The Origin of
Evil
The
Being Who Sinned First
With
whom did sin originate?
“He
who does what is sinful is of the devil, because
the devil has been sinning from the beginning.
The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy
the devil’s work.”
1 John
3:8.
Note -
Without the Bible, the question of the origin of
evil would remain unexplained.
From
what time has the devil been a murderer?
“You belong to your
father, the devil, and you want to carry out your
father’s desire. He was a murderer
from the beginning, not holding to the
truth, for there is no truth in him. When he
lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a
liar and the father of lies.” John 8:44.
What
is the devil’s relationship to lying?
“When he lies, he
speaks his native language, for he is a
liar and the father of lies.”
Verse
44.
Was
Satan created sinful?
“You
were blameless in your ways from the day you were
created till wickedness was found in
you.” Ezekiel 28:15.
Note
– Ezekiel here refers to Satan under the
figure “king of Tyrus.” (See verse 12.)
This, and the statement in John 8:44, that he “abode
not in the truth,” show that Satan was
once perfect, and in the truth. Peter
speaks of “the angels that sinned”
(2 Peter 2:4); and Jude refers to “the
angels that kept their first estate” (Jude
6). These angels were once in a state of
sinlessness.
What
further statement of Christ seems to lay the
responsibility for the origin of sin upon Satan
and his angels?
“Then he will say to
those on his left. ‘Depart from me, you who
are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared
for the devil and his angels.” Matthew 25:41.
Satan and
Christ Contrasted
What led to
Satan’s sin, rebellion, and downfall?
“Your
heart became proud on account of your beauty,
and you corrupted your wisdom because of your
splendor. So I threw you to the earth; I made a
spectacle out of you before kings.” Ezekiel
28:17. “You said in your heart, “I
will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne
above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned
on the mount of the assembly, on the utmost
heights of the sacred mountain. I will ascend
above the top of the clouds; I will
make myself like the Most High.” Isaiah
14:13,14.
Note
– In a word, pride and self-exaltation led
to Satan’s downfall, and for those there is
no justification or adequate excuse. “Pride
goes before destruction, and an haughty spirit
before a fall.” Proverbs 16:18. Hence,
while we may know of the origin, cause,
character, and results of evil, no good or
sufficient reason or excuse can be given for it.
To excuse it is to justify it; and the moment it
is justified, it ceases to be sin. All sin is a
manifestation of selfishness in some form, and
its results finally in its utter abandonment and
banishment forever, by all created intelligences,
throughout the entire universe of God. Only those
who stubbornly cling to sin will be destroyed
with it. The wicked will be destroyed, root and
branch (Malachi 4:1), and the righteous shall
“shine as the brightness of the heavens, and
those who lead many to righteousness, like the
stars for ever and ever.” (Daniel 12:3).
In
contrast with the pride and self-exaltation
exhibited by Satan, what spirit did Christ
manifest?
“Who,
being in the very nature God, did not consider
equality with God something to be grasped, but
made himself nothing, taking on the very
nature of a servant, being made in human
likeness. And being found in the likeness as a
man humbled himself and became obedient
unto death – even death on the cross!
Philippians 2: 6-8.
After
man had sinned, how did God show His love and His
willingness to forgive?
“For God so loved
the world that he gave his one and only Son, that
whoever believes in him shall not perish but have
eternal life.” John 3:16.
Up
and Down
In
heaven Satan sought to lift himself up above God.
He was cast down to earth. On earth Jesus humbled
Himself and was exalted to the right hand of the
Majesty inn the heavens. We who would go up to
heaven must first go down to the cross –
that old rugged cross, where Jesus died for sin
and where we die to sin.
Glory
to His Name
Down
at the cross where my Savior died,
Down
where for cleansing from sin I cried,
There
to my heart was the blood applied,
Glory
to His name.
I
am so wondrously saved from sin,
Jesus
so sweetly abides within,
There
at the cross where He took me in,
Glory
to His name.
O
precious Fountain that saves from sin!
I
am so glad I have entered in;
There
Jesus saves me and keeps me clean;
Glory
to His name.
Come
to this Fountain so rich and sweet;
Cast
they poor soul at the Savior’s feet;
Plunge
in today and be made complete;
Glory
to His name.
- E.A.
Hoffman.
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