Are the people in Hell hating God?

I think the answer to this question is found in Romans  3:19, “Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.”

Those who are in Hell are not angry with God. Why not? Because they know the crush of their guilt. The weight of their conscience bears them down. If you look at Isaiah 6, where Isaiah gets his commission as a prophet, he sees the holiness of the Lord and collapses in fear and shame because he sees himself a vile person in comparison. 

In different places in the Bible, people have fainted at the sight of an angel. How much more when they see God? 

No, the people in Hell are not angry with God. They are full of guilt and shame over their sin and vileness. All pretense has been exposed for what it really is. All their posturing was to exalt self and not the true God. All their rituals never took away the stains of their secret sins, nor converted their souls. They stand naked and open to the Holiest of all who sees all. 

What about Christians? What will they see? 1 John 2:28-29 says, “And now, little children, abide in Him, that when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming. If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone who practices righteousness is born of Him.”

We may appear before Him in joy or shame. Are we living a righteous life according to His grace, by faith and the Word, animated by the Spirit? Then we will do well. If we are not moving toward God’s goal of conforming us to the image of the Son, it will not go well. We have been justified by grace and considered not guilty and declared righteous in His sight because we have received the Son by faith. But He will reward us according to our works. What did we do with the Word of God? How have we responded?

Note also 2 Cor. 5:9-11. Paul aimed to live well pleasing to God. The work of the gospel brings us this power to live righteously by His strength, a power not available to those who believe in other powers in other religions. We have a holy responsibility to take hold of these things lest we let them slip.

About Steve Husting

Steve Husting lives in Southern California with his wife and son. He enjoys encouraging others through writing, and likes reading, digital photography, the outdoors, calligraphy, and chocolate. He has written several books and ebooks, and hundreds of Christian devotionals. Steve is also having a great time illustrating God's Word with calligraphy.
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