Outline
- Origin of sin / the Fall
- Yetzer hara / sin nature
- Human depravity
- Effect of sin, Evil in the world
- The role of the intellect, emotions and the body in sin
Aren't Most People Basically Good?
Unfortunately no, humanity is definitely NOT basically good. The Holy Spirit is busy holding back evil and restraining humanity from doing its worst (2 Thessalonians 2:7). Without the Holy Spirit’s restraint, humanities true traits, described below all surface (Mark 7:20-23; Romans 1:28-31; Galatians 5:19-21; 2 Timothy 3:1-5).
1. Proud
2. Insolent
3. Boastful
4. Selfishly ambitious
5. Self-centered
6. Ungrateful
7. Obstinate
8. Unteachable
9. Hypocritical
10. Vile
11. Considering nothing sacred
12. Disinterested in good
13. Wicked
14. Covetous
15. Greedy
16. Envious
17. Thieves
18. Murderous
19. Hateful
20. Cruel
21. Unloving
22. Unforgiving
23. Heartless
24. Deceitful
25. Slanderous
26. Malicious
27. Gossiping
28. Backstabbing
29. Traitorous
30. Foolish
31. Sinful
32. Fighting
33. Hostile
34. Quarrelsome
35. Bad-tempered
36. Jealous
37. Divisive
38. God-hating
39. Disobedient
40. Dishonorable
41. Spiritually and morally polluted
42. Lustful
43. Lewd
44. Sexually immoral
45. Adulterous
46. Impure of minds
47. Orgiastic
48. Lacking self-control
49. Drunk
50. Idolatrous
51. Demonic
52. Scoffing
53. Reckless
The Holy Spirit convinces of sin (Genesis 6:3; John 16:8-11) but the Holy Spirit’s main role is to direct us to Yeshua (John 14:26; 15:26). That wonderful knowledge could result in our salvation. Anyone who rejects the message of the Holy Spirit, thus renders themselves incapable of receiving the knowledge that could result in salvation. They make themselves incapable of being saved, of being forgiven (Matthew 12:31; Mark 3:28-30; Luke 12:10; Hebrews 6:4-6).
In the future, when the Holy Spirit’s convicting influence is removed, humanity will be left free to express its true self. They will be deceived into believing that anything goes. It’s that same old lie – “You too can be a god and do as you wish!”
So we are left with the inescapable conclusion that humanity is totally depraved, hopelessly bound to its yetzer hara unless freed by the saving faith in the knowledge of the Messiah’s atoning work delivered to us by the gracious Holy Spirit.
[1] “He” is not in the original
1. Proud
2. Insolent
3. Boastful
4. Selfishly ambitious
5. Self-centered
6. Ungrateful
7. Obstinate
8. Unteachable
9. Hypocritical
10. Vile
11. Considering nothing sacred
12. Disinterested in good
13. Wicked
14. Covetous
15. Greedy
16. Envious
17. Thieves
18. Murderous
19. Hateful
20. Cruel
21. Unloving
22. Unforgiving
23. Heartless
24. Deceitful
25. Slanderous
26. Malicious
27. Gossiping
28. Backstabbing
29. Traitorous
30. Foolish
31. Sinful
32. Fighting
33. Hostile
34. Quarrelsome
35. Bad-tempered
36. Jealous
37. Divisive
38. God-hating
39. Disobedient
40. Dishonorable
41. Spiritually and morally polluted
42. Lustful
43. Lewd
44. Sexually immoral
45. Adulterous
46. Impure of minds
47. Orgiastic
48. Lacking self-control
49. Drunk
50. Idolatrous
51. Demonic
52. Scoffing
53. Reckless
The Holy Spirit convinces of sin (Genesis 6:3; John 16:8-11) but the Holy Spirit’s main role is to direct us to Yeshua (John 14:26; 15:26). That wonderful knowledge could result in our salvation. Anyone who rejects the message of the Holy Spirit, thus renders themselves incapable of receiving the knowledge that could result in salvation. They make themselves incapable of being saved, of being forgiven (Matthew 12:31; Mark 3:28-30; Luke 12:10; Hebrews 6:4-6).
In the future, when the Holy Spirit’s convicting influence is removed, humanity will be left free to express its true self. They will be deceived into believing that anything goes. It’s that same old lie – “You too can be a god and do as you wish!”
