If God is omnipotent, why can't He smite the devil?

[travesser]

nt.

 

[revolutio]

It's our sin that is the source of our suffering.

Then how come so many sins are enjoyable? You'd think God would make sins painful to discourage people from doing them.

And if sin is the root of our problems then what is the devil's purpose anyway?

 

[TheOriginalWhitehorse]

Then how come so many sins are enjoyable? You'd think God would make sins painful to discourage people from doing them.

And if sin is the root of our problems then what is the devil's purpose anyway?

This is a good question.

Sin is enjoyable because, when the original sin took place, we all were corrupted by proxy, so to speak. We tend to want wrong things, or right things wrongly. God provides for all our needs and legitimate wants when we do things correctly. But sometimes we think we know more than He does. Which, He is eternal and knows all things, but we see what we see. At least, we see what we think we see. If we don't trust Him, we find out in the long run that He is right.

Plus we have three enemies enticing us into thinking our way is better: the sinful nature that dwells inside us, the world, and the devil.

 

[Ferahgo-Under-God]

I believe that the Devil does exist for a reason, it is free will. God loves us enough to let some (many actually) drift from Him, which pains Him severely, so that we do not live as slaves. If we were born into a world without sin, we would not be following God because we wanted to, or believed he created us because he loved us, we would believe because we were told to, and see Him as a slavemaster. In this sense, the Devil is necessary for as long as God allows us to live on this earth. That time is also necessary to give us a full understanding of evil, so that we may know what God truly feels for us.

 

[Blissman]

Is it loving to keep you paradise?

 

[Blissman]

This is a good question.

Sin is enjoyable because, when the original sin took place, we all were corrupted by proxy, so to speak. We tend to want wrong things, or right things wrongly. God provides for all our needs and legitimate wants when we do things correctly. But sometimes we think we know more than He does. Which, He is eternal and knows all things, but we see what we see. At least, we see what we think we see. If we don't trust Him, we find out in the long run that He is right.

Plus we have three enemies enticing us into thinking our way is better: the sinful nature that dwells inside us, the world, and the devil.

Corrupted by proxy? I still don't understand how you are guilty or lessor because of the actions of some else. If our justice system was based on this principle, then everyone would be guilty of every crime, no trial needed.

 

[Routerider]

I believe that the Devil does exist for a reason, it is free will. God loves us enough to let some (many actually) drift from Him, which pains Him severely, so that we do not live as slaves. If we were born into a world without sin, we would not be following God because we wanted to, or believed he created us because he loved us, we would believe because we were told to, and see Him as a slavemaster. In this sense, the Devil is necessary for as long as God allows us to live on this earth. That time is also necessary to give us a full understanding of evil, so that we may know what God truly feels for us.

This can all be accomplished w/o a devil. Humans are wicked all by themselves, there is no need for a devil. Quite frankly I don't believe in one.

 

[revolutio]

This is a good question.

Sin is enjoyable because, when the original sin took place, we all were corrupted by proxy, so to speak. We tend to want wrong things, or right things wrongly. God provides for all our needs and legitimate wants when we do things correctly. But sometimes we think we know more than He does. Which, He is eternal and knows all things, but we see what we see. At least, we see what we think we see. If we don't trust Him, we find out in the long run that He is right.

Plus we have three enemies enticing us into thinking our way is better: the sinful nature that dwells inside us, the world, and the devil.

I guess I am still just wondering why God is keeping the devil around in the meantime.

 

[TheOriginalWhitehorse]

Corrupted by proxy? I still don't understand how you are guilty or lessor because of the actions of some else. If our justice system was based on this principle, then everyone would be guilty of every crime, no trial needed.

Well, we inherited our sin nature through Adam, and we were born into the curse of death. But there's more to the story. Although we do commit our own sins by choice every day, there's a reverse proxy for those who are in Christ:

1Corinthians 15:20-23

15:20But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.

15:21For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.

15:22For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.

15:23But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming.

 

[Ferahgo-Under-God]

This can all be accomplished w/o a devil. Humans are wicked all by themselves, there is no need for a devil. Quite frankly I don't believe in one.

No, the devil is the cause of all sin, and it is his influence that makes humans wicked

 

[Routerider]

No, the devil is the cause of all sin, and it is his influence that makes humans wicked

So every time you commit a sin you just say "the devil made me do it"? Also, if the devil is the cause of all sin then why would God send ANYONE to hell?

