We are continuing our look at the question: If God exists then why is there evil? This is the second of three presentations, and this week we will look at several factors in identifying sources of evil. Understanding these factors will help Christians answer those who ask from both a Biblical and philosophical perspective. We all wrestle at one time or another with this question, and next week we will look a little deeper at the solution from a Christian Worldview.

Note: There are two video presentations in this post, one is from our class, the other is from Dr. Clay Jones who is a scholar and author on this topic.

Check out this week’s class presentation on this topic:

Overview Notes From the Presentation

Christian Apologetics: More Conversations

If God exists, why is there evil and suffering?

If God didn’t create evil, where did it come from?

Three major factors in identifying sources of evil

Factor #1: The value of freewill

It would not be possible for things like love, relationship, and intimacy to exist without freewill.
It would not make sense to create beings with freewill and not allow them the possibility to misuse it.
To have the freedom to choose good, there has to be the possibility of choosing evil – this is moral freedom.
Adam and Eve used their freewill and choose death over God’s offer of life with Him eternally in the Garden.

We might ask: Why do I have to pay for Adam and Eve’s sin?

We are Adam and Eve’s children, and carry their DNA which was corrupted at the ”Fall” (Genesis 2-3).
Romans 3:23 tells us, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
1 Corinthians 15:22 says, “For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive.”

William G.T. Shedd, Systematic Theologian writes,

“To die in Adam both spiritually and physically supposes existence in Adam both as to soul and body.”

Thus the importance of being born again:
To be born again takes care of spiritual death…

“Now there was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews; this man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You have come from God as a teacher; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.” Jesus answered and said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born, can he?” Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be amazed that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit.” Nicodemus said to Him, “How can these things be?” Jesus answered and said to him, “Are you the teacher of Israel and do not understand these things? Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know and testify of what we have seen, and you do not accept our testimony. If I told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things? No one has ascended into heaven, but He who descended from heaven: the Son of Man. As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up; so that whoever believes will in Him have eternal life. “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.”

– John 3:3-16

We cannot blame God for our choices

When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.

-James 1:13-15

“The greatest evil is not done in those sordid dens of evil that Dickens loved to paint … but is conceived and ordered (moved, seconded, carried, and minuted) in clear, carpeted, warmed, well-lighted offices, by quiet men with white collars and cut fingernails and smooth-shaven cheeks who do not need to raise their voices.”

– C. S. Lewis

Factor #2: The effects of the “Fall”

Genesis 1 and 2 God made everything good – the way the world is supposed to be.
Genesis 3 made everything bad – the way the world is not supposed to be.

The Fall not only infected humankind with sin, it also contaminated the earth itself

“Adam and Eve rebelled against God and so God then cursed the ground, enabling every possible pestilence. Then He kicked them out of the Garden of Eden, which removed them from the rejuvenating power of the Tree of Life. When Adam and Eve were on their own, life became very hard, and we’ve been attending funerals ever since.”

– Dr. Clay Jones, Biola University

How did Satan deceive Adam and Eve at the Fall, and how does he still deceive us today?

The first attack of Satan is always on God’s Word:

Step 1: Satan twists God’s Word and causes doubt:

“He said to the woman, Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden?’” (Genesis 3:1)

Step 2: Satan contradicts God and substitutes what He said with something else:

“‘You will not certainly die,’ the serpent said to the woman.” (Genesis 3:4)

Step 3: Satan challenges God’s motives:

“For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” (Genesis 3:5)

The Effect of the Fall

The fall caused these immediate reactions:

The opening of the eyes (Genesis 3:7): They became body conscious, before they were only spiritually conscious and were surrounded by God’s Glory.
The cover up/guilt (Genesis 3:7): Adam and Eve tried to hide their sin by covering up with fig leaves. This was human’s first attempt at religion (work at covering guilt), but that could not cover the sin that God said would result in death (both physical and spiritual).
Hiding from God (Genesis 3:8): Adam and Eve knew they had sinned against God and tried to hide (or run away) from God’s presence.

“Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned— For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ!”

Romans 5:12, 17

“Death is a result of rejecting the giver of life.”

– Nabeel Qureshi

Factor #3: Satan and his demons, as created beings with freewill, cause significant damage to humans, and to this world

Who is Satan?

Satan is…

A created being, chose to go against God along with one-third of the created angels (Revelation 12:4, 9)
The “Serpent” in Genesis (term means “shining one”)
Arrogant and full of pride; wants to sit on a throne above that of God (Isaiah 14, Ezekiel 28 – Note: the kings of Babylon and Tyre are representative of Satan)
An Angel who was thrown from Heaven to the Earth (Job 1; Isaiah 14:12-13)
The ruler of this world; prince of the power of the air (John 12:31, 2 Corinthians 4:4, Ephesians 2:2)
An accuser (Revelation 12:10)
A tempter (Matthew 4:3, 1 Thessalonians 3:5)
A deceiver (Genesis 3, 2 Corinthians 4:4, Revelation 20:3)

His very name (Satan) means “adversary” or “one who opposes,” and devil means “slanderer”

Satan will attempt to bring out in us, the three greatest evil characteristics he possesses:

Lust of the flesh
Lust of the eyes
Pride of life

First time we find these three things affecting human choice
(Genesis 3:6-7)

Lust of the flesh:

The fruit was tempting to the appetite

Lust of the eyes:

The fruit looked good and was attractive

Pride of Life:

Satan presented it as something they were owed, that they deserved it and that God was holding it back from them

Jesus’ wins over these same three temptations
(Matthew 4:1-11 and Luke 4:1-13)

Lust of the flesh:

Jesus was hungry after 40 days of fasting—Satan tempted him to turn the stones into bread

Lust of the eyes:

Satan took him to a high place and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world saying, “bow down and worship me and I will give you all this.”