- 2 Thessalonians 2:7-12 HCSB For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; but the One now restraining will do so until taken[1] out of the way, (8) and then the lawless one will be revealed. The Lord Jesus will destroy him with the breath of His mouth and will bring him to nothing with the brightness of His coming. (9) The coming of the lawless one is based on Satan's working, with all kinds of false miracles, signs, and wonders, (10) and with every unrighteous deception among those who are perishing. They perish because they did not accept the love of the truth in order to be saved. (11) For this reason God sends them a strong delusion so that they will believe what is false, (12) so that all will be condemned--those who did not believe the truth but enjoyed unrighteousness.
So we are left with the inescapable conclusion that humanity is totally depraved, hopelessly bound to its yetzer hara unless freed by the saving faith in the knowledge of the Messiah’s atoning work delivered to us by the gracious Holy Spirit.
[1] “He” is not in the original
The Fall
"And the Lord God commanded the man, 'You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die" (Genesis 2:16-17). The Fall of man is an essential doctrine of historic Christianity.
By Adam's one act sin entered the world, and through Adam all of humanity has inherited Adam's sin nature. The tree of the knowledge of good and evil was a testimony of God's sovereignty over all creation. Though Adam was allowed to eat from any tree in the garden, he freely chose to violate God's ordinance and do the one thing he was commanded not to do.
Adam did this of his own free will; he was not coerced: "The woman You put here with me -- she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it" (Genesis 3:12). The fruit was not something that had magical or mystical properties, but rather, was a simple means of demonstrating whether or not man would choose to love and obey God, or choose to reject God's sovereignty.
In the day that Adam and Eve ate the fruit they died spiritually. The close fellowship Adam and Eve had with God was broken. In time they would both, as God had promised, experience physical death as well. This would apply not only to Adam and Eve, but to all their descendants.
With the Fall came also a way of redemption. An animal's life was sacrificed to cover Adam and Eve (Genesis 3:21). This was a picture of the ultimate sacrifice that would occur in the distant future on Calvary. God, by his grace, would one day purchase man's redemption by paying the penalty for man's sin Himself.
In the generations to come the descendants of Adam and Eve, those who love God and are called according to His purpose, would be restored to fellowship through Jesus Christ. One day they will enter into God's kingdom and enjoy His fellowship face to face. Those who do not love God, and prefer sin instead, would reject the sacrifice. Ultimately, they will have to pay the penalty for their own sins, and be forever separated from the grace of God -- the God they have willingly rejected. "But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God's grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to many!" (Romans 5:15)
By Adam's one act sin entered the world, and through Adam all of humanity has inherited Adam's sin nature. The tree of the knowledge of good and evil was a testimony of God's sovereignty over all creation. Though Adam was allowed to eat from any tree in the garden, he freely chose to violate God's ordinance and do the one thing he was commanded not to do.
Adam did this of his own free will; he was not coerced: "The woman You put here with me -- she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it" (Genesis 3:12). The fruit was not something that had magical or mystical properties, but rather, was a simple means of demonstrating whether or not man would choose to love and obey God, or choose to reject God's sovereignty.
In the day that Adam and Eve ate the fruit they died spiritually. The close fellowship Adam and Eve had with God was broken. In time they would both, as God had promised, experience physical death as well. This would apply not only to Adam and Eve, but to all their descendants.
With the Fall came also a way of redemption. An animal's life was sacrificed to cover Adam and Eve (Genesis 3:21). This was a picture of the ultimate sacrifice that would occur in the distant future on Calvary. God, by his grace, would one day purchase man's redemption by paying the penalty for man's sin Himself.
In the generations to come the descendants of Adam and Eve, those who love God and are called according to His purpose, would be restored to fellowship through Jesus Christ. One day they will enter into God's kingdom and enjoy His fellowship face to face. Those who do not love God, and prefer sin instead, would reject the sacrifice. Ultimately, they will have to pay the penalty for their own sins, and be forever separated from the grace of God -- the God they have willingly rejected. "But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God's grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to many!" (Romans 5:15)
The Yetzer hara, the Sin Nature
"Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me" (Psalms 51:5).
Every human being sins. Sin is often defined as missing the mark. It is a failure to live up to God's requirements. We sin because we have a sin nature. Every human being possesses a sin nature -- a corrupt nature inherited from Adam. Our sin nature separates us from God: "The result of one trespass was condemnation for all men" (Romans 5:18). Christians have two natures at work in their being -- one is the old sin nature, and the other is a new nature controlled by the Spirit. These two natures are constantly at war with each other. Paul explains that, despite his best intentions, he is still influenced by his sin nature: "I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do -- this I keep on doing" (Romans 7:18-19).
