Tuesday, December 20, 2005
One of the questions that often come up when dealing with the question of God’s sovereign choice in salvation and man’s “free will” is that what about evil? Why, if God is in control of all things, knows all things, then why does God allow bad things to happen to people?
This is what is know in theological circles as the “problem of evil.” The best answer to the question is found in James 1: 12-18.
12 Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. 13 Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am tempted by God"; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. 14 But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. 15 Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death. 16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. 17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. 18 Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures. (NKJV)
So God doesn’t tempt with evil nor is He tempted. In this passage we see that sin is born out of lust, lust from desire. The result of sin is death.
Now who is responsible for sin? We are. Since in Genesis 3 we who are in Adam are responsible for ushering in sin to the creation because of disobedience.
James tells us “Do not be deceived…” It is so easy to blame God as the audience of James apparently thought. It is so easy to do so because we think well we can just lay it on Him. If all else fails blame God! He did this. He is sovereign, in control of every thing! But this shift in blame does nothing to answer the question when the answer is found in our nature.
We don’t want to think we are so bad to be responsible for our actions.
Now your buzzer is goin’off. Tree you just said yesterday that free will is not biblical. Let’s get something straight. In salvation, salvation, God is in total control. Giving both faith to convict one of sin, and also to believe in Him for salvation. However, there is also the fact of human responsibility.
We are responsible for our actions. Does God know what those actions are? Yes. Why? Because He is in charge and leads us, even though we may rebel. Look to Jonah. Did God know that He would rebel? Yes. Did He lead Jonah to where He wanted to go? Yes. Even when Jonah was in the belly of the whale, God was there, calling him.
(Often God may use circumstances to lead us to where He wants us to go. Even if we rebel—this I know, personally. When God calls, listen and obey. It goes much easier. Trust me.)
Remember, James follows the progression of how sin comes about, with where good things come from—God. For the believer, there is nothing better to know.
Soli Deo Gloria
Aaron “Tree” Landis
Psalm 1:3
This is what is know in theological circles as the “problem of evil.” The best answer to the question is found in James 1: 12-18.
12 Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. 13 Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am tempted by God"; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. 14 But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. 15 Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death. 16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. 17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. 18 Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures. (NKJV)
So God doesn’t tempt with evil nor is He tempted. In this passage we see that sin is born out of lust, lust from desire. The result of sin is death.
Now who is responsible for sin? We are. Since in Genesis 3 we who are in Adam are responsible for ushering in sin to the creation because of disobedience.
James tells us “Do not be deceived…” It is so easy to blame God as the audience of James apparently thought. It is so easy to do so because we think well we can just lay it on Him. If all else fails blame God! He did this. He is sovereign, in control of every thing! But this shift in blame does nothing to answer the question when the answer is found in our nature.
We don’t want to think we are so bad to be responsible for our actions.
Now your buzzer is goin’off. Tree you just said yesterday that free will is not biblical. Let’s get something straight. In salvation, salvation, God is in total control. Giving both faith to convict one of sin, and also to believe in Him for salvation. However, there is also the fact of human responsibility.
We are responsible for our actions. Does God know what those actions are? Yes. Why? Because He is in charge and leads us, even though we may rebel. Look to Jonah. Did God know that He would rebel? Yes. Did He lead Jonah to where He wanted to go? Yes. Even when Jonah was in the belly of the whale, God was there, calling him.
(Often God may use circumstances to lead us to where He wants us to go. Even if we rebel—this I know, personally. When God calls, listen and obey. It goes much easier. Trust me.)
Remember, James follows the progression of how sin comes about, with where good things come from—God. For the believer, there is nothing better to know.
Soli Deo Gloria
Aaron “Tree” Landis
Psalm 1:3
Good job! You are working with some smart kids that need to be answered with truth. You guy are unashamed to give it to them.
Thanks my friend!