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Why Did God allow Satan to tempt Adam and Eve?

Rafael

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It seems to me that It all went wrong when Satan came along in the form of a serpent. When God threw Satan out of Heaven, why couldn't he put him somewhere else in the universe far away from earth?
This might help. I have thought and stuggled to understand this question myself, and over the years I have come to learn that God made evil for a good reason. That sounds like a contradiction of terms, but nothing is impossible for God. He can make evil turn out for good because of His powers, and uses the devil and evil as the contrast to His light and revelation. I've used this simple explanation many times; that white on white does not give us a portrait of God that we can see by any sense, but black, the opposite of the light which would represent evil, when used, gives definition to the portrait along with all the colors and various shades that are in the light. A full choice is given because we have evil as a tool that helps us define that which is good, and we have God's assurance that "ALL things" finally work together for good, to those that love God and are the called according to His purpose." (Rom.8:28)

Isa 45:7 I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.

Romons 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
 
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Ben12

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Amen You got it. God is not spelled good.
 
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Calminian

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The only thing I would disagree with on the previous posts is the the choice of the word "made" instead of "granted" or "allowed." I'm perfectly fine in saying God allowed evil for a good reason. But to say He caused it is problematic. I think even most calvinists would be reluctant to attribute the authorship of sin to God. The Bible even refutes the idea of God causing temptation.

James 1:13 Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone.
 
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revmalone

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Hey
I know we are saved by grace, This was a reply to another guy, ha ha. Sorry about that if I post it to the wrong person.

You right it is grace alone, but unless a person come to see there lost they will just end up like the watered down version of christians today.

We are instructed to follow, but many these days are just saying a quick little prayer and that is it, no change at all in there lifes.

If it wasn't a new birth then Jesus would have told a fib by saying uless your born again, or from above you cannot see the Kingdom of God.

I know 45yrs is along time to follow Jesus, You have seen the changes in your 45yrs of walk. It pains me to think millions think because of saying a little prayer there saved, when there really not according to Jesus own word. I'm glad you contacted me my brother, see you in heaven soon.

Bless you in Jesus name.
Rev Malone
 
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revmalone

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Greetings
It is hard to give the whole Bible in a nutshell, and under 15,000 words at that. I already understand these thank for your insights , I'll think about what you said

Rev Malone
 
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Ben12

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Isa 45:7 I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the
LORD do all these things.

Amos 3:6 Shall a trumpet be blown in the city, and the people not be afraid?
shall there be evil in a city, and the LORD hath not done it? (KJV)

1 Sam 16:15 And Saul's servants said unto him, Behold now, an evil spirit from God troubleth thee.
16 Let our lord now command thy servants, which are before thee, to seek out a man, who is a cunning player on an harp: and it shall come to pass, when the evil spirit from God is upon thee, that he shall play with his hand, and thou shalt be well.
23 And it came to pass, when the evil spirit from God was upon Saul, that David took an harp, and played with his hand: so Saul was refreshed, and was well, and the evil spirit departed from him.
(KJV)

1 Sam 18:10 And it came to pass on the morrow, that the evil spirit from God came upon Saul, and he prophesied in the midst of the (KJV)
 
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Calminian

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Isa 45:7 I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the
LORD do all these things.

Yes but these are natural evils which most translations correctly translate "calamities."

Is. 45:7 I form the light and create darkness, I make peace and create calamity; I, the LORD, do all these things.’ (NKJV)

This is not the same as unjust evils committed by agents such as Adam and Lucifer. Remember words cannot be defined apart from their context. Calamities are just, as God has the right to judge the earth and takes lives when He sees fit. This is simply an equivocation of a term that has nothing to do with the subject at hand.

Amos 3:6 Shall a trumpet be blown in the city, and the people not be afraid?
shall there be evil in a city, and the LORD hath not done it? (KJV)

Again we have God ordaining or granting liberty to agents. All sides agree God does this. As I said before, I am very comfortable with saying God permits and even ordains all evil choices by agents. What I don't see is support for God actively causing agents to choose evil.


Still doesn't make your point that God not only gives liberty to free agents (the spirit) but also causes them to do evil. The above actually supports the arminian side that God is not the author of evil, but rather the author of freedom which some use for evil.
 