While our two natures are constantly in conflict, it is not the sin nature that will ultimately control the Christian. Part of the sanctification process involves dying to the old nature. The Christian will sin, but the Christian will not continue in unrestrained sin: "You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you" (Romans 8:9).
Sin in the Christian's life will be followed by remorse and repentance. At Christ's second coming, when the believer's body is glorified, the sin nature will be destroyed once and for all.
Until then, we are told to resist the sin nature's temptations. God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it" (1 Corinthians 10:13).
Every human being sins. Sin is often defined as missing the mark. It is a failure to live up to God's requirements. We sin because we have a sin nature. Every human being possesses a sin nature -- a corrupt nature inherited from Adam. Our sin nature separates us from God: "The result of one trespass was condemnation for all men" (Romans 5:18). Christians have two natures at work in their being -- one is the old sin nature, and the other is a new nature controlled by the Spirit. These two natures are constantly at war with each other. Paul explains that, despite his best intentions, he is still influenced by his sin nature: "I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do -- this I keep on doing" (Romans 7:18-19).
While our two natures are constantly in conflict, it is not the sin nature that will ultimately control the Christian. Part of the sanctification process involves dying to the old nature. The Christian will sin, but the Christian will not continue in unrestrained sin: "You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you" (Romans 8:9).
Sin in the Christian's life will be followed by remorse and repentance. At Christ's second coming, when the believer's body is glorified, the sin nature will be destroyed once and for all.
Until then, we are told to resist the sin nature's temptations. God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it" (1 Corinthians 10:13).
Effect of sin, evil in the world
"Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff they comfort me" (Psalms 23:4). At one time or another every rational person will ask why evil exists. Unfortunately, most who ask that question will not take to the time to consider what evil actually is. Without understanding the nature of evil, one cannot hope to understand the evil itself. Evil is sometimes defined as the absence of good.
This definition needs further clarification, of course, but the key point that needs to be grasped is that evil is not a physical or supernatural thing -- it is an absence of something in a relationship -- and is not a something in and of itself.
Moral evil is one of two broad categories used to describe evil; the other category being natural evil. Let's will deal with them separately. Moral evil results from the exercising of our free will. If we freely choose not to do that which is good, evil results. For example, a person covets someone's possessions, acts upon the desire and steals the possessions, and thus harms the person he stole from. Had the potential thief not acted upon his covetous desires -- which would have been the good thing to do -- no harm (evil) would have occurred.
Natural evil is generally viewed as that which occurs as result of natural events (for
instance, deaths or injuries due to tornadoes and earthquakes). Tornadoes and earthquakes are not in themselves evil. They serve a vital function in the natural order, but when a person and a tornado share an identical location harm will result. The question really is not why God allows natural disasters to harm people, but rather, why is there death and suffering -- any kind of death and suffering -- in the first place?
We live in a cursed creation (Genesis 3:17-19). Physical death and spiritual death are
aspects of this curse. When viewed in light of a cursed creation, death is not evil. Death spares the righteous person from experiencing no more evil than is necessary: "The righteous perish, and no one ponders it in his heart; devout men are taken away, and no one understands that the righteous are take away to be spared from evil. Those who walk uprightly enter into peace; they find rest as they lie in death" (Isaiah 57:1-2). Second, death helps to restrain evil, and thereby protects society from becoming completely reprobate. This was evident in Noah's Flood -- humanity had become almost entirely reprobate, and only righteous Noah and his family were spared: "So God said to Noah, 'I am going to put an end to all people, for the earth is filled with violence because of them. I am surely going to destroy both them and the earth'" (Genesis 6:13). Physical death is not the end of personal existence -- it is an event that marks a transition. As long as salvation history is being played out in a cursed creation, which God has ordained that it must be, death -- which releases us from the cursed natural order -- can be considered a gift of God.
Few people enjoy suffering. But suffering produces positive characteristics that,
evidently, cannot be acquired in any other way: "We also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us" (Romans 5:3-5). Suffering is an aspect of God's loving discipline; we learn through suffering: "Endure hardship as discipline ... No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it" (Hebrews 12:7, 11). Finally, suffering keeps us from thinking more highly of ourselves than we should -- it is a reminder of our mortality, and of God's sovereignty: "To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh ... Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But He said to me, 'My graces is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness'" (2 Corinthans 12:7-9).
