veteran
New Member
By the definition of free will we can do good or evil. In order for free will to exist both good and evil have to exist. I agree it was Satan along with his angels that decided to commit evil, but God allowed it.
Do you really believe God created Satan not knowing what he will do?
Now for your verse of the serpent of old, or ancient serpent. The snake was never described that way in Genesis 3. Correct me if I am wrong, but the snake is not mentioned that way until Revelation, which by that time the snake is ancient.
Now I am not sure I prescribe to the two creations theory. I do know from other near eastern writings that a general account is given in a text. Then the author narrows down his story, refining and giving more detail about the text.
Understanding the word "evil" in a legalist sense IS indeed using the "human reasoning" FHII spoke of. Doing wickedness, iniquity, unrighteousness, etc., are all... in the category of 'sin' against God. So can we say that God created sin too?
There's a certain point where absolutist legalist thinking can stray away from God's Truth in His Word.
God did not create 'sin', for how does His Word define what sin is? (Now there's where many try to apply "human reasoning" instead of heeding God's Holy Writ with trying to come up with their own definitions of sin).
The definition of 'sin' is found in 1 John 3:4...
I Jn 3:4
4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.
(KJV)
Transgression of what "law"? The laws of the Old Covenant that God gave Moses? Some of them, mainly God's moral law of those dealing with our relationship with God per His Ten Commandments. Some will try to say, "Well God hadn't given His laws yet when Satan first rebelled!" Oh really? If that were true, then Satan could not have sinned from the beginning like Apostle John said, and God's Salvation Plan would not have been necessary.
Thus the way 'evil' came into existence was by Satan breaking God's law in coveting God's Throne for himself, which is 'sin', 'iniquity', 'wickedness', 'unrighteousness', i.e., 'evil'. That is how, and when evil started. It is also how God is Just with destroying evil and sin in final to bring His new heavens and a new earth of the future. It's also how God is Just in creating Jerusalem and His saints a joy when that future new heavens and a new earth is established. The idea is that He going to remove even the 'ability' to do sin and evil by creating us a joy. Does it not then make more sense why... He established the requirement to believe on Him through His Son to be able to take part in that future joy? By doing that we 'each' have to make choice, either to be with Him and love Him like He says, or to perish with Satan, death, hell, the wicked, etc.
Nahum 1:5-10
5 The mountains quake at Him, and the hills melt, and the earth is burned at His presence, yea, the world, and all that dwell therein.
6 Who can stand before His indignation? and who can abide in the fierceness of His anger? His fury is poured out like fire, and the rocks are thrown down by Him.
7 The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and He knoweth them that trust in Him.
8 But with an overrunning flood He will make an utter end of the place thereof, and darkness shall pursue His enemies.
9 What do ye imagine against the LORD? He will make an utter end: affliction shall not rise up the second time.
10 For while they be folden together as thorns, and while they are drunken as drunkards, they shall be devoured as stubble fully dry.
(KJV)
The "affliction" or trouble God through Nahum speaks of is about a second rebellion, like the first one Satan caused in the beginning that will have continued all the way down to the end of this present world. It's not going to happen a second time. Once everyone has made their choice with full 'hearing' (understanding), the ability to rebel against God will no longer exist, forever. (For you Legalists, I'm talking about rebellion ending with the "lake of fire" event at the end of God's Great White Throne Judgment.)