I have alot of questions... a lot. Most of these are going to need clarification, and thus, we'll probably see a series of running questions. Here is the first of my questions, which I'm sure will lead into others:What is good? What is evil?What constitutes a good person, and what constitutes an evil person?Are the absolute evils in this world? In other words, are there people who are undeniably evil, no matter the circumstance? Are the people who are undeniably good?Before we proceed with this discussion, I want to keep my intentions clear.First, I want everyone to know that I am asking this for the sole reason that I want to understand how Christians see the world. I am not asking this for any other purpose, like for example, the purpose of hearing something that I can argue with, or finding something that I can "prove wrong". I would never want to jeapordize people's own values, and in any case, any attempt would be futile and only breed intolerance. My aim here is purely objective and for the sake of my own learning and knowledge to further my understanding of the phenomenon of God, and my ultimate goal is to obtain a better understanding of Christianity. My goal is NOT to promote a belief of mine or start an argument. I encourage everyone to be open, and trust that I'm not going to add to anyone's thoughts, or try to subtract from them. The reason I give this caveat is because that, in the past when I've tried to do this, I have been mistaken for someone who is trying to start a riot or bring down people's values. This is strictly due to misinterpretation--which may not be surprising, given my incessant nature to ask questions and the ambiguity of my own values, which may lead to the unjust labeling of a "subverter" upon me. My incessant questions may be blunt, and thus give rise to the suspicion that my intentions are negative, but they are not. These questions are only for the sake of clarification, and any interpretation of malice intent would only arise due to misunderstanding. I'm not here to judge, just perceive. I genuinely want to KNOW how Christians see things, that is my sole motive. Nothing to debase anything or anyone. Many of my dear friends are Christians, and I love them very much, and would never do anything to debase their values. That would debase their identities, and thus, everything I love about them. I would never do that. I wish to uphold the sanctity of the values of all Christians, including everyone here on this board. I respect them very much. I need to say this because the misinterpretation of my intentions has heretofore impeded the path to the answers of my questions. So, I encourage everyone here to be open. This came from a series of thought processes from began when I was reading my psychology textbook. I'm doing this because I want to understand people, and potentially seek to understand the phenomenon of God in everyday lives. I guess you could say I'm doing this as part of my own studies in psychology. I plan to earn a Ph.D and become a doctor in clinical psychology. I want to become a therapist because I want to help people. But to do that, I have to understand people. I want to understand. Christians are a large majority of the population, and I hardly understand them. But I want to. I am seeking answers here, not trying to purport my own. That's because I'll consent that I don't really know anything. So yes, to repeat the questions....What is good? What is evil?What constitutes a good person, and what constitutes an evil person?Are the absolute evils in this world? In other words, are there people who are undeniably evil, no matter the circumstance? Are the people who are undeniably good?Let's discuss!
What is good? What is evil? What constitutes a good person, and what constitutes an evil person? Are the absolute evils in this world? In other words, are there people who are undeniably evil, no matter the circumstance? Are the people who are undeniably good?
I trust this gives a little insight?
We have here seven questions, and will try to give brief answers according to God’s Word.
1…What is good? God says: “There is none good no not one for all have sinned”. On the other hand Job
was considered a good man.
Job was considered a good man because he practised high moral living according to the law of God. But
His goodness was of himself.
2…What is evil? Evil is the opposite of good.
Evil is spoken of throughout the Bible. Evil is disobedience to God, ie partaking of the tree of knowledge
Of good and evil in opposition to God.
3…Are there people who are undeniably evil? No matter the circumstance?
Man was born perfectly innocent. He knew neither good or bad. So originally he was neither good nor bad
There are totally evil people, those who have given themselves over to evil practices, which eventually
bind men. A good example is given in Romans 1:21-32
4…Are there people who are undeniably good? Job was an undeniably good man. Of course a life lived in
total obedience to God produces a truly righteous (good) person. That person first is born of God in his
spirit. His soul then becomes constituted with the life and nature of God as that person lives by God. The
apostle Paul is an excellent example: He could say, I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live, yet not I.
but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in my flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God who loved me
and gave Himself for me.
5…What constitutes a good person? A good person in the true sense of the word is a person who is constituted
with the processed Triune God. As Jesus Christ himself said there is none good, no not one, for all have
sinned. Every descendant of the first Adam is born in sin. I.e. one who sins by nature.
Everyone born of the Last Adam (Jesus Christ) becomes constituted with righteousness. Has the divine
life and nature.
6…What constitutes an evil person?
An evil person is one who is constituted with Satan, and chooses to deny Christ, and follows after their
own evil passions.
7…Are there absolute evils in this world? Satan who was Lucifer before he rebelled against God is absolutely
evil. He is the embodiment of evil.
In the beginning God gave innocent man free will, desiring he would choose to live by the TREE OF LIFE.
God has a plan according to His good pleasure. He desired man to live totally DEPENDENT on God; hence the tree of life represents God Himself. ( In man’s dependence, God would be man’s total satisfaction
God also warned man not to partake of the TREE OF KNOWLEDGE OF GOOD AND EVIL. The tree of knowledge of good and evil represents Satan, which is to live INDEPENDENT of God; as well as become
constituted with the life and nature of Satan.
Tragically Man chose the tree of knowledge of good and evil. The outcome is he now knows good and evil; and he became constituted with Satan’s life and nature. Hence man became the embodiment of sin.
Man was banned from the Garden of Eden so as he would no longer be able to live by the Tree of life.
God immediately set into action His plan to First to redeem man in order that he once again may be able to live by the Tree of life, in other words another opportunity to live by God. This is the reason why God became a Man (Incarnation).As a Man He fulfilled the Law of God. He lived a God-life. He died, conquered death in resurrection and ascended to God, returning as the life-giving-Spirit so as He could get into man and constitute man with His life and nature so that man could live a God life; and become sons of God. Genuine brothers of Jesus Christ.
The Ten Commandments show us God’s standard of righteousness; given to man that he know he is sinful. So that instead of trying to live a good life, he would turn to Christ.
Man, born of Adam, is now unrighteous. Because he cannot live up to God’s standard of righteousness due to his satanic nature. The nature of Satan.
Some persons try to keep God’s law. They try to live righteously but find they cannot live up to God’s standard,
They may live ethically with high moral standards. (God alone knows their motivations, but it is not the standard that attains to God’s standard). Hence true righteousness is to be constituted with Christ Himself Who
is our righteousness. God’s righteousness is attained through faith alone. Abraham believed God and it was accounted unto him as righteousness.
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