Though we, as long as we are on earth, will likely question the evil that we experience,
we should take comfort in the knowledge that even our suffering has been ordained by God for our benefit. Someday we will fully understand the reasons for undergoing these trials: "Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known" (1 Corinthians 13:12). We can also take comfort in knowing that our Creator, through Jesus Christ, experienced suffering and death; He shared in our suffering so that we could be saved. "Surely He took up or infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered Him stricken by God, smitten by Him, and afflicted. But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for out iniquities; the punishment that brought
us peace was upon Him, and by His wounds we are healed" (Isaiah 53:4-5).
This definition needs further clarification, of course, but the key point that needs to be grasped is that evil is not a physical or supernatural thing -- it is an absence of something in a relationship -- and is not a something in and of itself.
Moral evil is one of two broad categories used to describe evil; the other category being natural evil. Let's will deal with them separately. Moral evil results from the exercising of our free will. If we freely choose not to do that which is good, evil results. For example, a person covets someone's possessions, acts upon the desire and steals the possessions, and thus harms the person he stole from. Had the potential thief not acted upon his covetous desires -- which would have been the good thing to do -- no harm (evil) would have occurred.
Natural evil is generally viewed as that which occurs as result of natural events (for
instance, deaths or injuries due to tornadoes and earthquakes). Tornadoes and earthquakes are not in themselves evil. They serve a vital function in the natural order, but when a person and a tornado share an identical location harm will result. The question really is not why God allows natural disasters to harm people, but rather, why is there death and suffering -- any kind of death and suffering -- in the first place?
We live in a cursed creation (Genesis 3:17-19). Physical death and spiritual death are
aspects of this curse. When viewed in light of a cursed creation, death is not evil. Death spares the righteous person from experiencing no more evil than is necessary: "The righteous perish, and no one ponders it in his heart; devout men are taken away, and no one understands that the righteous are take away to be spared from evil. Those who walk uprightly enter into peace; they find rest as they lie in death" (Isaiah 57:1-2). Second, death helps to restrain evil, and thereby protects society from becoming completely reprobate. This was evident in Noah's Flood -- humanity had become almost entirely reprobate, and only righteous Noah and his family were spared: "So God said to Noah, 'I am going to put an end to all people, for the earth is filled with violence because of them. I am surely going to destroy both them and the earth'" (Genesis 6:13). Physical death is not the end of personal existence -- it is an event that marks a transition. As long as salvation history is being played out in a cursed creation, which God has ordained that it must be, death -- which releases us from the cursed natural order -- can be considered a gift of God.
Few people enjoy suffering. But suffering produces positive characteristics that,
evidently, cannot be acquired in any other way: "We also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us" (Romans 5:3-5). Suffering is an aspect of God's loving discipline; we learn through suffering: "Endure hardship as discipline ... No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it" (Hebrews 12:7, 11). Finally, suffering keeps us from thinking more highly of ourselves than we should -- it is a reminder of our mortality, and of God's sovereignty: "To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh ... Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But He said to me, 'My graces is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness'" (2 Corinthans 12:7-9).
Though we, as long as we are on earth, will likely question the evil that we experience,
we should take comfort in the knowledge that even our suffering has been ordained by God for our benefit. Someday we will fully understand the reasons for undergoing these trials: "Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known" (1 Corinthians 13:12). We can also take comfort in knowing that our Creator, through Jesus Christ, experienced suffering and death; He shared in our suffering so that we could be saved. "Surely He took up or infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered Him stricken by God, smitten by Him, and afflicted. But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for out iniquities; the punishment that brought
us peace was upon Him, and by His wounds we are healed" (Isaiah 53:4-5).
Can God Look Upon Evil? If So, Where Are We?
Apparently the principle argument for this idea stems from Habakkuk 1:13.
Those who would argue this then point to the time when Jesus became sin and took upon Himself the punishment for our sins. They claim that Jesus being forsaken by the Father was because of this principle.
However, there are some serious problems with this argument both scripturally and logically. First, let’s examine the theological problems. God is constantly searching for “a few good men.” Obviously, He has to look at billions who aren’t in order to find them for “few find the way.”
God watches all our ways, and frankly – a lot of mine don’t make the cut. There is no deep darkness where evil doers can hide themselves, so clearly the Lord is seeing their sin and wicked ways.
God sees not only good deed but wicked deeds; not only saints but sinners. Being omnipresent He cannot escape the evil that we do to one another and to Him. Being omniscient He does not even have the luxury of willful ignorance.
Our hearts, even those of us who have been graciously saved, are woefully wicked and the Lord God sees into the very depths of us. Nothing can be hidden from Him. All of us are naked and exposed to His all-seeing eye. This is why one of His names is El Rohi – the God who sees. This is why He is called Natsar ‘Adam – Watcher of Mankind.
