying away from this premise.
As explained, they are not mutually contradictory, and God did indeed love those He damned, even lamenting, O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! (Matthew 23:37)
And believers are to follow Christ who "is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world." (1 John 2:2)
Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour. (Ephesians 5:1-2)
Don't MOST threads do this?
After a 100 or so replies?
(Unless it's one whose main theme is Rome's 'Mary' and how absolutely necessary it is to include her in ALL your dealings with Christ and the Father.)
I cited the text in which we are exhorted to emulate God, who blesses both the righteous and the unrighteous. Now it’s your turn to cite a passage commanding us to hate sinners.
While you search, here’s another text. Don’t bother quibbling about the meaning of, ‘brother.’ Jesus addressed that issue in the parable of the Good Samaritan (among other places).
1 John 4:20
If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen.