Thomas Watson once wrote, “A godly man hates sin not only for the punishment, but for the pollution.” This statement appears in his classic Puritan work, The Godly Man’s Picture (1666), where Watson describes the distinguishing marks of genuine Christianity. Though written more than 350 years ago, this observation remains one of the clearest tests of authentic repentance.

Many people hate sin because of its consequences. They hate the embarrassment, the broken relationships, the damaged reputation, the guilt, or the fear of judgment that follows. Even unbelievers often regret the fallout of sinful choices. A thief may hate prison. An adulterer may hate the collapse of his marriage. A liar may hate being exposed. Yet none of these reactions necessarily indicate a transformed heart.

A truly godly person sees something deeper. He hates sin because of what sin is.

Watson’s use of the word “pollution” is significant. Sin is not merely dangerous; it is defiling. It corrupts the soul, dishonors God, distorts what is good, and stains what was created to reflect God’s holiness. The believer grieves over sin not simply because it brings punishment, but because it is offensive to the God he loves.

This distinction is found throughout Scripture.

When David confessed his sin with Bathsheba, his primary concern was not the earthly consequences that followed. Instead, he cried out, “Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight” (Psalm 51:4). David understood that his greatest offense was against God Himself. His sorrow was rooted in the moral and spiritual ugliness of sin.

Likewise, Paul speaks of a godly grief that “produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret” (2 Corinthians 7:10). This is different from worldly grief. Worldly grief is sorry for the consequences. Godly grief is sorrow for the sin itself, and it pushes for repentant action.

The prophet Ezekiel describes this attitude when speaking of God’s people after their restoration: “Then you will remember your evil ways, and your deeds that were not good, and you will loathe yourselves for your iniquities and your abominations” (Ezekiel 36:31). Their hatred is directed toward the corruption of sin, not merely its results.

This principle also helps explain why mature Christians often become more sensitive to sin over time, not less. As believers grow in their understanding of God’s holiness, they increasingly recognize the depth of their remaining corruption. The closer Isaiah came to the throne of God, the more aware he became of his own uncleanness (Isaiah 6:5). The closer Peter came to Christ, the more conscious he became of his own sinfulness (Luke 5:8).

This does not produce despair. Rather, it magnifies the beauty of the Gospel.

The Christian hates the pollution of sin because he has come to love the purity of Christ. He sees in Jesus everything that sin is not: holiness, righteousness, truth, and perfect obedience. The more bitter sin becomes, the sweeter Christ appears. Watson himself famously wrote, “Till sin be bitter, Christ will not be sweet.”

In an age that often minimizes sin, redefines it, or excuses it altogether, Watson’s words remain a needed corrective. The question is not merely whether we fear the consequences of sin. Even Pharaoh feared judgment. Even Judas regretted his actions.

The deeper question is whether we hate sin because it is sinful. Do we grieve over it because it dishonors God? Do we see it as a pollution that corrupts the soul and mars God’s image in us?

According to Thomas Watson, that is one of the clearest marks of a truly godly man.