Clearly, the preponderance of Scripture does not support the idea that God is too sensitive, too delicate to even look upon sin. He absolutely looks upon it and feels an intense hatred for it. So scripturally speaking the concept is without merit.
Logically speaking the concept is equally weak. Let me try to verbalize the problem this way.
Therefore where am I? Do you see the logical problem?
So, what do we do with Habakkuk 1:13? The answer lies in realizing that we are being given a false dichotomy. God IS holy and will destroy sin every time because He can do nothing else. However God is ALSO patient and merciful. He does not necessarily destroy it IMMEDIATELY. However, in the end, sin will always end up on the losing end of the battle.
Similarly, God cannot stand the sight of sin. But that doesn’t mean that He won’t look upon it. As a good man hates looking on the killing fields of war but will anyway for the right cause, so God hates the sight of sin but keeps going out every day looking for whatever survivors He can rescue from the clutches of the enemy.
- Habakkuk 1:13 HCSB Your eyes are too pure to look on evil, and You cannot tolerate wrongdoing. So why do You tolerate those who are treacherous? Why are You silent while one who is wicked swallows up one who is more righteous than himself?
Those who would argue this then point to the time when Jesus became sin and took upon Himself the punishment for our sins. They claim that Jesus being forsaken by the Father was because of this principle.
- Matthew 27:45-46 HCSB From noon until three in the afternoon darkness came over the whole land. (46) At about three in the afternoon Jesus cried out with a loud voice, "Elí, Elí, lemá sabachtháni?" that is, "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?"
- Mark 15:34 HCSB And at three Jesus cried out with a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lemá sabachtháni?" which is translated, "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?"
However, there are some serious problems with this argument both scripturally and logically. First, let’s examine the theological problems. God is constantly searching for “a few good men.” Obviously, He has to look at billions who aren’t in order to find them for “few find the way.”
- 2 Chronicles 16:9 HCSB For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to show Himself strong for those whose hearts are completely His. You have been foolish in this matter, for from now on, you will have wars."
- Matthew 7:13-14 HCSB "Enter through the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the road is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who go through it. (14) How narrow is the gate and difficult the road that leads to life, and few find it.
God watches all our ways, and frankly – a lot of mine don’t make the cut. There is no deep darkness where evil doers can hide themselves, so clearly the Lord is seeing their sin and wicked ways.
- Job 34:21-22 HCSB For His eyes watch over a man's ways, and He observes all his steps. (22) There is no darkness, no deep darkness, where evildoers can hide themselves.
- Proverbs 5:21 HCSB For a man's ways are before the LORD's eyes, and He considers all his paths.
God sees not only good deed but wicked deeds; not only saints but sinners. Being omnipresent He cannot escape the evil that we do to one another and to Him. Being omniscient He does not even have the luxury of willful ignorance.
- Proverbs 15:3 HCSB The eyes of the LORD are everywhere, observing the wicked and the good.
- Jeremiah 16:17 HCSB for My gaze takes in all their ways. They are not concealed from Me, and their guilt is not hidden from My sight.
Our hearts, even those of us who have been graciously saved, are woefully wicked and the Lord God sees into the very depths of us. Nothing can be hidden from Him. All of us are naked and exposed to His all-seeing eye. This is why one of His names is El Rohi – the God who sees. This is why He is called Natsar ‘Adam – Watcher of Mankind.
- Hebrews 4:12-13 HCSB For the word of God is living and effective and sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating as far as to divide soul, spirit, joints, and marrow; it is a judge of the ideas and thoughts of the heart. (13) No creature is hidden from Him, but all things are naked and exposed to the eyes of Him to whom we must give an account.
Clearly, the preponderance of Scripture does not support the idea that God is too sensitive, too delicate to even look upon sin. He absolutely looks upon it and feels an intense hatred for it. So scripturally speaking the concept is without merit.
Logically speaking the concept is equally weak. Let me try to verbalize the problem this way.
- God is omnipresent – meaning equally present in every spatial point.
- God is holy – meaning (according to this definition) incapable of tolerating sin.
- I am a sinner.
Therefore where am I? Do you see the logical problem?
So, what do we do with Habakkuk 1:13? The answer lies in realizing that we are being given a false dichotomy. God IS holy and will destroy sin every time because He can do nothing else. However God is ALSO patient and merciful. He does not necessarily destroy it IMMEDIATELY. However, in the end, sin will always end up on the losing end of the battle.
