How is it...?

[Matthitjah]

Grace to you,

Let's not forget that the Tree is not necessarily an evil thing, it was the intent of the hearts of those who partook of the Tree that is the problem. It would appear that some on the opposite side of this discussion seem to think that God created an instrument of evil in the Tree.

Peace,

Dave

It is a valuable point that it is the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

Thus the means to attain knowledge of evil was provided by GOD. Plus, the point is aptly made that the knowledge of evil was and is with GOD eternally. So, from this knowledge HE can make something like Satan without sinning or having sin in HIMSELF.

Grace to you,

I would argue that He cannot in the context in which you are framing your argument. He cannot make satan with the sole express purpose of sinning.. God may have the knowledge of evil but that does not mean that it resides in Him.

Please define evil.

I also want to add something here;

In Genesis it is stated that God Created the Heavens and the earth and then saw that they were Good, so then He rested.

That Tree was Created in that Creation on the earth in the Garden. It was Good.

Again, I ask you to define evil for me.

Peace,

Dave

[legoman]

Does God allow evil or does God cause/create evil? Is there even a difference?

Is there a difference between "allowing" something or "causing" something if you are the all-powerful sovereign creator of the universe?

Now for us humans there is certainly a difference. I may "allow" my 4 year old daughter to jump on her bed, but only because I am not omniscient and can't monitor her every single second of the day. I don't want her to jump on the bed, but she does occasionally when I am not looking.

But what about God? Is God "allowing" Satan to run around causing havoc? God doesn't want Satan to tempt people? Satan has twisted God's arm and God "gave in" to Satan? These are human attributes that cannot be applied to an all-knowing, all-seeing, all-powerful God. If Satan is doing something, it is only because it is part of God's plan.

Legoman

[legoman]

Grace to you,

Let's not forget that the Tree is not necessarily an evil thing, it was the intent of the hearts of those who partook of the Tree that is the problem. It would appear that some on the opposite side of this discussion seem to think that God created an instrument of evil in the Tree.

Peace,

Dave

It is a valuable point that it is the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

Thus the means to attain knowledge of evil was provided by GOD. Plus, the point is aptly made that the knowledge of evil was and is with GOD eternally. So, from this knowledge HE can make something like Satan without sinning or having sin in HIMSELF.

Grace to you,

I would argue that He cannot in the context in which you are framing your argument. He cannot make satan with the sole express purpose of sinning.. God may have the knowledge of evil but that does not mean that it resides in Him.

But we know that God did create Satan to be the adversary. The scriptures plainly tell us that:

Gen 3:1 Now the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made.

Isaiah 54:16 Behold, I have created the smith that bloweth the coals in the fire, and that bringeth forth an instrument for his work; and I have created the waster to destroy.

John 8:44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. 45 And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not.

Job 26:13 By his spirit he hath garnished the heavens; his hand hath formed the crooked serpent.

From these scriptures, we know that God made the serpent, Satan. God "formed the crooked serpent". Satan was a murderer from the beginning, and he was not in the truth. He was formed that way from the beginning. God made him that way. God made the waster to destroy. It was all for God's purpose - God knew exactly what he was doing.

Please define evil.

I also want to add something here;

In Gensis it is stated that God Created the Heavens and the earth and then saw that they were Good, so then He rested.

That Tree was Created in that Creation on the earth in the Garden. It was Good.

I think the key thing here is that the knowledge of good and evil is good. God of course has this knowledge. Evil itself is of course evil. God of course is not evil. Evil could be defined as the opposite of good - doing bad, doing sin, etc.

So it when it says that everything that was created "was very good" - it just means that it was very good for God's purposes. I mean even Satan was created, and he was called "very good".

Again, I ask you to define evil for me.

Peace,

Dave

Cheers,

Legoman

[Matthitjah]

Grace to you,

Legoman;

From these scriptures, we know that God made the serpent, Satan. God "formed the crooked serpent". Satan was a murderer from the beginning, and he was not in the truth. He was formed that way from the beginning. God made him that way. God made the waster to destroy. It was all for God's purpose - God knew exactly what he was doing.

This is a twisted lie straight from hell and I say that with the utmost respect. The respect that won't allow Gods charecter and nature to be impugned on Worthy and won't allow for you to go uncorrected, Love speaks forth the Truth no matter the cost.

Scripture is quite implicit in the fact that satan was found to be prideful and this pride led him to rebellion. God had nothing to do with it and to imply such is to impugn God with evil. This is a tactic straight from hell designed to cause folks to question God and calls into question Gods charecter and nature.

Sorry, there's no two ways around it.

Let's get back to the Tree and evil for a minute though.

God has knowledge of Good and evil. This does not necessarily make Him evil.

Evil is the abscence of Good. It is why a man seperated from God is left to his own wickd heart and why we needed to be reconciled to God at a Great price. It is not a yin and yang polar opposite thing either. It is darkness and opposed to the Light. Yet scripture is quite clear that although the darkness tries to overcome the Light it cannot prevail. Therefore the Light and the Good are the Greater.

Gods very charecter and nature are devoid of the evil and there is no shadow of darkness in Him. The two cannot dwell together for if they did one would eventually pull the other down. A Kingdom opposed to itself will not stand. God has the Victory already.

satan opposed God in His Pride and was thrown out of heaven. God is the greater, He prevailed. We prevail too.

How?

Re