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Category: Sin, Evil

Did God create Evil?

Did God create Evil?

What is evil? We believe anything which directly or remotely tends to cause unhappiness or suffering of any kind is evil. On the Christian forum under the thread entitled, “How does God Create Evil” our friend Robert Derrick quoting from Isaiah 45:7(KJV) “I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.” States: “He is the Almighty Creator of everything that we know. Who are we to judge anything that…

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Why Evil Was Permitted and Related Topics, Part 9

Why Evil Was Permitted and Related Topics, Part 9

The lie which deceived in Eden–“Thou shalt not surely die“–has been the teaching of the devil through all generations since. He has taught it to all heathen peoples, and among those who are God’s children–Christians–he has succeeded in getting many to believe him instead of God. But since death has come, he offsets the logical conclusions by saying that the real being (the soul) is not dead; that merely the house (the flesh) has died, and that the being (the…

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Why Evil Was Permitted and Related Topics, Part 8

Why Evil Was Permitted and Related Topics, Part 8

C. Can we go further and learn God’s plan relative to Satan, the tempter? A.—Our only source of information on the subject is the Bible, and its accounts, while brief, are to the point, and furnish us all requisite information. Scriptures refer to evil spirits as “legion,” or a multitude under a head or prince called Satan. They were at one time angels of God. 2 Peter (2:4) and Jude (6) speak of them as–“The angels who kept not their…

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Why Evil Was Permitted and Related Topics, Part 7

Why Evil Was Permitted and Related Topics, Part 7

C.—Does not the race get back, in the second Adam, spiritual life? A.—Certainly not; Adam was not a spiritual but a human being, consequently had human life and powers, which were declared “very good” i.e. perfect.” The consecrated are the only ones warranted by the word of God in expecting a change from human to spiritual conditions–spiritual bodies with spiritual powers “like unto the angels,” (the Great Company class) AND “like unto Christ’s glorious body” (the “Little Flock”). This spiritual…

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Why Evil Was Permitted and Related Topics, Part 6

Why Evil Was Permitted and Related Topics, Part 6

C.—Do you understand the Scriptures to teach that all mankind will reach and maintain the perfection of life which Adam lost– which you called “everlasting life?” A.—It would seem as though such love, when seen, would beget love and obedience; but we are assured there is a second death, and while those who become subject to it, will not compare in numbers with the saved, yet, there will be some, who will not reach perfection, even at the end of…

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Why Evil Was Permitted and Related Topics, Part 5

Why Evil Was Permitted and Related Topics, Part 5

C.—If ransomed, why do they remain in death, and others die, since Christ has paid the price? A.—But the price is not yet fully paid. To have a clear understanding of God’s plan, we must recognize the distinction which he makes between the world in general and the Church, or called-out ones of the present time. God loves the world, and has made great and rich provisions, as we have seen, for their coming in his due time, to a…

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Why Evil Was Permitted and Related Topics, Part 4

Why Evil Was Permitted and Related Topics, Part 4

In our last post the question was asked by Brother C. as to, How the life of one could purchase the life of many?  A.—By the rule of SUBSTITUTION Rather than try each individual separately (the Lord knowing that they would all fail eventually for the very same reasons that Adam failed) chose rather to have all mankind represented in just one man, and in his trial. Thus Adam was substituted for the race as a whole, and through his…

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Why Evil Was Permitted and Related Topics, Part 3

Why Evil Was Permitted and Related Topics, Part 3

B.–I begin to see a harmony and beauty connected with the introduction of evil which I had not suspected. May we not reasonably say that God could not have displayed those qualities of his nature so attractive to us–mercy and pity–nor could his great love have been made so apparent had not the occasion for their exercise been presented by man’s necessities? A.—I am glad that you have suggested this thought. It is true, that though “the Lord is very…

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Why Evil Was Permitted and Related Topics, Part 2

Why Evil Was Permitted and Related Topics, Part 2

A third brother now joins the discussion, Brother C. C.—Brother A., may I interrupt you here to ask, Why, if it was proper and wise that Adam should have a trial under the most favorable of circumstances, as a perfect man, should not all his posterity have a similarly favorable trial? We all know that we are born with both mental and physical ailments and imperfections. Why did not God give us all as good a chance as Adam? A.—If…

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Why Evil Was Permitted and Related Topics, Part 1

Why Evil Was Permitted and Related Topics, Part 1

The following is taken from R250 (with some editing) “To make all see, what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God.” “Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:–that in the dispensation of the fullness of times, he might gather together in one, all things…

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