Similarly, God cannot stand the sight of sin. But that doesn’t mean that He won’t look upon it. As a good man hates looking on the killing fields of war but will anyway for the right cause, so God hates the sight of sin but keeps going out every day looking for whatever survivors He can rescue from the clutches of the enemy.
If God is Really Loving, Why Does He Permit Evil?
Take a moment to consider the following statistics:
And we won’t even go into all the natural disasters, disease and Third World hunger. Why? Why must the innocent suffer? Why so much death, disease and destruction? This is a question that has plagued man for centuries, both believers and unbelievers alike. They have both asked this question.
A. God gave mankind a free will.
In the Book of Genesis we learn that God gave mankind a free will. That is, this God who created man in His own Image to bring Him Glory and Pleasure gave to every man, woman and child the power to choose for him\herself independent of God.
B. We have inherited a sinful nature.
The Book of Gen. also tells us that Adam and Eve fell in the Garden and that ever since man has been born with a sin nature to rebel against the Living God.
Just as you may have been the happy recipient of a Big Nose or a Long Nose or a certain Hair or Eye Color, or maybe you are Short or you are Tall. Just as we have received these things through birth so it is with a "Sin Nature". Once Adam and Eve Sinned every person born into the world inherited a "Sin Nature", that is to "Rebel against God; and so it has been ever since.
Then there is "WILLFUL SIN"- where we deliberately choose to sin against God.
I am not going to get any further into the Doctrine of Sin than that. I only wish to remind us that man by "Nature" is Rebellious against God and that Man is "Willful"; that is man has the power to choose, to freely make a cognitive choice of his own volition and according to his own desires.
C. Free will is necessary for true love to exist.
For just a moment, pretend that you are God and in your imagination you are going to recreate a perfect world. Keep in mind, however, that for every thing that you do there is a ramification, a certain consequence.
OK let’s start by wiping out "all murder". POOF! NO More Murder! Now let’s get rid of "all rape". POOF! No More Rape! Oh, you can’t stop there, why don’t you stop all robberies. POOF! NO More Robberies! While you’re at it why don’t you eliminate World Hunger? POOF! No More Hunger! People are helping to plant crops again and are giving food in abundance! People are being fed again. Great! Fantastic! Continue to wipe out every known evil till you are finished.
Oh wait a minute! Something is wrong. No one is following you anymore. No one believes in you anymore and No one loves you anymore. “What do you mean” you may ask? “Didn’t we just finish wiping out and eliminating all the evil in the world? What do you mean that no one loves me anymore!”
For everything you do there are ramifications, certain consequences – remember?
1. When you wiped out all murder, you wiped out the "choice" of certain people to "commit" murder.
2. When you ridded the earth of rape, you ridded the "choice" of certain people to "choose" to rape.
3. When you stopped all robberies, you stopped the "choice" of certain people to "choose" to rob.
4. When you stopped World Hunger you took away certain people’s "choice" to NOT help those in need. OR man’s choice not to work in the fields in such a way to preserve its crop.
Forced love is not love at all. Without free will, without the ability to choose, love cannot exist. God knew that many would choose wrongly but evidently felt that the reward of true love was worth the consequences.
D. God created the earth we live on, man created the world we live in.
So you see. When man’s "choice" was taken from him; Man could no longer choose to do "evil", however, he could also no longer choose to do "good". If man cannot "choose" to hate man cannot "choose" to love either. Thus, mankind cannot "choose" to love a "loving" God who loved them first.
But God is a loving God, isn’t He? God "chose" to create the earth we live on. Man "chose" to create the world we live in! The Earth is by "Design", the World is by "Choice".
E. God has been offering to help for millennia.
A preacher and an atheistic barber were once walking through the city slums. Said the barber to the preacher: "This is why I cannot believe in a God of love. If God was as kind and loving as you say, He would not permit all this poverty, disease, and squalor. He would not allow these poor bums to be addicted to dope and other character-destroying habits. No, I cannot believe in a God who permits these things."
The minister was silent until they met a man who was especially unkempt and filthy. His hair was hanging down his neck and he had a half-inch of stubble on his face. Said the minister: "You can’t be a very good barber or you wouldn’t permit a man like that to continue living in this neighborhood without a haircut and a shave."
Indignantly the barber answered: "Why blame me for that man’s condition? I can’t help it that he is like that. He has never come in my shop. I could fix him up and make him look like a gentleman!"
Giving the barber a penetrating look, the minister said: "Then don’t blame God for allowing the people to continue in their evil ways, when He is constantly inviting them to come and be saved.
