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It is a logical argument. In SAT terms …
Darkness is to Light, as Evil is to Good.
- Darkness is the absence of light, so evil is the absence of good.
- Light and Good both exist as a reality
- Darkness and Evil do not have an innate existence … they are only measured by the lack of their opposite.
- Darkness is defined by how close to ZERO (0) light something/place is. Evil can be defined by how close to ZERO (0) good (God) something/one is.
Yeah, I know what Scholastic Aptitude Test is. I just don't see it particularly applicable in that context, and supposed you meant something else by it.SAT = Scholastic Aptitude Test required for entry in to college etc.
I didn't use the term. Just trying to help out.Yeah, I know what Scholastic Aptitude Test is. I just don't see it particularly applicable in that context, and supposed you meant something else by it.
It may be that "evil" doesn't have reality. It may be a term that covers a multitude of sins. So sin is whatever transgresses God's law. Any and all sin would therefore be categorically evil by definition.I don't think you can grade evil. Either it is evil or it is not.
There are three of us, Zoider, Clare and myself. Interesting we should agree and discuss with each other. And be recognized as Calvinist. I am just posting what I learned through "homeschooling" The homeschoolers seem to be a class of reformed recognized as a group.Been there, done that. . .
Did you ever read any John Owen? It's like eating food.Me too. I kept it to myself until one day I wondered if my conclusions were mainstream or not. So I took a quizz for denomination. The result was Puritan. And Puritans were Calvinist so I wandered over here to see if I could find out a bit more about Puritans and Calvinist.
It may be that "evil" doesn't have reality. It may be a term that covers a multitude of sins. So sin is whatever transgresses God's law. Any and all sin would therefore be categorically evil by definition.
Evil is a list of sins. Evil is the category, sin is the list. Any sin or list of sins means that entity is evil.Hm, but the devil is evil. The fallen angels are evil, not because they transgress God's law. They are by nature evil. Through the fall evil became part of our nature. That is the reason we sin.
SAT = Scholastic Aptitude TestWhat is, "SAT" terms?
Thanks.The NT teaches that Adam's sin/guilt is imputed (Romans 5:12-18) to all those (born) of Adam, and is
the pattern (Romans 5:14) for Christ's righteousness being imputed (Romans 4:1-11) to all those (born) of Christ (Romans 5:18-19),
just as by faith God's righteousness (Romans 1:17, Romans 3:21, Romans 3:24-25) was imputed to Abraham (Genesis 15:6; Romans 4:2-3).
According to the word of God, all are born condemned by the sin/guilt of Adam (Romans 5:18),
which condemnation remains on them unless they believe in the Son (John 3:18).
But in the beginning there was no absence of good.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
— John 1:1
I don't think you can grade evil. Either it is evil or it is not.
- When God made Adam, before the fall, everything was “very good”. (A simple biblical statement of fact from Genesis 1).
- Could Adam choose to disobey God and eat the fruit? (rhetorical question, since he did).
- “Very good” is not “perfect” (conclusion drawn from Genesis 1-3)
- Only God is perfect … EVERYTHING ELSE is a shade of imperfect (defining imperfect as less than God perfection).
- Since it would be handy for people to have a word (abstract construct) to describe the degree of “less than perfect” EVERYTHING is, let’s call that word … “evil”.
It may be that "evil" doesn't have reality. It may be a term that covers a multitude of sins. So sin is whatever transgresses God's law. Any and all sin would therefore be categorically evil by definition.
Hm, but the devil is evil. The fallen angels are evil, not because they transgress God's law. They are by nature evil. Through the fall evil became part of our nature. That is the reason we sin.
Lucifer … foremost of the Archangels.I wouldn't agree with that. That a thing isn't perfect doesn't make it evil. We can call imperfect things "evil" but my definition of evil is enmity with God. I think that is the biblical definition.
But Christians sin all the time, they fall out of the lane then return through dedication. But I don't think they're Evil, Evil is a state of mind in my opinion.It may be that "evil" doesn't have reality. It may be a term that covers a multitude of sins. So sin is whatever transgresses God's law. Any and all sin would therefore be categorically evil by definition.
Two of my favorites are The Mortification of Sin, (which to my mind should remove all doubts in those who claim Calvinism is unscripturally focused), and The Death of Death in the Death of Christ. From neither of these will you find a better treatment of the subjects they deal with. Both make me weep with anguish. And just telling you about them makes me want to read them again.I found "The Glory of Christ" John Owen (1616 – 24 August 1683)
I will read that.
Thanks, I am always looking for interesting books to read.
Lucifer … foremost of the Archangels.
Adam … pinnacle of creation.
Both were as close to perfect as any created being that was not God … Both were fully capable of evil.
So what is less “evil” than Lucifer and Adam before their fall?
Mark 10:18
Luke 18:19
- When God made Adam, before the fall, everything was “very good”. (A simple biblical statement of fact from Genesis 1).
- Could Adam choose to disobey God and eat the fruit? (rhetorical question, since he did).
- “Very good” is not “perfect” (conclusion drawn from Genesis 1-3)
- Only God is perfect … EVERYTHING ELSE is a shade of imperfect (defining imperfect as less than God perfection).
- Since it would be handy for people to have a word (abstract construct) to describe the degree of “less than perfect” EVERYTHING is, let’s call that word … “evil”.
I agree with your definition of evil, in most Scriptural instances. But to say, "That a thing isn't perfect doesn't make it evil." requires a definition of what you mean by perfect. In Scripture it can mean, "complete", or it can mean "sinless", or it can mean "faultless" (as in, 'of good report' or 'of good conscience'). Jesus says, "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect." What does he mean there?I wouldn't agree with that. That a thing isn't perfect doesn't make it evil. We can call imperfect things "evil" but my definition of evil is enmity with God. I think that is the biblical definition.
Being created makes one imperfect (only God is perfect and He is uncreated).Being capable of evil doesn't make one evil, or else God created Adam and Eve evil from the beginning. And if that is the case, what was the problem with eating the fruit? They were already condemnd if they were evil.
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