It’s been said that we should love the sinner and hate the sin. No one can embody this principle like Christ himself. Only one with a profound love for the entire family of Adam could willingly subject himself to the unfathomable ignominy of the atonement. Furthermore, only one who’s taken upon himself the horrors of sin to such an extent could know how terrible sin really is. Only he could have the capacity to hate sin as it should truly be hated. If Christ had the slightest tolerance for sin, surely he wouldn’t have taken upon himself the sins of all mankind, and the atonement would have been imperfect. So knowing what he must have known about sin, why would he have subjected himself to its horrors? Why would he willingly take upon himself my filthy sins? To an equal and opposite degree of his hate for sin, he must have loved us. Only he is capable of both such profound love and profound hate. But surely we’re not exempt from following such a brilliant mentor. To be like God, we also must both love and hate. Of course I must love everyone I meet, unless I’m to believe that Christ’s atonement didn’t include them. And of course I must hate the very appearance of sin, unless I’m to believe that Christ’s atonement wasn’t necessary. What an interesting duality. What a delightful paradox. What a challenge for each of us.