- A Woman is battered every 15 seconds.
- 1.3 Adult women are raped every minute.
- 45 Americans were killed in alcohol related traffic crashes each day in 1994.
- Approximately 6 children are reported abused and neglected in America every 60 seconds.
- There was a murder every 24 minutes in 1985, and the rate has only increased since.
- There is a robbery every 51 seconds.
- There is a violent crime of some kind every 18 seconds.
- There is an aggravated assault every 29 seconds.
- There are 20 employees murdered and 18,000 assaulted on the job every week.
- A recent CIA report estimates 2 million women and children are sexually trafficked from all over the world, including the U.S. each year into prostitution and pornography. They are sold to brothels where they are beaten and raped.
And we won’t even go into all the natural disasters, disease and Third World hunger. Why? Why must the innocent suffer? Why so much death, disease and destruction? This is a question that has plagued man for centuries, both believers and unbelievers alike. They have both asked this question.
A. God gave mankind a free will.
In the Book of Genesis we learn that God gave mankind a free will. That is, this God who created man in His own Image to bring Him Glory and Pleasure gave to every man, woman and child the power to choose for him\herself independent of God.
B. We have inherited a sinful nature.
The Book of Gen. also tells us that Adam and Eve fell in the Garden and that ever since man has been born with a sin nature to rebel against the Living God.
Just as you may have been the happy recipient of a Big Nose or a Long Nose or a certain Hair or Eye Color, or maybe you are Short or you are Tall. Just as we have received these things through birth so it is with a "Sin Nature". Once Adam and Eve Sinned every person born into the world inherited a "Sin Nature", that is to "Rebel against God; and so it has been ever since.
- Romans 5:19 HCSB For just as through one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, so also through the one man's obedience the many will be made righteous.
Then there is "WILLFUL SIN"- where we deliberately choose to sin against God.
- James 1:13-15 HCSB No one undergoing a trial should say, "I am being tempted by God." For God is not tempted by evil, and He Himself doesn't tempt anyone. 14 But each person is tempted when he is drawn away and enticed by his own evil desires. 15 Then after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and when sin is fully grown, it gives birth to death.
I am not going to get any further into the Doctrine of Sin than that. I only wish to remind us that man by "Nature" is Rebellious against God and that Man is "Willful"; that is man has the power to choose, to freely make a cognitive choice of his own volition and according to his own desires.
C. Free will is necessary for true love to exist.
For just a moment, pretend that you are God and in your imagination you are going to recreate a perfect world. Keep in mind, however, that for every thing that you do there is a ramification, a certain consequence.
OK let’s start by wiping out "all murder". POOF! NO More Murder! Now let’s get rid of "all rape". POOF! No More Rape! Oh, you can’t stop there, why don’t you stop all robberies. POOF! NO More Robberies! While you’re at it why don’t you eliminate World Hunger? POOF! No More Hunger! People are helping to plant crops again and are giving food in abundance! People are being fed again. Great! Fantastic! Continue to wipe out every known evil till you are finished.
Oh wait a minute! Something is wrong. No one is following you anymore. No one believes in you anymore and No one loves you anymore. “What do you mean” you may ask? “Didn’t we just finish wiping out and eliminating all the evil in the world? What do you mean that no one loves me anymore!”
For everything you do there are ramifications, certain consequences – remember?
1. When you wiped out all murder, you wiped out the "choice" of certain people to "commit" murder.
2. When you ridded the earth of rape, you ridded the "choice" of certain people to "choose" to rape.
3. When you stopped all robberies, you stopped the "choice" of certain people to "choose" to rob.
4. When you stopped World Hunger you took away certain people’s "choice" to NOT help those in need. OR man’s choice not to work in the fields in such a way to preserve its crop.
Forced love is not love at all. Without free will, without the ability to choose, love cannot exist. God knew that many would choose wrongly but evidently felt that the reward of true love was worth the consequences.
D. God created the earth we live on, man created the world we live in.
So you see. When man’s "choice" was taken from him; Man could no longer choose to do "evil", however, he could also no longer choose to do "good". If man cannot "choose" to hate man cannot "choose" to love either. Thus, mankind cannot "choose" to love a "loving" God who loved them first.
But God is a loving God, isn’t He? God "chose" to create the earth we live on. Man "chose" to create the world we live in! The Earth is by "Design", the World is by "Choice".
