God’s Sovereignty and the Existence of Evil October 14, 2006
Posted by JP in Discussion, Faith, Uncategorized.trackback
Genesis 2:7-3:24
Throughout the Bible, we see evidence of God’s authority over both humanity and nature. However, we have trouble reconciling God’s sovereign control with the existence of evil. What does Scripture tell us?
In the beginning, God created a perfect world, in which He declared that all He had made was good (Genesis 1:31). Wickedness was not part of what He had fashioned. In the heavens, however, an angel known as Satan sought to elevate himself above God and was cast down to earth (Isaiah 14:12).
God created Adam and Eve in His image. They were made with the capacity to love their Creator and the ability to choose to obey or disobey Him. God had no desire for Adam and Eve to sin (James 1:13), but He allowed their wills to be tested. We know the rest of the story. When they disobeyed God, sin entered our world and corrupted mankind. As Adam and Eve’s descendants, we inherited the “flesh” nature (Romans 5:12).
The Lord’s permissive will allowed events to unfold as they have. God did not create evil, but He has permitted it to exist and uses it to accomplish His good purposes (Isaiah 45:6-7).
When you have questions or doubts about God’s sovereignty, start with what you do understand, study what God has revealed about Himself and His ways, and ask the Holy Spirit to help you believe. A few answers to your questions will come quickly, while some will require diligent study and spiritual maturity. For others, which God has chosen to keep hidden (Deuteronomy 29:29), we are to walk by faith.
is45:6-7 that they may know from the rising of the sun and from the west, that there is none beside me. I AM the LORD, and there is none else.
I form light and create darkness; I make peace and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.