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Ben12

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All I know is God is in total control of all things. I really do not care about arminian view or what ever tradition. Calamities or evil same thing. I do not believe that Lucifer is the devil.

Isaiah 54:16 Behold, I have created the smith that bloweth the coals in the fire, and that bringeth forth an instrument for his works; and I have created the waster to destroy. (See God created Satan)
 
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Ben12

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rev malone vbmenu_register("postmenu_32681264", true);

Amen

I just read this and thought you would appriciate the thought

I wish with all my heart that Christians would stop believing that they are born again the moment they believe. This doctrine, taught almost universally among evangelical people, has been an enormous hindrance in the progress of Christians, for they, thinking they have reached sonship, fail to press toward the mark of full sonship in Him. If men could only see that "that which is born of God cannot sin, for His seed remaineth in him and he cannot sin because he is born of God," (1 Jno. 3:9) then they would not be in such a hurry to declare that they are born again and thus full sons of God. There is a universe of difference between being justified by faith and being born again. Both the thief on the cross and the Philippian jailor believed on Christ and were justified from their sins, but I think we would be very wrong to imagine that they had done any more than "receive Him" and, because they had received Him, power was given to them to become sons of God.
 
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Calminian

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Calminian

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All I can say is that if you were familiar with the greek language you wouldn't be so confused by 1 John and fooled into throwing out the doctrine of the 2nd birth. I'd really like to know where you received these ideas from. The verb to sin in 1John 3:9 is a present active infinitive. This caries the idea of a continual action, not a simple action. It's a little difficult to pick up these nuances in english as we don't have a verb tense that conveys this as clearly. Thus the born again christian does not sin continually as a pattern of behavior. That's all the passage is saying.

But one doesn't even have to be familiar with greek to see the problem with your interpretation. The following verses clearly indicate that christians are born again.

1John 4:7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.
1John 5:1 Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves Him who begot also loves him who is begotten of Him.
1John 5:4 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world — our faith.


This is the same John that made it clear all christians are sinners.

1John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.
 
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Soldier_For_Christ

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It seems to me that It all went wrong when Satan came along in the form of a serpent. When God threw Satan out of Heaven, why couldn't he put him somewhere else in the universe far away from earth?
When God created us humans, He created us all with free will. He wants us to accept Him because we want to, generally because this is the only real love there is. However, in order for us to have choice, there must also be an alternative to God.

As to how Satan comes into the picture, I would hazard a guess that, at the start of creation, God gave those heavenly beings we call angels the same free will to choose Him or oppose Him that He gives us. Satan and his followers were the ones who rejected God and they have struggled ever since to revolt against God and make themselves the center of their own universes.
 
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Rafael

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By creating evil to bring about good does not constitute "doing" evil which James is talking about. Indeed, God is not tempted by evil. God did not do evil by creating it, as God is All in all, creating "all" things and has to make no apologies for their creation since they all end in His good and perfect Holy will.... Please, read Isaiah 45 again, and see that there is a big difference in creating something and then whether or not guilt of "doing" evil can be associated to God for bringing about what had to be done in creation so that His ultimate good will would be accompished. I think not, God does no evilin creating it in the angel Lucifer who fell away, and since the ultimate end is the revelation of God and the sharing of His divine nature with man.....a very wonderful end.
 
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Ben12

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Calminian

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By creating evil to bring about good does not constitute "doing" evil which James is talking about.

Sure it does. If one creates a killer robot, the creator is responsible for what it does. If it does evil, who is to blame? For a more realistic illustration, if one creates a computer virus, we don't blame the virus, but the programmer. Conversely, if one brings a child into the world which grows up to be a murderer, we don't come after the parents. The difference being human freedom. We have a choice.

Indeed, God is not tempted by evil. God did not do evil by creating it, as God is All in all, creating "all" things and has to make no apologies for their creation since they all end in His good and perfect Holy will....

Actually creation was very good from the beginning (Gen. 1:31). Adam was not pre-programmed to fall. He had a choice. The Curse was God's response to that choice.


God does not create evil. Everything He created was "very good." This is straight from scripture. And all He does is just. He is not the author of sin. You are simply taking the words in Isaiah out of context. The word in that context means "calamities," and God is not evil for causing them. He has judged the world, not in evil, but in righteousness.
 
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Calminian

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