E. God has been offering to help for millennia.
A preacher and an atheistic barber were once walking through the city slums. Said the barber to the preacher: "This is why I cannot believe in a God of love. If God was as kind and loving as you say, He would not permit all this poverty, disease, and squalor. He would not allow these poor bums to be addicted to dope and other character-destroying habits. No, I cannot believe in a God who permits these things."
The minister was silent until they met a man who was especially unkempt and filthy. His hair was hanging down his neck and he had a half-inch of stubble on his face. Said the minister: "You can’t be a very good barber or you wouldn’t permit a man like that to continue living in this neighborhood without a haircut and a shave."
Indignantly the barber answered: "Why blame me for that man’s condition? I can’t help it that he is like that. He has never come in my shop. I could fix him up and make him look like a gentleman!"
Giving the barber a penetrating look, the minister said: "Then don’t blame God for allowing the people to continue in their evil ways, when He is constantly inviting them to come and be saved.
- Romans 5:8 HCSB But God proves His own love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us!
- 1 John 4:8 HCSB The one who does not love does not know God, because God is love.
The Unpardonable Sin
"If anyone sees his brother commit a sin that does not lead to death, he should pray and God will give him life. I refer to those whose sin does not lead to death. There is a sin that leads to death. I am not saying that he should pray about that. All wrongdoing is sin, and there is sin that does not lead to death" (1 John 5:16-17). There is a sin that is often referred to as the unpardonable sin. It is a sin that will result in death -- not just physical death -- but in spiritual death. There is no redemption for the person who commits the unpardonable sin.
Jesus confirmed the unpardonable sin in Matthew 12: "And so I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come" (Matthew 12:30-32).
Christians differ as to what actually constitutes the unpardonable sin. Three positions dominate this debate. Each agree that it involves blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, but the debate centers around what actually constitutes the blasphemy. One position holds that blasphemy against the Spirit is attributing the works of God the Holy Spirit to Satan; specifically, those works done through Jesus Christ. This camp believes the unpardonable sin could only have been committed while Christ walked the earth.
The second position holds that, once a person is sufficiently enlightened by the Holy Spirit to have a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ, and instead rejects Christ as being demonic, then that person has committed the unpardonable sin.
The third position claims that blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is an ongoing rejection of Christ's offer of salvation. Any of the three positions is acceptable, and is not a reason over which to break fellowship.
Many people fear that they themselves have committed the unpardonable sin. Such a fear is proof that they have not committed it -- fear or remorse is an indication that the Spirit is still at work in their being. One who commits the unpardonable sin has heard and understood the Spirit's testimony to the extent that they are fully cognizant of their choice to blaspheme. They are incapable of repentance. This is what the writer of Hebrews was referring to when he wrote, "It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened ... who have shared in the Holy Spirit ... if they fall away, to be brought back to repentance" (Hebrews 6:4, 6).
We do not have the authority to accuse someone of having committed the unpardonable sin. To do so would be to judge the person as forever lost, without hope of redemption. Christians do not have the knowledge or authority to make such pronouncements. Only God knows who has committed the unpardonable sin.
Jesus confirmed the unpardonable sin in Matthew 12: "And so I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come" (Matthew 12:30-32).
Christians differ as to what actually constitutes the unpardonable sin. Three positions dominate this debate. Each agree that it involves blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, but the debate centers around what actually constitutes the blasphemy. One position holds that blasphemy against the Spirit is attributing the works of God the Holy Spirit to Satan; specifically, those works done through Jesus Christ. This camp believes the unpardonable sin could only have been committed while Christ walked the earth.
The second position holds that, once a person is sufficiently enlightened by the Holy Spirit to have a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ, and instead rejects Christ as being demonic, then that person has committed the unpardonable sin.
The third position claims that blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is an ongoing rejection of Christ's offer of salvation. Any of the three positions is acceptable, and is not a reason over which to break fellowship.
Many people fear that they themselves have committed the unpardonable sin. Such a fear is proof that they have not committed it -- fear or remorse is an indication that the Spirit is still at work in their being. One who commits the unpardonable sin has heard and understood the Spirit's testimony to the extent that they are fully cognizant of their choice to blaspheme. They are incapable of repentance. This is what the writer of Hebrews was referring to when he wrote, "It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened ... who have shared in the Holy Spirit ... if they fall away, to be brought back to repentance" (Hebrews 6:4, 6).
We do not have the authority to accuse someone of having committed the unpardonable sin. To do so would be to judge the person as forever lost, without hope of redemption. Christians do not have the knowledge or authority to make such pronouncements. Only God knows who has committed the unpardonable sin.
