Devotional - 99-05-29 - Who was Responsible for Sin?

God did not create sin or evil. The anointed cherub, after unrighteousness had entered his heart, was responsible for bringing sin into the world. You may wonder how this can be since only God can create. By the word creation we mean "to bring into existence that which had no prior form or substance". It is important to learn all we can about this one who brought about such havoc throughout the universe. Without this knowledge it is impossible to understand the cause behind what is constantly going on in the world.

The subject is dealt with in the scriptures by progressive revelation. Meaning that once the subject has been stated further revelation is given and additional light is provided as demands arise. In order to get a clear picture we must trace this doctrine through the Bible, beginning at the point of its introduction.

There is abundant testimony throughout scripture concerning Gods purity and holiness. God could not and did not create evil in any form. A misunderstanding of Isaiah 45:7 has led some to believe that God does create evil. "I form the light and create darkness; I make peace and create evil; I am Jehovah that doeth all these things." The Hebrew word rah, here translated "evil" means calamities and judgments. Though the same word can imply moral delinquency and failure, in this passage things of an opposite nature are contrasted, light and darkness: peace and evil. Considering this arrangement it is clear that evil here, refers to war since it is the opposite of peace. The prophets often speak of God as bringing wars upon nations as punishment for their sins. So the same implication of evil is in its usage here.When the scriptures are studied carefully nowhere in scripture will one find the slightest inference that God is the author of evil or sin.

The deadly force of sin existed in the universe before the creation of Adam. Satan is the author of sin and its deadly forces.

The serpent in the garden

The first allusion to Satan (the adversary) or the Devil (the destroyer) appears in Genesis chapter 3. There we see him in the form of a serpent deceiving Eve, persuading her to disobey God. The result of this fatal step, step of disobedience was the fall of the human race and the coming of the curse upon the earth. Satan then brings to the earth and history making calamity that effects all creation.

Safeguards

Following Adam and Eve's act of disobedience and their fall, the Lord drove them from the Garden of Eden. God placed mighty cherubim and the flame of a sword - which turned every way - at the East of the Garden to keep the way of the Tree of Life.

The Lord did this so that man while in his fallen position could not have access to the tree of life and live forever. Had Adam taken of the Tree of Life, he would have become immortal in his corrupt state and doomed the entire human race to eternal condemnation. God did not intend that man should live forever in sin. God protected the entrance to the Garden so that Satan could not fulfill his diabolical purpose of separating man from God.

We also learn from scripture that the Enemy has a vast army of evil spirits at his command. The omnipotent Lord could have used his mighty power to eliminate all possibility of further rebellion. He did not do so. He acted in accordance with the great fundamental principles upon which his government is established.

From the time of his fall until the present, Satan has been the minister of death. He universally executes the wrath of God as one having the power of death. This is seen in Hebrews 2:14,15:

Hebrews 2:14,15 "Since then the children are sharers in flesh and blood, he also himself in like manner partook of the same; that through death he might bring to naught him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; ¹⁵ and might deliver all them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage."

To Be Continued

Liv4Yeshua

liv4yeshua@cfdevotionals.org
http://www.cfdevotionals.org