Pride of Life:

Satan took Jesus up to the pinnacle of the temple in Jerusalem and told him to throw himself down if he was the Son of God, testing God to save Him.

Jesus didn’t give in, instead Jesus used only God’s Word and Satan fled from Him!

The Apostle John warns the early Church of these same three things…

“Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and it desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.”

1 John 2:15-17

Do we still need to heed this warning today?

“The vice I am talking of is Pride or Self-Conceit: and the virtue opposite to it, in Christian morals, is called Humility…According to Christian teachers, the essential vice, the utmost evil, is Pride. Unchastity, anger, greed, drunkenness, and all that, are mere flea bites in comparison: it was through Pride that the devil became the devil: Pride leads to every other vice: it is the complete anti-God state of mind.”

– C. S. Lewis

Going Deeper

Watch Dr. Clay Jones’ presentation: “Why Does God Allow Evil” for a deeper treatment of this topic:

Reflection

If you only had one minute for each question, to the best of your ability, give a quick answer in your own words, (note – these are building from the presentation notes each week):

What are the four important areas for Christian growth?
What are the twelve points that will help you tell the Bible’s Big Picture?
What are the two most important questions you can ask when someone makes a claim about Christianity, or a belief that they hold to be true that is in conflict with the Christian Worldview?
What is the Moral Law argument for the existence of God? Give an example.
How is evil defined from a Christian Worldview? Give an example.
What are the three factors in identifying sources of evil?
What three characteristics does Satan possess that he wants to bring out in us?

Bible Study

Always remember to pray before you study and ask the Holy Spirit to teach you and lead you into the truth found in God’s Word – pray for protection from the evil one who will try to discourage, distract and deceive us when we commit to growing closer to the LORD.

1. Review of Class Topics:

With your table group, discuss today’s apologetics presentation by summarizing what you learned, commenting, or asking any questions.

2. Review of Daily Devotional:

How is it going with your devotional? Are you having any difficulty with reading on a daily basis? Are there any questions you have, or anything that stands out to you as a life application that you’d like to share with your group?

Class Bible study: The Book of Colossians

Questions are taken directly from the chapters, and answers should be found and cited from the Scripture text in order to be Biblically accurate (unless asked to summarize in your own words). Study Bibles, commentaries and your own thoughts can be used for “Discussion” or “Going Deeper” questions. Cite your sources to share with your group.

Read Colossians 1:1-29 with your group then, to the best of your ability, answer the following questions:

The Hermeneutics (a good study Bible, or the “Essential Bible Companion” can help):

3. Who authored the book, who was the audience and when was it written? (Give as much background as you can including authors’ history and relationship with the audience; and the business, cultural and political setting of the day for this city/area)

4. What was the genre and purpose of the writing? (For example: was there a specific event or situation going on that prompted the author to write to this audience?)

5. Discuss: What are some other things that you already know about this book, if any? (For example: basic outline, key people, themes, connection to other Biblical books, etc.)

From chapter 1 reading:

6. Who was Epaphras, why was he important to Paul and what did he do for the Colossians? Extra: Can we find him anywhere else in the Bible?

7. What are the things that Paul says “we have not ceased to pray for” in reference to the Colossians? Discuss: What are some of the things from this list that you’d like to use to pray for others?

8. One of Paul’s main objectives in his letters was to combat “heresies” (false teachings). In verses 13-20 Paul goes into a dissertation in defense of Jesus, especially His Deity. What are some important things we can know about Jesus from this passage, and from reading the following cross-references: John 1:1-5; 1:14; Philippians 2:6-11; 1 John 1:1-4; Genesis 1:1 and Revelation 19:11-16?

9. How does Paul explain what happens to those who were “formerly alienated, hostile in mind, and engaged in evil deeds” when they come to Christ? Can we be a witness to others of this happening in our own lives at some level? (Share if comfortable)

10. Paul often speaks of the “mystery” that has now been revealed. What is this mystery that was not understood prior to the coming of Jesus?

11. Going Deeper: What are some of the “heresies” that Paul argues against that we still see today?

12. Memory verses: Recite Philippians 1:9-10; Philippians 3:14; Philippians 4:6-8; Philippians 4:12-13 and Colossians 1:16-17.

Join us next week as we continue our study in Christian Apologetics with Part 3 of our conversation on the “The Problem of Evil” – looking at solutions to this problem…

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You will not find this material in the public school curriculum even though it is based on solid evidence and grounded in research. It is ironic that following the evidence to where it leads stops at the door of our public schools as they will not let a “Divine footprint” in! Join us as we examine evidence for Christianity and learn how to become a thoughtful defender and ambassador of your faith.

Click into the resource page of this website to view many of the top Christian thinkers and apologists along with some of their work; connecting to these types of resources is essential in your Christian growth.

Please let me know what you think: Give feedback, ask questions or send concerns in the comment section of the blog.

Teri Dugan

TeriDugan@truthfaithandreason.com

1 Peter 3:15