 

[TheOriginalWhitehorse]

It's our sin nature that makes us sin. The devil just facilitates wherever he is allowed.

 

[Ferahgo-Under-God]

So every time you commit a sin you just say "the devil made me do it"? Also, if the devil is the cause of all sin then why would God send ANYONE to hell?

No, the Devil did not make you do it, he just showed you the door, you walked through. It is this temptation that causes us to sin as sooner or later we all fall for it. (the Devil is VERY persuasive). Because of this, people who choose to follow the easiness the Devil provides for them on Earth instead of following God, those people are sent to Hell.

 

[Routerider]

No, the Devil did not make you do it, he just showed you the door, you walked through. It is this temptation that causes us to sin as sooner or later we all fall for it. (the Devil is VERY persuasive). Because of this, people who choose to follow the easiness the Devil provides for them on Earth instead of following God, those people are sent to Hell.

My main goal was to show you that you made a pretty wild claim...you said:

"No, the devil is the cause of all sin, and it is his influence that makes humans wicked"

I'm not even sure why I'm commenting on this, I think it's silly to shove our shortcomings on a mythological figure.

 

[Ferahgo-Under-God]

My main goal was to show you that you made a pretty wild claim...you said:

"No, the devil is the cause of all sin, and it is his influence that makes humans wicked"

I'm not even sure why I'm commenting on this, I think it's silly to shove our shortcomings on a mythological figure.

A mythical creature? if you don't believe in Christ and the Devil, then how are you so sure that humans are prone to sin. Without a Lord, sin would not exist, humans would just be here, do what they do, then fade out with time. As for a wild claim, this whole post was on the idea that the devil is the root cause of all sin, him and the evil he represents and carries with him, so it is not wild at all.

 

[Routerider]

A mythical creature? if you don't believe in Christ and the Devil, then how are you so sure that humans are prone to sin.

Even the bible doesn't make the Devil the scapegoat for most of the sins that were committed. IF the devil is so active and causing people to sin so much why wouldn't God confine him to hell? Again, I think people can "screw up" w/o a devil being involved.

Without a Lord, sin would not exist, humans would just be here, do what they do, then fade out with time. As for a wild claim, this whole post was on the idea that the devil is the root cause of all sin, him and the evil he represents and carries with him, so it is not wild at all.

Well if God HATES sin and the devil is the root cause of all of it then we have a problem. Why do you believe God allows the devil to exist so rampantly?

 

[Ferahgo-Under-God]

Even the bible doesn't make the Devil the scapegoat for most of the sins that were committed. IF the devil is so active and causing people to sin so much why wouldn't God confine him to hell? Again, I think people can "screw up" w/o a devil being involved.
Well if God HATES sin and the devil is the root cause of all of it then we have a problem. Why do you believe God allows the devil to exist so rampantly?

To answer both of these read up a bit to my first post in this section, it's post #44, the answer is free will!

 

[Routerider]

To answer both of these read up a bit to my first post in this section, it's post #44, the answer is free will!

I read the post, let me ask this question:

If the devil was stifled by God, would man then be completey unable to sin...would man no longer fall short of God's glory?

 

[Ferahgo-Under-God]

If the devil was stifled by God, would man then be completey unable to sin...would man no longer fall short of God's glory?

When the Devil is finally stifled, man will be brought into the kingdom of heaven where sin does not exist. The people who followed Christ faithfully will be with God, and the others will be in Hell suffering eternal pain and torture. The people in Heaven would be without sin, and it would be the only way, and no one would commit sin while in the prsence of God. We would be with our creator as it was meant to be, and will experiance eternal bliss.

 

[Routerider]

When the Devil is finally stifled, man will be brought into the kingdom of heaven where sin does not exist. The people who followed Christ faithfully will be with God, and the others will be in Hell suffering eternal pain and torture. The people in Heaven would be without sin, and it would be the only way, and no one would commit sin while in the prsence of God. We would be with our creator as it was meant to be, and will experiance eternal bliss.

You're talking about an alleged future event...I'm speaking hypothetically in the present. If the devil was subdued for a period of time, would man then be completely loyal to God, never running astray from God's will etc?