THE ORIGIN OF SIN AND EVIL
Nobody can deny the fact that man is sinful and his heart is wicked. Sin has become a human problem. Many people ask the question, “If God is a God of love, why did He allow sin and evil to enter into the world?” There are many explanations for the origin of sin.
1. The Entrance of Sin into the Universe
Before Adam and Eve sinned, sin had entered the universe. God created angels with spiritual bodies (Col. 1:16) superior to man (Ps. 8:3-5). Among the angels, Lucifer and his angels were clothed with wisdom, light and beauty. Lucifer was guarding the throne of God. There was no sin in him in the beginning, but he also had the freewill of choice. Evil originated in the heart of Lucifer and he rebelled against God (Is. 14:12-14; Ezek. 28:11-19). So Lucifer and his angels became the first sinners (1 John 3:8; Ezek. 28:16; John 8:44). They fell because of pride, covetousness and self-will. Other angels also sinned with him and fell (2 Pet. 2:4; Jude 6). So Satan was the originator of sin and he sinned because of pride by rebelling against God with his angels. They were defeated and thrown away from the presence of God. God allowed him to roam about the earth (Job 1:7).
2. The Entrance of Sin into Humanity
God created Adam and Eve with freewill and as morally responsible creatures in the image and likeness of God. He placed them in the Garden of Eden. God gave them a clear command ‘not to eat the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.’ He also told them that they will surely die if they eat the forbidden fruit of the tree.
Satan, who is the originator of sin and who had already sinned, came to Eve. He used the body of the serpent to speak to Eve. He enticed her to sin. He told her that she will not die but will be like God if she eats the fruit. Eve listened to Satan’s lies. She was attracted by the fruit. She wanted to be like God (pride) with freedom and knowledge. So Eve ate the forbidden fruit, gave it to Adam and he ate it. It was God’s test to find out their obedience. They failed to obey God and thus fell into sin.
Adam and Eve were tempted in various ways. They yielded to temptation and committed sin.
They were tempted in the body – lust of the flesh – the fruit was good for food.
They were tempted in the soul – lust of the eyes – the fruit was pleasant to the eyes.
They were tempted in the spirit – the pride of life they wanted to become like God (pride).
Like Lucifer, they were also tempted in three areas namely lust, pride and self-will. They gave in to temptation and and fell. It produced devastating effects on all humanity bringing sin and death (1 Cor. 15:22) into the world (Rom. 5:12) Since Adam is the head of our race, all humanity sinned in the person of Adam. So we are all bom in sin (Ps. 51:5), corrupted in our nature by Adam’s sin and now we live under the sentence of death (Rom. 5:12). Jesus Christ was tempted in these three areas, body, soul and spirit at the temptation in the wilderness and overcame the temptation. But the Second Adam resisted the temptations.
3. The Results of Sin
God warned Adam and Eve that they will ‘surely die’ on the day that they eat the fruit. So when they ate the forbidden fruit and sinned against God; death entered into humanity. Death means separation and there were three deaths at the fall.
a. Spiritual death
When they sinned they died spiritually, since they were separated from God and the Garden of Eden (Gen. 3:22-24).
b. Physical death
The physical death is murder. Cain murdered his brother (Gen. 4:8). Adam and his descendants began to die. So they died physically.
c. Second death
This is separation from God and His presence forever and ever. They are liable to be in hell (forever) because of their sin (Rev. 20:14).
Thus as a result of sin, man came under the judgment of God and placed himself in the hopeless position of being separated from God (Is. 59:2; Rom. 3:19, 20). He did not know how to save himself. But God out of His grace did not leave man helpless. Through the obedience of one man, Jesus Christ, God reversed the effect of Adam’s sin (Rom. 5:6, 8, 15, 18).
4. The End of Sin
Due to Adam’s disobedience, sin and death entered the world. But due to Christ’s death on the cross, there came an end to sin (Rev. 14:13). The end of sin will be in three stages.
a. The end of all who continue to live in sin
Satan, the villain for the sins of the world will be bound for thousand years and then cast into the lake of fire forever (Rev. 20:10). The unbelievers who are alive and those who have died will be judged and thrown into the lake of fire (Matt. 24:45, 46, 51; Rev. 20:11-15). The fallen angels will also be cast out forever (Jude 6).
b. The end of all who put their trust in God
Those who are alive at the rapture of Jesus Christ will be taken up to be with the Lord forever (1 Thess. 4:17). Believers will get eternal life (Matt. 25:34, 46). They will not be touched by the second death (Rev. 20:6) and will receive rewards in the Day of judgment (2 Cor. 5:10).
c. The end of the world
The present world will be bunt up and and dissolved. New heaven and earth will be formed (2 Pet. 3:10-13). God will dwell with man (Rev. 21:3, 22) and believers will ‘reign forever and ever (Rev. 22:5). What a bright future for those who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ!
Nobody can deny the fact that man is sinful and his heart is wicked. Sin has become a human problem. Many people ask the question, “If God is a God of love, why did He allow sin and evil to enter into the world?” There are many explanations for the origin of sin.
1. The Entrance of Sin into the Universe
Before Adam and Eve sinned, sin had entered the universe. God created angels with spiritual bodies (Col. 1:16) superior to man (Ps. 8:3-5). Among the angels, Lucifer and his angels were clothed with wisdom, light and beauty. Lucifer was guarding the throne of God. There was no sin in him in the beginning, but he also had the freewill of choice. Evil originated in the heart of Lucifer and he rebelled against God (Is. 14:12-14; Ezek. 28:11-19). So Lucifer and his angels became the first sinners (1 John 3:8; Ezek. 28:16; John 8:44). They fell because of pride, covetousness and self-will. Other angels also sinned with him and fell (2 Pet. 2:4; Jude 6). So Satan was the originator of sin and he sinned because of pride by rebelling against God with his angels. They were defeated and thrown away from the presence of God. God allowed him to roam about the earth (Job 1:7).
2. The Entrance of Sin into Humanity
God created Adam and Eve with freewill and as morally responsible creatures in the image and likeness of God. He placed them in the Garden of Eden. God gave them a clear command ‘not to eat the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.’ He also told them that they will surely die if they eat the forbidden fruit of the tree.
Satan, who is the originator of sin and who had already sinned, came to Eve. He used the body of the serpent to speak to Eve. He enticed her to sin. He told her that she will not die but will be like God if she eats the fruit. Eve listened to Satan’s lies. She was attracted by the fruit. She wanted to be like God (pride) with freedom and knowledge. So Eve ate the forbidden fruit, gave it to Adam and he ate it. It was God’s test to find out their obedience. They failed to obey God and thus fell into sin.
Adam and Eve were tempted in various ways. They yielded to temptation and committed sin.
They were tempted in the body – lust of the flesh – the fruit was good for food.
They were tempted in the soul – lust of the eyes – the fruit was pleasant to the eyes.
They were tempted in the spirit – the pride of life they wanted to become like God (pride).
Like Lucifer, they were also tempted in three areas namely lust, pride and self-will. They gave in to temptation and and fell. It produced devastating effects on all humanity bringing sin and death (1 Cor. 15:22) into the world (Rom. 5:12) Since Adam is the head of our race, all humanity sinned in the person of Adam. So we are all bom in sin (Ps. 51:5), corrupted in our nature by Adam’s sin and now we live under the sentence of death (Rom. 5:12). Jesus Christ was tempted in these three areas, body, soul and spirit at the temptation in the wilderness and overcame the temptation. But the Second Adam resisted the temptations.
3. The Results of Sin
God warned Adam and Eve that they will ‘surely die’ on the day that they eat the fruit. So when they ate the forbidden fruit and sinned against God; death entered into humanity. Death means separation and there were three deaths at the fall.
a. Spiritual death
When they sinned they died spiritually, since they were separated from God and the Garden of Eden (Gen. 3:22-24).
b. Physical death
The physical death is murder. Cain murdered his brother (Gen. 4:8). Adam and his descendants began to die. So they died physically.
c. Second death
This is separation from God and His presence forever and ever. They are liable to be in hell (forever) because of their sin (Rev. 20:14).
Thus as a result of sin, man came under the judgment of God and placed himself in the hopeless position of being separated from God (Is. 59:2; Rom. 3:19, 20). He did not know how to save himself. But God out of His grace did not leave man helpless. Through the obedience of one man, Jesus Christ, God reversed the effect of Adam’s sin (Rom. 5:6, 8, 15, 18).
4. The End of Sin
Due to Adam’s disobedience, sin and death entered the world. But due to Christ’s death on the cross, there came an end to sin (Rev. 14:13). The end of sin will be in three stages.
a. The end of all who continue to live in sin
Satan, the villain for the sins of the world will be bound for thousand years and then cast into the lake of fire forever (Rev. 20:10). The unbelievers who are alive and those who have died will be judged and thrown into the lake of fire (Matt. 24:45, 46, 51; Rev. 20:11-15). The fallen angels will also be cast out forever (Jude 6).
b. The end of all who put their trust in God
Those who are alive at the rapture of Jesus Christ will be taken up to be with the Lord forever (1 Thess. 4:17). Believers will get eternal life (Matt. 25:34, 46). They will not be touched by the second death (Rev. 20:6) and will receive rewards in the Day of judgment (2 Cor. 5:10).
c. The end of the world
The present world will be bunt up and and dissolved. New heaven and earth will be formed (2 Pet. 3:10-13). God will dwell with man (Rev. 21:3, 22) and believers will ‘reign forever and ever (Rev. 22:5). What a bright future for those who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ!
